02 September 2007
Mythical chupacabra found in Texas?
03/09/07 11:34 Filed in: Dogs
From the Associated Press
September 1, 2007
CUERO, Texas — Phylis Canion lived in Africa for four years. She has been a hunter all her life and has the mounted heads of a zebra and other exotic animals in her house to prove it.
But the roadkill she found last month outside her ranch was a new one even for her, worth hiding in a freezer: Canion believes she may have the head of the mythical, bloodsucking chupacabra.
"It is one ugly creature," Canion said, holding the head of the mammal with big ears, large fanged teeth and grayish-blue, mostly hairless skin.
Canion and some neighbors discovered the 40-pound bodies of three of the animals over four days in July outside her ranch in Cuero, 80 miles southeast of San Antonio. Canion said she saved one of the heads so she could get to the bottom of its ancestry through DNA testing and then mount it for posterity.
She suspects that a chupacabra may have killed as many as 26 of her chickens over the last couple of years.
"I've seen a lot of nasty stuff. I've never seen anything like this," she said.
What tipped Canion to the possibility that this might be the vampire-like beast is that the chickens weren't eaten or carried off; all the blood was drained from them, she said.
Chupacabra, which means "goat sucker" in Spanish, is said to have originated in Latin America. "I think it could have wolf in it," Canion said. "It has to be a cross between two or three different things."
What folks are calling a chupacabra is probably a strange breed of dog, said veterinarian Travis Schaar of the Main Street Animal Hospital in nearby Victoria.
"I'm not going to tell you that's not a chupacabra. I just think in my opinion a chupacabra is a dog," said Schaar, who has seen Canion's find.
The three dead animals could have all been part of a mutated litter of dogs, or they may be a new kind of mutt, he said. Schaar said this particular canine may have a preference for blood, letting its prey bleed out and licking it up.
Chupacabra or not, the discovery has spawned an international craze. Canion is selling $5 T-shirts that read: "2007, The Summer of the Chupacabra, Cuero, Texas," all over the world.
"If everyone has a fun time with it, we'll keep doing it," she said. "It's good for Cuero."
Keiley's prediction:
After seeing this article, and many more about this strange find in Texas, I predict that these "mythical creatures" found by the woman in the article are actually a dog breed known as the Xoloitzcuintli: the ancient breed known commonly as the Mexican Hairless. They are available in 2 sizes: under 14 inches (the common one) and the Standard size over 14 inches (the "rare" one). The Standard Xolo weighs about 40 lbs. It is mainly hairless, with a grey/blue skin. Just like the article described. The Mexican people hold this dog in high regard, and they are hard to find. They are historically known for their high body heat, which has been used for centuries in mexican medicine. It is said that placing one of these puppies on the skin alleviates rheumatism and arthritis, and many other diseases. I was supposed to visit a medicine man with these dogs last time I was in Mexico, but got robbed on my way there so had to turn back.
That is my prediction: The woman found 3 dead Standard Xolos. Hardly vampire dogs...probably just 3 lost ones that died for whatever reason (roadkill, heatstroke, whatever). Anyway, the resulting DNA tests should be interesting....
September 1, 2007
CUERO, Texas — Phylis Canion lived in Africa for four years. She has been a hunter all her life and has the mounted heads of a zebra and other exotic animals in her house to prove it.
But the roadkill she found last month outside her ranch was a new one even for her, worth hiding in a freezer: Canion believes she may have the head of the mythical, bloodsucking chupacabra.
"It is one ugly creature," Canion said, holding the head of the mammal with big ears, large fanged teeth and grayish-blue, mostly hairless skin.
Canion and some neighbors discovered the 40-pound bodies of three of the animals over four days in July outside her ranch in Cuero, 80 miles southeast of San Antonio. Canion said she saved one of the heads so she could get to the bottom of its ancestry through DNA testing and then mount it for posterity.
She suspects that a chupacabra may have killed as many as 26 of her chickens over the last couple of years.
"I've seen a lot of nasty stuff. I've never seen anything like this," she said.
What tipped Canion to the possibility that this might be the vampire-like beast is that the chickens weren't eaten or carried off; all the blood was drained from them, she said.
Chupacabra, which means "goat sucker" in Spanish, is said to have originated in Latin America. "I think it could have wolf in it," Canion said. "It has to be a cross between two or three different things."
What folks are calling a chupacabra is probably a strange breed of dog, said veterinarian Travis Schaar of the Main Street Animal Hospital in nearby Victoria.
"I'm not going to tell you that's not a chupacabra. I just think in my opinion a chupacabra is a dog," said Schaar, who has seen Canion's find.
The three dead animals could have all been part of a mutated litter of dogs, or they may be a new kind of mutt, he said. Schaar said this particular canine may have a preference for blood, letting its prey bleed out and licking it up.
Chupacabra or not, the discovery has spawned an international craze. Canion is selling $5 T-shirts that read: "2007, The Summer of the Chupacabra, Cuero, Texas," all over the world.
"If everyone has a fun time with it, we'll keep doing it," she said. "It's good for Cuero."
Keiley's prediction:
After seeing this article, and many more about this strange find in Texas, I predict that these "mythical creatures" found by the woman in the article are actually a dog breed known as the Xoloitzcuintli: the ancient breed known commonly as the Mexican Hairless. They are available in 2 sizes: under 14 inches (the common one) and the Standard size over 14 inches (the "rare" one). The Standard Xolo weighs about 40 lbs. It is mainly hairless, with a grey/blue skin. Just like the article described. The Mexican people hold this dog in high regard, and they are hard to find. They are historically known for their high body heat, which has been used for centuries in mexican medicine. It is said that placing one of these puppies on the skin alleviates rheumatism and arthritis, and many other diseases. I was supposed to visit a medicine man with these dogs last time I was in Mexico, but got robbed on my way there so had to turn back.
That is my prediction: The woman found 3 dead Standard Xolos. Hardly vampire dogs...probably just 3 lost ones that died for whatever reason (roadkill, heatstroke, whatever). Anyway, the resulting DNA tests should be interesting....
Kyoto
02/09/07 10:37 Filed in: Dogs
Kyoto is now just over 3 weeks old, and has more than
doubled in size since last week!
Good karma prevails....she responds to me and my voice above all others', and this is only the second time we've met! It's meant to be...the Universe has given me a gift.
And she is stunningly beautiful for a pup her age!! She's going to win all the trophies in future..it's a given. But more than that, she'll be my companion for the next decade plus!
I'm in Love!
Good karma prevails....she responds to me and my voice above all others', and this is only the second time we've met! It's meant to be...the Universe has given me a gift.
And she is stunningly beautiful for a pup her age!! She's going to win all the trophies in future..it's a given. But more than that, she'll be my companion for the next decade plus!
I'm in Love!