An Unlikely Palace Dog

By Amy Fernandez

It’s hard to imagine another time in human history when the comfort we get from canines seemed so essential to life. Likewise, never a time when politicians have been so uniformly unpopular. Therefore, it’s also unlikely that any stray dog found a more welcome destination than last month when an errant Maremma Sheepdog decided to move in with the Brazilian president and his family.

Clearly, this was no ordinary stray. First off, it’s a bit odd to find this native of Tuscany strolling around downtown Brasilia. They’re also too big to miss, standing a towering 29 inches at the shoulder, weighing almost 100 pounds and wearing a starkly white coat. Traditionally a flock guardian, like many Herding breeds, this one has easily transitioned into the role of a great pet.

References to the breed date back to ancient Rome and its time-honored job remains in high demand, especially these days now that wolves have repopulated the countryside of northern Italy. They’re still taking the same treks, escorting sheep up and down the mountains and vigilantly guarding the flocks. More recently, they’ve also become a mainstay of the Australian sheep ranching industry.

Recognized in Italy way back in 1898, like many native breeds, this one has undergone a few label and classification revisions over the decades. Until the 1950s, the Maremmano and Abruzzese were strictly viewed as separate breeds. Now these strains are combined into a single breed, which is FCI recognized as the Cane Da Pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese.

Anyway, back to our lost dog. As we know, Brazil has been hit by one of the worst waves of COVID-19–along with all the usual personal and economic wreckage–and we certainly don’t need to recap that. Worldwide, people are understandably desperate for any shred of cheerful news, and this one hit the spot for Brazilians.

One thing I can say for this dog, he has good taste, wandering onto the grounds of the presidential palace where the guards immediately befriended him. That didn’t last long. He soon caught the attention of Brazil’s president, who is none too popular these days. Of course, every politician knows that an appealing dog is a tried and true strategy to perk up a lagging political profile. Maybe it was calculated, maybe not. Within days, the president’s wife and kids had commandeered the dog, naming him Augusto and dressing him up in a spiffy little vest emblazoned with the Brazilian flag. He moved right in, flopping on the sofa and sleeping in bed with one of the kids who, of course, immediately created an Instagram account for him.

Well, that was the beginning of the end. It was pretty obvious that this was no street dog. When found, he was in excellent condition. And he knew his way around car and kitchen like any other pet. His owner, Mr. Lima, had already been grappling with multiple life changing horrors. It’s fair to say that losing his dog was the last straw. News reports later quoted him describing his dog as the protective and affectionate friend that kept him going through this nightmare. And everybody can understand that sentiment.

He’d been searching for his dog, of course, but you generally don’t expect to find your lost dog on the front page of the paper. He was stunned to say the least. But fair is fair. Hey, presidents can buy their own dogs. So, after months of heartbreak, Lima was reunited with Zeus-which turns out to be his real name. Asked if he missed the palace lifestyle, he put his big paws around Mr. Lima’s neck and planted a big sloppy kiss for the cameras.

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Posted by admin on Jul 8 2020. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.