Dog news

If life in Haiti is hard for people, it is almost impossible for dogs. I have almost always had a dog at my place over the years. There have been many, since they don't live very long. Dogs survive on leftovers, and there aren't many leftovers anywhere in Haiti these days. That sends dogs out to survive on their own, and they often kill chickens or goats in order to survive. Then, they are killed for killing. 

Zoe was a popular dog. She is still living, but not with me. She adopted a new family not far away. Zoe's daughter, Souza, was our dog for several years. She gave birth to nine puppies this Fall. It was exciting, but things did not go well in the weeks after that. One of the puppies died the day after it was born. As hurricane Melissa arrived, I accidentally stepped on a puppy as I lunged to prevent a plank from falling on a few other puppies. The one I stepped on lived only one week after that. As the remaining puppies began to fill our yard with activity, Souza, the mother, didn't show up one night. She didn't show up the next day either. We learned through the grapevine that she participated with other dogs in devouring a dead animal. As often happens, people put poison in the carcass of a dead animal. Souza was apparently a victim of that kind of poisoning. Her puppies didn't do well without her.  We managed to give a few away. As I understand it, one of her puppies is still at my house.   

Life is like that, especially in Haiti. The phrase "easy come, easy go" is not far from the reality...for animals and for people. People in developed countries are protected from loss. We have ways to avoid it and prevent it. But, loss is inevitable. 

We are grateful for each day we had with our dogs. We know that they are a blessing. We also know that people are created in the image of God, and dogs are not.   

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