One of the more obvious differences between Costa Rica and the U.S. is the total lack of leash laws here. Stray dogs and pets, alike, run lose in neighborhoods. Downtown street dogs wander undisturbed in and out of meat markets (carnicerias), bakeries (panaderias), the central market, and even a restaurant now and then. Often they lie nearby waiting patiently for handouts that are sure to be offered.
Some dog owners tie their dogs out in the yard at night or corral them behind iron or chain-link fences, presumably for both the dog’s safety and their own, as the disturbance of a barking dog is likely to avert any would-be intruders.
With such freedom comes a serious degree of street smarts. It’s not uncommon to see a dog lay down in the middle of the rural road near our apartment only to scurry to the safety of a nearby road when a car approaches. Walkers and bicyclists are frequently escorted – and even playfully chased on occasion – by friendly canines. Reach for one, though, and they are likely to shy away until learning your intentions.
Mutt and Jeff, the names we’ve given to two neighborhood pets, have become a key component of our daily entertainment as we sip Costa Rican coffee on our balcony each morning. Mutt is a youngish (perhaps a year old -- certainly not much older) yellow lab mix. Jeff is a rag mop of undermined age and breed. Mutt is definitely the adventurer. He’s first out of the yard each morning, rip roaring and ready to go. Jeff takes his time because he knows that Mutt will wander only so far into the vacant lot across the street and then stop and wait until his little bud has sniffed a meandering path and finally caught up with him.
Then they’re off – chasing opossums, digging holes search of one vermin or another, blazing trails through the thick underbrush of a nearby wooded lot. What we enjoy most about watching them, however, is their patient loyalty to their friendship. Where there’s Mutt you can be sure Jeff is not far behind.
Everybody deserves to have a friend they can count on the way Mutt and Jeff do. That way no path would be scary or lonely to travel.
