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A desert dog is a special creature, best appreciated in its
natural element and without the encumbrance of your city
dog or your perceptions about the other dogs you know else-
where. These dogs of Terlingua, from Chiweenies to
Labradors to cattle dogs to downright mutts and more, have
been either born into this life or have been indoctrinated into
it over some time. Some are shown the way by the human
who feeds them, and a few only learn from the dogs they
come to know. Each one is unique, adding another layer of
depth to the complex fabric of our lives here in the Northern
Chihuahuan Desert.
All these dogs share a place in a pack that is widespread in
terms of the distance they dwell from each other, close knit in
terms of the proximity of the places where dogs and people
congregate and the frequency in which they do so, and a sort
of controlled chaos in the sense that it is allowed to more or
less run unfettered by the constraints of the regulatory norms
in a city, but never coming close to the apex of an all-out
melee, running rampant through the streets wreaking havoc
on all its citizens. Good dogs, you know?
These lovable characters play a daily role in the life and
times of Terlingua, Texas, and they all bring us happiness and
joy, and when the opportunity arises, the occasional dead
buzzard. If these dogs have piqued your curiosity, you are not
alone, and you’ll soon have a chance to see some beautiful
full-color portraits of them and more in the new book, Dogs
of Terlingua, from two of my good friends, graphic designer
Anna Oakley, and photographer Jennifer Boomer. Come visit
anytime, and Viva Terlingua!
Top: Topo C hico
Left: Happy dog with hat
24
Cenizo
First Quarter 2019