BLACK DOG
FOLLY, 2014.
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BLACK DOG explores the place dogs occupy in our mythology and religion. All around the world, before monotheist religions taught us that dogs are unworthy and inferior, dogs were often described as fierce guardians of the Afterlife, and/or guides to the human souls. They could refuse passage to the deceased – especially to those who weren’t good to dogs in life. They would carry the souls across dangerous obstacles and through arduous journeys. Using the Christian symbols I grew up with, I challenge the idea that dogs – and animals – are created inferior to Mankind.
In the Middle Ages, though animals were often associated with popular Christian saints, the Church disapproved of the cult of animals themselves. During the 13th century, as the business of canonizing saints came under the control of popes, the Church cracked down on animal cults. Near my hometown, in the French Dombes, peasants venerated Saint Guinefort, healer of children. While the saint took a human form in Italy and other countries, for some reason in Les Dombes, Saint Guinefort morphed with the popular tale of the faithful hound, a greyhound who saved his master’s baby (but was killed in the process). In 1250, Stephen of Bourbon, a Church inquisitor, traveled to the site of Saint Guinefort’s cult. He had the remains of the dog dug up and burned, as well as the site itself, and threatened anyone who would dare continue the cult. Despite his threats, the site continued to be a place of pilgrimage for mothers with sick children for centuries to come, all the way to the 1930s.
In Mesoamerican mythologies, dogs were viewed as psychopomps (see for example the Aztec god Xolotl) and had great power. In some stories, souls could only get the help of dogs as they crossed over, if they had been kind to dogs during their lifetime. Black dogs in particular were often favored, because they didn’t mind getting dirty during the gruesome journey in the underworld:
If a person has been good to dogs during his life, a black dog ferries his soul across the hot river. When an evil spirit (pujuk) comes to take the soul of a man, the dog suggests to him that he should count hairs on its tail before dawn. If the dog.s master has been good to him, the dog jerks its tail and the pujuk loses count (Tzotzil legend / Maya).
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Baby, 2020. Baby was abandoned at a boarding facility at 12 years old. Riddled with cancer, she found a fospice home, who decided to officially adopt her. She’s been doing great ever since.
CIABATTA, 2022. Ciabatta was pulled from the overcrowded LA County Animal Services Palmdale campus with her 4 little puppies. The puppies were adopted swiftly, but Ciabatta waited a while. She’s been adopted since.
Blossom, 2020. Blossom was adopted and returned 4 times since I first met her at the shelter in 2014. Despite all her families, she came back with a litany of untreated medical conditions, and is in terminal kidney failure. her foster mom just made it official, and Blossom is home at last.
TOTOPO, 2022. Totopo was rescued in Mexico. His owners kept him tied outside, day in and day out, on a chain so short Totopo couldn’t lay down. His skin was extremely infected, and blood was oozing from multiple open wounds. He was later adopted by a loving family.
VALENTINO, 2022.
MacLovin, 2018. MacLovin is my own dog. Though he isn’t black, he is brindle, another coat color that people can be scared of. As a matter of fact, his brindle looks landed him on the euthanasia list at a Puerto Rico shelter when I found him. Brindle is the color of “street dogs” and dogs like him are viewed as vermin by many.
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