My Life in Argentina and Beyond

I miss my dogs. I miss Rubio—Rubio, the star German Shepherd, the loyal companion par excellence. Rubio was a dog that should have lived forever. Leo was the dog I had to give up for his own good. Leo was my protector but we had terrible neighbors and they made life very difficult for us. Chiquito—the Pekingese with the soul of an aristocrat. Chiquito, who was a connoisseur of what was beautiful and expensive. Then there was Otranto, my friend Nadia’s older dog. He and I understood each other with just one look. I didn’t even have to say a word—he knew. Niebla, Otranto’s half brother, was such a finicky eater that caviar would not have been good enough for him. They are gone now and I will not forget them. Each brought something to my life that was unique and not to be repeated again.

Marcela, Me quede muy mal despues de que me diste la noticia de que habias dado a Rita en adopcion. Lo he consultado con la veterinaria de mi gatita en Argentina y ella esta de acuerdo en que no actuaste bien con respecto a mi. Si es cierto que estabas en comunicacion con esa familia que estaba veraneando en Villa Gessell y que perdio una perra parecida a Rita, lo correcto hubiera sido decirmelo, ya que yo estaba contribuyendo en lo que podia para tenerla en ese pensionado de esa sra. y ademas tenia todas las intenciones de adoptarla a mi regreso, que va a ser dentro de muy poco tiempo. Ahora si quiero ayudar a otro perrito/perrita en memoria de mi perrito muerto, voy a desconfiar de las proteccionistas. Que se yo, a la distancia, si actuan de buena fe o no? No solamente lo he perdido a el sino que tambien la he perdido a ella. Esto ocurrio en un espacio de 2 meses. La proxima vez, si alguien que no esta en este momento en el pais se comunica con vos para ayudar pensa en esto: A los perritos si hay que rescatarlos de la calle o de las perreras. Yo misma lo he hecho varias veces. Y por eso, hay que tener respecto y consideracion porque los perritos no tienen plata para pensionados o mata pulgas o vacunas. La gente es la unica que te puede ayudar a vos y a las demas proteccionistas. Conozco de sobra el tema y se que conseguir a alguien que te de algo es muy dificil. De saber vos que habia alguien interesado en Rita, me lo hubieras dicho antes de yo mandarte el giro por medio de la inmobilaria. Le deseo lo mejor a ella, pero te repito. No actuaste correctamente conmigo. Eugenia

Tuesday, June 10, 2008: It was a Thursday. Very early in the morning. You tried everything to survive, just like had done it your entire life, but the fire was too great. You thought of everything to draw attention to yourself and your dogs. I know they barked for help, and I know you must have yelled.

Friday, April 4, 2008: Today's show on puppy mills in the US was one of the most moving I have ever watched. One of the most heartbreaking parts took place in San Antonio, at the local shelter. The dogs that could not be placed in homes were euthanized. Most of these animals looked nice and healthy. I understand that most stray dogs cannot wait forever until they find a new home and that the shelters have a limited budget to work with. But, all the same, it made me realize that this is something that has to stop. I have read about puppy mills on the Internet and now have seen how the operate. It is all about money, as usual.These places sacrifice and abuse helpless dogs for a buck or two. The Oprah Show has done a good deed and we must in our own individual ways, do more. We must ask ourselves: What if it was our dog that had to be euthanized? What if our companion somehow wound up in a jail for animals?

March 30, 2008: Today would have been Nadia’s 84th birthday. I only knew her for four months and a week, but I have never forgotten her. Nadia had something that tugged at my heartstrings. I loved her very much. She had been a self-made woman who suddenly lost it and ended up living in a large and filthy apt. With her 3 dogs. No one was taking care of her when I met her on February 3, 1999.
I had seen her around the neighborhood walking her black dog Otranto, but we didn’t talk until that Wednesday afternoon. I was on my way to the movies to see the modern version of the Cinderella tale, starring Drew Barrymore and Anjelica Huston. I had noticed her dark brown eyes and the dark circles under them and her long black and white hair. She was dressed shabbily—baggy trousers, dirty tennis shoes and a long sleeved top. I didn’t want to be late for the movie, which was all the way in the Palermo neighborhood, almost an hour away from Vicente Lopez. But I wanted to talk to her. After that, we ran into each other until she invited me up to her apt. on the 1700 block of Avenida Maipu. It was something out of the Miss Havisham character in Dickens’ novel Great Expectations.
That March 30, 1999 Nadia had a better birthday. I went to Depto. 10 F, knocked on her door. Her dogs were behind her when she opened. I will never forget her face, or the way Otranto, Niebla and Rubio were protecting her. You were the only one who remembered, she told me. That evening we had a little party in my apt. There was a cake, sandwiches, tea and coffee. Even her adopted son showed up. Nadia was happy.