January 29, 2015
IN and OUT of the Quad-Cities: The Puerto Vallarta Chihuahua Project
Contributed by Gail McPike and Toni Hall
Happy February everyone. This is Gail. And, rather than the normal Toni and Gail in and out chatter, this month’s episode will be dedicated to a personal social science project. In many ways, what you are about to read runs in parallel to the greatest Fourth Grade Science Fair project of all time. No, we’re not about to make a volcano of home blend “paper-mache,” nor are we going to create a regurging mess by carefully blending baking soda and vinegar. Instead, this is an experiment in social science.
Now for the background story. My mother, Frances Sanders, has always had a thing for cute little Chihuahua dogs. Specifically, she loves the little, bitty, apple head variety. These little folks weigh in at around four pounds but pack an amazing attitude.We’ve discovered most of them missed the memo explaining they are pipsqueak dogs and live life like they’re massive junk yard dogs. Over the years, Frances has had what TV’s “The Dog Whisperer” would call a pack of Chihuahuas. And the current love of her life is Oliver, an 11- year-old attack dog packed in a four pound frame.
Over the years, Oliver has spent increasing amounts of time at my house rather than with his “real momma.” The logistics of caring for even a tiny dog can be taxing, especially in the winter months, so Oliver has slipped into the daily routine of life with our two dogs, Lizzy and Joanie. But, he misses his momma and nearly every day starts with a call from Frances to check on his welfare. “Did he eat right, is he getting exercise, and is he feeling frisky or just hunkering down staying warm under the covers today,” are all common morning phone inquiries.
So when we traveled off to Puerto Vallarta, and surrounding Banderas Bay, we wanted to find a way to include Frances, who stayed behind in Iowa into our daily mix. We decided a research project was in order. Aproject so scientific, so broad sweeping, we would certainly end up with a National Geographic Documentary following our work. We went out to discover the secret of the Mexican Chihuahua. Popular culture would have you believe the Mexican people are wild and crazy about a microscopic breed of dog – the Chihuahua. Taco Bell did their part to reinforce the popular notion
with their billion dollar ad campaign featuring “Gidget” the talking Chihuahua. But we’re not talking about pop culture; we’re doing science. Answering the question, do the natives of Banderas Bay love their Chihuahua doggies?
Setting up our research laboratory in a rented apartment midway between the beach boardwalk and one of the busiest bus routes in the area, we donned tropical clothing and prepared to begin our work. Armed with sensible shoes, digital cameras and exploring minds, we pushed off for points unknown.Within just few hundred feet we spotted our first pack of Chihuahuas on the loose. It seemed the proprietress of Ally’s Boutique, a lady’s dress shop, has three of the cute little Chihuahua’s sunning themselves just inside the glass door. Each of these were uncharacteristically dressed as lovely Senioritas awaiting the ball. It only made sense that Ally’s doggies would have a flair for fashion, and each of them proudly displayed samples of the latest design.
Circling around the block and heading to the bus stop, we met a young girl and her mid-twenties mother ready to catch the next line headed to Boca de Tomatlan. The little girl was holding a tiny fawn brown puppy no bigger than four inches in length, and the mother was holding a full-grown which was more of a sandy brown. With our Spanish running near “nada,”,we never quite figured out the names of these pups, but our pointing and pictures
brought a number of smiles. Making our way down a side street, we happened by an organic juice bar. The shop was closed, but looking through the open windows, we could see the owner and a friend engaged in an animated conversation. Sitting nearby, we saw a Chihuahua named Pepe, following the conversation like he was ready to jump in and make an important point on politics. Pepe’s owner told us, a young boy gave the dog to him while just a pup. Apparently, the puppy had acquired a K-9 form of lyme disease and was desperately ill, and the young boy saw the shop owner as a trip to the Vet.
Pepe was actually one of our favorite Chihuahuas. He followed his master through busy foot traffic, shops and markets, always taking time to play but never falling more than a few feet behind his master. This dog had socialization down to a fine art. Another of our favorites of the trip was a Chihauhau named Paulina. Paulina’s owner took daily strolls around town. And we saw her everywhere; downtown, at the farmers market, at the grocery store… literally everywhere. Almost magically, Paulina seemed to remember if you had met her previously. While not initially the friendliest dog in all of Latin America, once she met you she was your pal. Seeing her in new parts of town was like running into old friends.
Our conclusions…It seems like Chihuahuas outnumbered mere dogs three to one on the shores of Banderas Bay. We captured dozens of pictures of these cuties in their native environment. Along the way we saw them riding in purses, perched on motorcycles and seated in bicycle baskets. Oliver would feel right at home.
