Dogs of Peru

Coming from a home of four dogs, walking around the streets of Cusco has been simultaneously heartbreaking and exciting. Any time of day, any part of the city, you can walk down the streets and encounter dogs of all shapes, sizes, and appearances. Some are domesticated pets, but the vast majority live their lives on the streets. Walk around at night and you'll see herds of homeless dogs gathering to keep each other warm through the night. During the day, dogs will be sleeping under the sun.

As a dog owner, my first instinct is always to reach out and give the dog some love. While in Peru, it is important to tame this reflex. Many dogs on the street are afraid of humans, based on past experiences with humans or lack thereof. I have tried many times to leave a little food for the dogs I find on the street--almonds, crackers, biscuits, whatever I have on me. Most of the time they sniff it and walk away, probably unsure if humans could be trusted or not.

All of this is to say that the culture around animals--particularly dogs--is incredibly different here in Peru than anything I have experienced in the United States. I have seen dogs being kicked, dogs barely escaping being run over by an unbothered driver, and starving dogs being ignored on the street. Additionally, there are many more homeless dogs than pets. It becomes apparent that dogs may not be seen as a member of the family or even a solid option for a pet here; instead, many times they are treated like a nuisance.

This observation brings me to wonder what aspect of the Peruvian culture creates this distinction. In India as well, many people fear dogs because the vast majority live on the street, have rabies, and will attack if you get too close. I'm sure that this culture respective to dogs is present in various countries or parts of the world, but I don't necessarily understand what makes certain cultures so adverse to dogs. Maybe a better question would be why Americans love dogs so much. Why do we treat them like family? Why do we invest so much money, time, and attention into the care of dogs?

Overall, I've met some adorable and friendly dogs here in the past week, as well as their friendly owners! Noticing these things has really made me wonder what aspects of the culture influence our perception of animals.