During my Family Dog Mediation course, I came across a fascinating fact: around 80% of the dogs on our planet are not living in captivity. This got me curious, so I delved into understanding what exactly “captivity” means.
Captivity refers to animals that are held by humans and prevented from escaping. This term commonly applies to wild animals confined by humans, but it can also encompass the keeping of domesticated animals like livestock and pets.
To get a clearer picture, I turned to sources like Applied Ethologist Kim Brophey and others who study free-range dogs and domesticated animals. And speaking of new terms, I stumbled upon “ethologist,” which is someone who studies animal behaviors. Ethologists examine everything from domestic pets to wildlife to uncover insights into natural behavior patterns.
Suddenly, I found myself immersed in a rabbit hole of information, all thanks to an Ethologist’s insight that only about 20% of dogs are living in captivity, with most of them being in the USA.
Then there’s Zack Health from https://www.sweetazproductions.com/, who ends up in Cusco, Peru and sends over photos of free-range dogs. It’s a moment when things start feeling incredibly real. Now, what will I do with all this newfound knowledge swirling in my mind? I’m not entirely sure yet, but I’ve been considering a trip to Costa Rica. It’s time to dig into those free-range dogs and learn about their animal control and compassion programs.
One thing I’m certain about: I’m not in favor of “rescuing” free-range dogs and placing them into captive homes. As a dog trainer, I’ve witnessed the significant challenges these dogs face, and the lack of education provided by those who bring them in. However, I am eager to learn how to make small improvements in communities and directly impact the areas where I can help.
Check out Zack beautiful photos directly at: https://www.instagram.com/p/CwDwTzttJBc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Zach’s post stated at Peru: “It’s said that roughly 14,000 street dogs call Cusco home. While they are called street dogs, a large number have homes but permission to roam freely. With mixed feelings on how these dogs should be treated, the community has passed laws holding individuals accountable for animal cruelty.
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It’s common to come across dogs who are polite and / or give you no trouble. The main reason for this is that aggressive dogs just do not make it, and the community makes sure of this through not-so-pleasant methods.
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While spay and neuter programs do exist, they are expensive. Instead, you will discover more males within the street dog communities because female puppies are killed in order to help control the population.
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I do get excited to come and explore Peru with the camera. I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to dog photography. I have had some amazing models who have put up with me.”
Thoughts?