You can’t walk the streets of Guanajuato without seeing the street dogs. They come in many sizes and colors. They tend to be a bit raggedy and dirty. They typically run past, ignoring whistles and attempts to get their attention, unless you have a fragrant food offering. Amazingly, I did not witness any altercations between them, despite many of them being unneutered males.
The first dog I “met” followed Mom and me after we purchased a roast chicken. He drooled as he walked behind us, sniffing the bag. We also had bananas, my dog’s favorite treat. At one point, we stopped and offered him a piece of banana. This dog recoiled in disgust. Over a few weeks, I got to know this dog better. I called him Favo, because he is mi perro favorito (my favorite dog). The first time I was able to pet him was an afternoon when I sat on a bench near him. He was startled and “jumped,” but didn’t leave. A few minutes later, I was able to pet him and gave him a thorough scratching. I don’t think most of these street dogs ever receive human touch. The last picture was after three weeks. I called him and he came, happy to get some more attention. I got “the lean” as he pressed against my leg during his petting.
These two are called “Black” and “Café” according to a man who spoke to us in Spanish. The two dogs are always together. One day I saw Café cross a busy street first. Black was distracted, missed the opening, and had to wait for cars to pass. Café barked at him to hurry!
This little guy was hoping for a treat from the bakery, but he soon gave up and left.
I don’t know if this scruffy pooch is a street dog or not. He sure likes “guarding” this shop.
When the dogs get tired, they rest where they can. Don’t worry, the dog on the right was fine.
Heated and Hammered 