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<< News >> Peru's unique hairless dogs saved at ancient ruins

Submitted by coldrum on Sunday, 21 January 2007  Page Views: 2031

Pre-ColumbianCountry: Peru
Cerro Sechin
Cerro Sechin submitted by bat400 : Site in Peru. At the on site museum. Included is one of the Peruvian Hairless Dogs. Photo by bat400. September 2018. (Vote or comment on this photo)
His eyes gleaming with joy underneath a yellow mohawk and his tail with a little brush at the tip wagging playfully, Josh the Peruvian Hairless Dog heads out to greet tourists at Lima's Pucllana ruins. About the size of an English pointer, Josh and his kin are not guard dogs, but, rather, are guarded behind the walls of this and other historic monuments on the Peruvian coast -- the hairless sight hound's habitat for more than 3,000 years.

They are part of the historic scenery here, but the canine breed almost became history several years back.

"Now we can say they are safe, saved by this project, but a few years ago the Peruvian Hairless Dog was under threat of extinction in Peru," said Pedro Vargas, coordinator of the Huaca Pucllana archaeological project excavating an ancient temple site of the Lima civilisation dating back to 500.

The breed normally has hair resembling a mohawk on the head and a tail brush, but otherwise has naked dark, very warm skin. Its history is long and rather sad, especially after the Spanish conquest starting in 1532.

Native pre-Incan civilisations used the dogs for hunting and as pets for company. They are represented on the ceramic pottery of the Chimu, Moche and Chancay cultures found on the coast.

They were sometimes mummified and buried along with people to help the departed find their way to the world of the dead or to continue serving their owners in the afterlife.

More at Reuters.

Note: the photo was not taken at Huaca Pucllana, and it used only to show the Peruvian Hairless Dog.

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"Peru's unique hairless dogs saved at ancient ruins" | Login/Create an Account | 1 comment
  
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Re: Peru's unique hairless dogs saved at ancient ruins by Anonymous on Friday, 25 May 2007
Roman Alsace-Lorraine here ; I have found a Peruvian Hairless Dog Breeder in France under the Kennel Name : L'Orchidee de Lune, in the
Town of Villebret.
Roman Alsace-Lorraine
8a Bourke Street
Adamstown,NSW,2289.
Australia.
Email : [email protected]
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