For the love of dogs!

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our life whole" 

This quote couldn't be more accurate for my experience here.  The dogs I've had the pleasure of interacting with have been the icing to the cake.   A relationship with a dog is priceless. As my roommate says,  A dogs love is a universal language.  It's something we can all understand.  Dogs don't care that I occasionally mix up masculine and feminine words or conjugate the verb incorrectly.  They are happy enough with a high pitched "bonito, bonito" and a good pat on the head.    I've had the pleasure of getting to know several dogs of high baller status.   Here are just a few!

First up:  Vivian's dogs! 
They have shared their home and but wiggles with me! :)

 Lila 

(The sweetest)

 Mona

(Energy, Energy, Energy!)

 Preta

(Always down for a good scratching.)

Mel 

(Lights up whenever she sees Vivan)

Amora

(This is the only photo I have of her because she is usually running at full speed!)

This is the view that greets me everyday when I get home!  

Next:  The dogs that live on our street!

Stray dogs here are very common.  Usually, people in the community offer them food and some shelter.  Yet, most are not vaccinated nor castrated.  The dogs of my street have become my good friends!  What will I do when I leave my house in Athens and have no one to great me and escort me to wherever I'm going?  

The are my two main boys!  Meet Cola and Diego.

 Cola literally escorts us everywhere.  He walks us to the bus stop in the morning, around the neighborhood, goes on hikes, and has even joined our runs!  This is him walking us home yesterday.  If the pack of dogs on our street where high school, he's be the all star football player.  He's always energetic, happy and gets along with everyone.  

Diego.  When we first arrived in Santa Maria he had just shown up in the neighborhood and wouldn't let anyone touch him.  He soon warmed up to us and now he's our favorite, goofiest friend.  He can't be more than a year old and bounds down the street, limbs flailing when he sees us.  Leaving him is going to be the hardest. 

This is Feia. She stays in the yard across the street and never wanders far.  She is quiet, sweet, and mostly super pathetic.  This dog belongs on a warm, fluffy bed in front of a fire place.  She's just not cut out for the street.  She got knocked up when we first arrived and she is ready to pop.  I'm worried for her and I hope that she delivers her puppies safely.  Vivian says it is easy to find people to take the puppies.  I hope she's right. 

Family photo fail.

This is the gate in front of our house. 

Last, but not least.  

These are the two dogs that rule the roost in the center of the city.  They won't allow for other dogs to enter their territory. They are vaccinated, castrated, and well fed.   People love these dogs like they were their own.  Every time I go to the main square I see them.  The day we watched the game downtown they were there also watching the game.  When everyone would cheer, they would bark along.   I'm not sure if people are taking care of them or they are taking care of the people.

  

And that's that.  The stories of my dogs. 
There are many obstacles to overcome here with street dog populations, vaccinating, castrating, and animal control.  Yet, there is no doubt that many of these street dogs, although without a home, are not without love.