I was in chile and came across a huge amount of stray dogs ,what do they eat?

Question

I was travellin to chile and noticed a huge amount of stray dogs everywhere. most of them seemed rather friendly and didn't look like they were starving, what do these beautiful animals eat? doesn't a country like chile have some kind of shelters? please answer as I am tormented by this!

Answer 1

Well, Chileans are not obsessed with pets as people are in he US. This attitude has changed somewhat in the more recent years but in Chile dogs, cats and all other animals would be referred to as "it" not "he" or "she". (Perhaps you should turn the question around and ask about the excessive, almost morbid attention people pay to animals in the US, for example, and disregard other people). In general, stray dogs are fed by people in the neighborhoods, shop owners, anyone really. There are shelters and many good veterinarians who take care of these animals. Nonetheless, the attention paid to animals/pets does not match what people do in the US. Dogs and cats are NOT considered "part of the family" or like a "child". This, can be perceived as rather bizarre and shocking behavior by a Chilean (and a Brazilian, a Peruvian, etc.).

Answer 2

In most places in Russia (at least when I was there) we had the same cituation: stray animals (cats and dogs alike). It's very painfull sight to see since these animals that don't a home to come back to are bound to live on the street and do whatever they please. As for supporting themselves, they'll end up either eating garbage from the garbage dumps or hunt and kill smaller animals. If there's a gentle soul they'll feed the strays or will even adapt one (or couple) if they find that the animal is not wanted by anybody else. If no one will adapt the creature, the animal instinct of survival comes into play a lot faster than it would be when the animal is domesticated. From eating garbage or other smaller animals, the hunter becomes a host to a lot of physical, mental and health-wise aillements that might not been seen on the outside. That's also the reason when a patient comes into the hospital after being bitten / scratched by the stray animal, one of the first things a Doctor asks whether or not he/she had a Tetanus shot before. Depending on the answer, it'll be either a slight emergency (if the answer is "yes": just treating the wound) or the life-and-death fight for survival and time is of the essense (if the answer is "no"). If the answer will be no, the following questions are asked: How long ago have you been attacked? Have you done anything to the wound, like washing it with soap or antibacterial herbs? How do you feel?... Another array of questions can top those, this way helping the caring Professional to narrow down the events and time frame as well as being able to pin-point how to treat a patient, and most importantly how much time they have left before the virus will come into ugliest form and show side-effects. Those who contract Tetanus and don't have a medical treatment right away, will not be able to live for longer than 72 hours... reason being this virus paralises the immune system first, then the vital organs and then the brain. If the person ends up paralised, he/she won't be able to move even a muscle, cold chill will be felt all over the patient's body or they might have a severe case of fever, or even both (depending on the patient's health). He/She won't be able to even drink or eat because of innability to swallow... Everything else starts to fail in the body: from the head to the toes. It is deadly and fast acting... I heard they have special vaccines that are once injected can protect a person for up to 10 years. After that the only thing that will be needed will be the booster vaccines that makes sure that the previous vaccination still works (think of it as a recharge for the innitial vaccine). People live with this shot without any problems and don't have any worries about Rabbies (I think this one has a diffent vaccine, I'm not sure) and/or Tetanus. It is highly recommended to get the Tetanus shot anytime in your life (if you haven't gotten it yet), it'll be worth the money you spend on the appointment with the Doctor: this simple shot will be able to save your life :)

It's so sad to see animals suffer like that... I wish there were animal shelters available in every country so that way animals and humans will be safe and everything would've been better and nothing bad would have to happen. I believe the Government funding and other problems arrise that prevent shelters like that from being built.

Answer 3

Most of those dogs are abandon by stupid people who cant take care of the dogs, so the only thing that the dogs can do is just wonder around, some really kind people in Chile gives them food (left over from lunch, or dinner), the funny thing about this is that Chile has two national animals, one of them is the Huemul, and the other one is the Condor , most people in Chile would want a third national animal. that would be the Dog , because they are everywhere you go see one, any sport imagine that is played in Chile there’s been a dog from a Tennis Court, to a Soccer (Futbol) field, the sad thing about this is that all this dogs wonder around Chile without a shelter...

Answer 4

I live in Chile and I can tell you that the people who answered this question was basically OK. Here dogs, and animals in general, eat whatever they find in the streets. It's sad. People here obviusly cares about that, but, for you to know, the real issue it's all about money. The state doesn't have enough money to provide shelter to all of this dogs. Chile is an small third world country. People, like in USA, usually adopt a pet and treat it (FYI: we normally use "it" for animals when we speak english only, because here there is no difference between "him/her" and "it"...no sé como explicarlo mejor ) like part of the family. But many poor people can't afford ways to prevent pregnancy in female dogs (that other word sounds so awfull:). So the puppies are left in the street, cause they don't have money to feed them neither. Well, actually, now that I explain that, must be a cultural issue too. Some people leave the dogs wander out on the streets and return to their homes just for eating. But Chilean people is learning in small step.

Answer 5

Most feral (wild) dogs hunt small game. They hunt in packs for rabbits, squirrels, rats, moles, and other such vermin. They tend to be well-organized socially and work as a single unit. Packs establish territories and most sick to them.

In the cities, the strays and feral dogs are often fed scraps from merchants or children in the market places. They also hunt when there are no scraps given to them. They help keep the populations of vermin and cats down in the cities. Unfortunately, if they are hungry enough, they may hunt small children or other dogs.

All dogs are descended from wolves, and their instincts, though lesser than the wolf's, are still those for survival. Dogs will eat what is available or hunt down what they can, in order to perpetuate their species.

Answer 6

They usually eat whatever they find in the streets, or steal food from market stands. they're stray, they should know how to survive. even though its sad, maybe u should contact the dpt of aspca of chile and report about the dogs.

Answer 7

they eat food that the people leave for them in the streets, of course chile have shelters for animal, but their capacity is really small compared to the animals ruinning free around the country.

Answer 8

Did you feed any of the dogs while you were on vacation? think it this way ....a million people on vacation in chile ; if everyone fed the dogs then that would explain why they didnt look starved..shop owners also feed the dogs...garbage cans avalible?

Answer 9

It's just a guess, but I think people feed them, just don't "own" them. Even on the reservation where I live there are many strays and people put out food for them. The attitude is that dogs are not to be "owned" but appreciated and cared for as one of our four legged brothers.

Answer 10

Dogs like this in the poorer countries will eat whatev er they can find. They become feral animals.