3.18.2013

Guatemalan Riddle

While we were in Guatemala I witnessed something happen that I don't have a concrete answer to.  Maybe someone can enlighten me?...

A Little Background

Running through the villages around Lake Atitlan are 2 different type of animals.

One type are the wild dogs.  They are in no way considered pets.  Their well being and feeding are completely up to them as the people do not provide for those things.  (Especially since the people don't often even have those things for themselves, let alone the animals.)

The other type of animals roaming free are chickens.  Evidently they do belong to specific families, but during the days they are allowed to roam free through the villages and then they automatically return home each evening.


 What I Noticed

One day in our ventures, I noticed one of the obviously underfed (ribs showing) wild dogs rummaging through a pile of trash.  I'm assuming it was looking for some food.

Just feet from this dog were chicks.  Not full grown chickens as in my picture, but little yellow chicks.

All of my previous knowledge and experiences would have led me to believe that there was no hope for those chicks.  They would be devoured immediately, especially in the hungry condition this dog appeared to be in.

It took me a moment to fully realize what I was witnessing.

That dog showed absolutely no interest in those chicks.  None at all.  It was as if it didn't even see them, but with the proximity that they were to the dog, there is no doubt it was fully aware of their presence. 

My Only Explanation

So explain that to me?  How is it that chickens and hungry wild dogs co-exist when all of my experience has taught me that a situation like that does not typically have a good outcome for the chickens.

The only explanation I can come up with?......The people need those chickens as part of their survival. 

Is it that God keeps those dogs subdued as a way of provision for the people of the villages of Lake Atitlan?

What do you think?

4 comments:

  1. nikkipolani1:22 AM

    Boy, I don't know the answer to the riddle, but I do recall wild dogs running around the villages in Paraguay a lot like you're describing in Guatemala. There were chickens, too, though when I was there, I didn't see any chicks. And the dogs never approached the chickens.

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  2. Susanne7:43 PM

    Hmmm, interesting. Wouldn't have a clue to the answer.

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  3. MyQuietCorner10:34 PM

    Interesting to hear that it happens in other parts of the world as well.

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  4. MyQuietCorner10:35 PM

    At least I'm not the only one puzzled as to the answer. :-)

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