More than a rescue operation

Sometime in the mid seventies, I became interested in rescuing and restoring the dwindling population of Perros Pila Argentinos (the Argentine variant of the Peruvian hairless dog, internationally recognized as a separate breed some years after I started work with the Pilas). In those years, as my husband would not accept 'those disgusting animals' in his house, I had several litters in Doña Felisa Chocobar's house, and those pups were registered with the Argentine Kennel Club. Unfortunately, Doña Felisa died suddenly, and, due mainly to class discrimination (only the poor people and aboriginal Americans have these dogs) the result of three generations of selective breeding were dispersed and lost.

Then, after my divorce in 1990, I moved, in 1991, to Santiago, Chile, with two very lovely females brought from Salta. One of these was served by a nice dog I found in Buenos Aires before moving, and my first litter of two Pilas, Bernardina and Baldomero, were Chilean. A good friend in Salta sent me another bitch and a dog, with whom I was able to start on a programme for the selection and improvement of a breed which by then was close to extinction. I was able to have another three generations before economic circumstances forced me to give away all but four of my older Sealyhams (a breed I had been working with since 1972).

I returned to Salta in 1998, with only my two remaining old Sealies and two geese. But in 2004 I was contacted by Carlos Lewis, then mayor of coronel Moldes, a small town in the south of the province, to judge the first 'Fiesta Nacional del Perro Pila Argentno'. It turns out Carlos had become interested in the breed for philosophical reasons, and subsequently realized that any government-sponsored activity that contributed to improving the Pila image as our only authocthonous dog breed would also contribute to improving their owners' self esteem and, hopefully, economic circumstances through the sale of puppies.

In the past year, after four 'Fiestas Nacionales' in Coronel Moldes, it looks as if the Pila movement is about to get on its feet. Carlos, who is no longer mayor of Moldes, has agreed to organize this year's Fiesta privately(on or near Columbus Day). And Eduardo Caniza, owner of Don Pilichy, the nicest dog I had seen in the past few years, has undertaken to make a census of all the dogs in and around the city of Salta, and help organize a Pila subcommitte in the Salta Kennel Club. This Club, in turn, is also backing the movement for the rescue and restoration of the breed.

But saving the Pilas is only half - if not less - of the movement's objective. I have always known that these very charming and structurally beautiful dogs were 'Lower class pets'. There is a, to some extent understandable, prejudice against hairless animals (why are we not prejudiced against hairless humans, I wonder?). But the main prejudice stems from their having been pets to our Amerindian native population, and still being companions only to the very poor inhabitants of our northern provinces.

In the past year, thanks to the Pilas, I have become acquainted with, and entered the homes of some of these dogs' owners. They live, for the most part, in abject poverty. Many don't have running water. Their homes have dirt floors. Some of the children don't go to school, because their parents can't afford to buy the national uniform of dust coats and pinafores created precisely to avoid clothing discrimination. But these people love their Pilas, and take care of them as well as they can.

Now, however, thanks to the climate changes for which the so-called developed world is mostly responsible, the Pilas are in greater danger than ever. Until thirty years ago, it was not uncommon to see pink or whiteskinned Pilas, often spotted in very attractive patterns. Today, only the slate coloured and dark copper dogs survive: and even they are being killed off by skin cancer, due to exposure to our increasingly fierce Sun.

This morning, I accompanied Eduardo and his companion, Sandra, to the vet's, with their dear Pilichy heavily sedated. Pilichy was euthanized. His skin cancer had progressed to the point where he was nothing more than a supurating, tumourous bag of bones, but holding onto life for the sake of his human family. We buried him in my garden.

Why am I writing all this? I suppose, to get it off my chest. I'm angry. Pilichy would not have developed cancer if his owner had been able to afford sunscreen for his dog. Sandra, who is a whiteskinned young woman of Middle Eastern descent, doesn't protect her skin, knowing that cancer is on the rise in this sunny region at 4,000 feet above sea level. I myself wear cheap sunscreens, and discovered only a few days ago that I have developed a small blue-black melanoma on my left cheek. I'll probably have it removed in some public hospital before the year's end.

Pilichy was fortunate in that he lived with a family who could afford to pay for his euthanasia. The dwindling majority of his breed survive, together with their people, in conditions that the 'civilized' world would consider worse than miserable. But perhaps things are lookng up: In the last couple of years, thanks to the worldwide increase in allergies probably induced by worsening atmospheric conditions, many doctors have begun to recommend hairless dogs as pets. Chinese crested dogs (a relatively hairless breed created in the USA at the beginning of last century) are becoming fashionable amongst the Argentine nouveaux riches. Hopefully our movement can rescue some sense of national pride for the promotion of our native breed, and eventually succeed in its rehabilitation and in helping to improve the lot of their owners, giving them a sense of pride of ownership and an improvement, however slight, in their economic situation.

I don't suppose it's at all likely that there will be any response to this blog, or that anyone will be in the least interested in its content. But, there! I've got it off my chest, and that should be sufficient for tonight...