Animals in Peru,  Looking Back at the United States,  Money, Economics, Politics

A Peruvian Hairless Dog for Obama’s Family? Vote on It!

Peruvian hairless dog, also known as Peruvian Inca Orchid dog; photos courtesy BBC online

Here’s an offbeat story from today’s El Comercio that just begged to be translated into English for this blog:

“Peruvian Hairless Dog Offered to Obama’s Family”

A Peruvian Tenant in the White House?

EFE: An offer of a Peruvian hairless dog has been made to the family of Barack Obama, whose daughter Malia suffers from pet allergies. 
 
A hairless Peruvian dog will be offered as a pet to the family of the president-elect of the United States, Barack Obama.
 
Claudia Galvez, president of the Association of Friends of Hairless Peruvian Dogs, reported that tomorrow she will send a letter to the Peruvian Embassy in Washington, D.C., to inquire if the new president is ready to give shelter to a symbol of Peru.

“The hairless dogs are hypoallergenic, do not have fleas, have no hair, and, futhermore, have been known to cure inflammatory diseases such as asthma, arthritis and rheumatism,” said Galvez to the agency EFE.

Galvez was encouraged to make the offer in response to Obama’s statement last Friday about the importance of selecting the right pet for his family due to his daughter’s allergies. 

The Peruvian hairless dog, the only one of pre-Hispanic origin in South America, is devoid of hair resulting from a syndrome known as ectodermal hypoplasia. The dogs also lack premolars and lose most of their teeth at an early age.

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What do you think?
[poll id=”2″]
links:
Hairless dog beats extinction: (MSNBC, Jan. 2007)

I am an American writer who lived in Lima for seven years (2007-2014), where I covered Andean traditions, melting glaciers and daily life in the capital for Miami Herald, MSNBC and Huffington Post. I now live and work in northern Florida where I champion climate change advocacy and compassionate, affordable eldercare.

15 Comments

  • Peruanista

    I voted yes, just because I like the Chimor dog. But honestly, I think it’s not going to be the Obamas first choice.

    Also I wrote something about news posted by Reuters. It is amazing how Peruvian culture is changed by misinformed journalists. This dog was not originally bred by the Quechua people (wrongly called Incas) but other civilizations long before them…

  • Barb

    Holy canole, Peruanista, the four-month-old dog offered to the Obamas has huuuuu-uge ear!

    I didn’t think the Reuters news item was badly reported; just over simplified. Most people reading Reuters stories (translate: US readers) don’t know anything about Peruvian culture other than the Incas. The terms the journalist used, “Incan kings,” etc. were phrases that could convey the gist of the matter to people who know next to nothing about the ancient and fascinating cultures of Peru.

    Overall, I think it’s great for Peru that the Peruvian hairless/Chimor/Peruvian Inca Orchid is getting some international coverage.

    And it’s good for us bloggers, too, no?

  • Miguel Fuentes

    Well, I think that could be an excellent choice!! I love those dogs, but he is not the only Peruvian dog, a few months ago, they discovered a new breed of a Peruvian origin, which has been commonly called perro “chusco” or chusco (mixed) dog. Well, this new breed is the Peruvian Shepherd; look it up in the news, but I believe most of them are in Spanish.

    Greetings from a Peruvian =]

  • Ward Welvaert

    I love all dogs but I’m thinking if my kid was in the middle of a bunch of politicians, lobbyists, special interest groups and assorted Washington types I might go for something more like a Rottweiler – just to keep everyone nice and honest around the old White House.

  • Barb

    Miguel, I looked up the Chiribaya shepherd, as this dog is called. It is a dog that predates the Spanish Conquest and was indigenous to Peru. The scientists are studying the DNA of chiribayas buried in ancient graves and trying to determine of purebred descendents are alive today.

    Here’s a link about the Chiribaya shepherd:
    http://news.softpedia.com/news/Dog-Mummies-Found-on-Peru-36738.shtml

    But those pups have hair, so even if they do exist today as a recognized breed, Malia would be sneezing…

    LOL, Ward. Politicians and the “people” (let’s put that in quotes) who gather around them do need to be kept in line.

    Just think. If Paris Hilton had been elected president, we’d have a chihuahua in the WH.

  • Elizabeth

    I am Peruvian and was in Peru last month visiting Trujillo to go see the LORD OF SIPAN. As they explained the history of these Royal Incas, their dog known as CHIMU were always at their side. I saw and held the dog while at the MUSEO DE SIPAN owned by one of the Arqueologist. They are beautiful, as I too am allergic to hair and fleas. The dog seat on my lap and was so warm. They are also known as healing dogs. I wanted to get one but it was too late for me as I was leaving and I had to do so much. I think President Obama and his girls would love this beautiful dog.

  • Diva Ruth

    YES! The Peruvian Inca Dogs are great. I own one and Chester is a loving, affectionate dog. He is showered to keep him clean, he loves to go for walks or rides in the car, so the care of him is easy. He is a great bed warmer. Yes Obama’s daughter will enjoy this breed of dog. They are WONDERFUL!

  • Barb

    Diva Ruth — Now that you tell me they make great bed warmers, I want a Peruvian Inca dog! It is so cold here in Lima during the winter (I’m always kvetching about it on this blog); we need one of those little heaters to get through those months.

    Elizabeth, if you live in New Jersey, I think there are at least two breeders there that have pups for sale.

  • Barb

    Diane — hmmm, is that true that the US presidents have to leave all gifts behind when they leave the White House?

    Readers, do you know anything about this?

  • Peruanista

    Hi Barb, just passing by. This is not an Inca dog, sorry – it’s like calling Ceasar to a dog from Italy, or Pharaoph to a canione from Egypt. Simple jouranlism hides important and decisive facts. And yes, it is really warm… I had one when I lived in Huanchaco. Saludos… Thanksgiving is coming – will this your first in Peru?

  • Barb

    Peruanista, this will be our second T-giving in Peru, but as last year, we won’t be celebrating it. The holiday is very American; I need to see the turkeys and bags of stuffing in the supermarket for me to get worked up about it.

    As far as the Reuters story on the Peruvian hairless dog: It says that the dog was popular with the Incas, which is true (the story says “Inca kings,” which is a phrase that you take issue with, but the main idea is correct). It does not say that it was an “Inca dog.” The story does accurately say that the dog existed in Peru for at least 3,000 years.

    The name “Peruvian Inca Orchid” is the term given to the breed by the AKC in the United States. I am not making up that name.

  • pat

    i like to have that breed of hairless dog from peru. i doubt if we can buy one in the usa.
    tell me more info .