[nagdu] Dogs being eaten in Mexico?

Fri Apr 23 00:37:27 UTC 2010

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they *don't* eat dogs there.  It's just a few people
who keep pointedly telling me they do, probably because when they go on with
their other racist or whatever crap, I don't go along with it and start
pointing out obvious examples (generally a couple of doors down the street
from them) where they're wrong about "Them Mexicans."  Argh!  If they keep
pushing it, I point right next door to us and reminding them that, as they
well know, the property that fits what there describing is occupied by, you
know, *our* ethnic kind.  I enjoy knowing about other cultures and how
individuals from here and there look at the world through their cultural
lens.

But the negative stereotyping without reference to a reality that is just
sitting right there day in and day out really sets me off and I don't go
along with it.  I just can't.

So that's why I think suddenly Mexicans eat dogs.  They know I'm always with
my dog and that we are pretty attached to both our dogs.  In addition to
being shameless attached to a few of Them Mexicans.

Thank you for the confirmation about the Mexican non-eating of dogs!  Now I
can say, "I know some people who live there and..."  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Cheryl Osborn
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 3:39 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] Dogs being eaten in Mexico?

I have lived in central Mexico for about 4 years now and I have never
heard of anyone here eating dogs.  I have heard of situations where
poison was put out because of street dogs causing problems to farmers.

On 4/22/10, Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net> wrote:
> Dan,
>
> That seems to be a very well-balanced attitude and approach to me.
/smile/
>
> Odd, every now and then somebody at our new end of the park will randomly
> say hi as Mitzi and I are going about and then start going on about Them
> Mexicans.  "They eat dogs down there, you know."  Er....  I have a feeling
> that my great sin of hanging out with Them Mexicans is what prompts such
> commentary.  Apparently, I'm too blind and stupid to realize how awful and
> whatever else they are.  Sigh.  The list can get long.  So I just start
> messing with whatever racist fool by playing stupid and saying, "Really?
I
> hadn't noticed!  When I'm around, they're always..."  And I list the
> opposite virtue they have.  The racist fool will finally give it up,
> grumbling and admitting that I have a point about the Them Mexicans around
> here.  The nes with the well-maintained houses and yards and cars and
steady
> jobs and well-behaved kids who are always clean and well-dressed and do
well
> in school and so on.  Point made!
>
> So then they have to bring in the eating of dogs.  Honestly, though, I
have
> never heard of any such practice in latino or south american culture.  I'm
> pretty sure they're making it up, although I know there are places where
the
> poverty can be pretty extreme and where drought or other weather anomalies
> can cause real problems leading to the threat of starvation.  In which
case,
> I'm afraid, no matter where you live or what your ethnic background is,
meat
> is meat and it's also competing with you for resources.  Doesn't make it a
> cultural norm, though.
>
> Never had anyone ask questions about the dog that made me think they might
> be considering making off with her, though.  I do get nervous, because DD
> will occasionally grin evilly at someone and randomly mention what her
> training is worth....  He does remember to point out that we couldn't just
> sell her to someone who needed a guide dog, since so few people who do
need
> one have that kind of money floating around.  It's just that that is what
it
> costs the programs to produce one of her.  I always add my firm agreement
on
> both issues.  I keep close track of her, and she won't go off with anyone
> else without a specific command -- and then it's only the groomer, and she
> makes sure that I really reinforce the notion that she is to go with her
and
> that it's what I want and that, really, we'll be back together in no time!
> The groomer is pretty patient with this whole schtick.  /smile/  She gets
> why I cater to and encourage the behavior, which is why I keep going back
to
> her.
>
> Still, there are a few folks around our neighborhood who wouldn't be above
> trying to sell the poodle on the black market because of her training,
even
> if just for the drug money.  May I just mention that these people are
*not*
> the Mexicans?
>
> Generalizations work  both ways.  It just so happens that in this
> neighborhood the druggy delinquents happen to be of my same ethnic
> background.  Whereas those around us from the south of the border ethnic
> background are ideal neighbors.  So you never know, do you?
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Dan Weiner
> Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 9:15 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Thanks for the welcome
>
> Well, let's see...why bring a dog to Mexico on a trip and so on?
> Frankly, guys, I've traveled with a dog to other countries  because I'm a
> better traveler with  a dog than a cane. A dog can do things a cane can't
> and I won't pretend otherwise.
>
> I'm not going to be jumping on the "all you need is the training in the
> proper use of the long white cane and you should not have any reason to be
> using your dog instead of the cane" bandwagon.
> That doesn't mean you need to feel obliged to take your pooch on any rip,
> that's up to you. I'm not Lin, of course, and won't answer for her but for
> myself.
>
> There are several hundred guide dog users in Mexico, mostly from Leader,
and
> they're getting out and about doing things.
> Again, that doesn't mean we should automatically go,  but I can understand
> why you would.
> I've been to Mexico with my hound, and I suppose the biggest problem was
> aggressive dogs and a few access issues, and the fact, of course, that the
> sidewalks and so on are different.
>
> I've been to other places as well. Again, just saying that I don't find it
> unreasonable for someone to travel with their pup.
> Would I do it again...depends:
>
> 1. on where I'm going
> 2. on whether I have a support network, friends, tings to do, etc.
> For example, I'm planning in  the next year or two to visit Europe and
> there's very little doubt in my mind that Carter will be going.
>
> Actually, I've never been asked to sell my dog, but I had a few incidents,
> even here, where people who seemed a bit down-and-out persistently asked
me
> how much he's worth and followed me.  That did make me nervous.
>
> This is an interesting discussion and look forward to hearing other points
> of view
>
> Dan the man, Carter the Dog
>
>
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-- 
Cheryl in Mexico
chapalacheryl at gmail.com

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