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Tales of the Chupacabra started making the rounds in the
early 90s. The word is literally translated from Spanish as goat sucker
to describe an insatiable, bloodthirsty monster responsible for slaughtering
herds of livestock. Accounts of Chupacabra attacks bore a striking similarity to
vampire tales, which makes it tempting to speculate on their origin. These tales
originally surfaced in Puerto Rico and were most likely a spruced up version of
the island’s 1970s monster El Vampiro de Moca. Thanks to the internet and
references on popular TV shows like the X-Files an obscure modern folktale grew
into an urban legend. Within a few years, Chupacabra attacks and sightings were
frequently reported throughout Mexico and the Southwestern US.
And what can this possibly have to do with Xolos?
Even though descriptions of the Chupacabra range from a
giant lizard to a monkey to a kangaroo, somehow, someone has managed to link
this mythical beast to the Xolo. This unfortunate comparison has become the
latest addition to the endless sensationalism attached to this wonderful breed.
From a superficial perspective, fantasizing about the Xolo’s possible
relationship to the supernatural or extraterrestrial seems like harmless fun.
But if we look at it a little closer, it turns out to be quite detrimental. From
an obvious standpoint, it labels the Xolo as a potential menace to livestock, an
instant death sentence for dogs in many parts of the US.
In 2004-2005 a number of stray
Xolos were shot in the vicinity of Elmendor and Lufkin, TX. Early reports of
these incidents described them as "bluish gray, hairless dog like creatures" and
immediate comparisons were made to the Chupacabra. Although there is no evidence
that these dogs menaced or killed any livestock, that became a standard feature
of the stories since it was already part of the Chupacabra legend.
Within months, internet hype led
to descriptions of them as "bloodthirsty, insatiable, ferocious, a potential
threat to livestock AND humans and possibly of extraterrestrial origin."
Eventually one of the recently killed animals was sent to a lab for DNA testing
which revealed it to be nothing more unusual than a hairless dog.
Three years later the "Elmendorf
Creature" is firmly ensconced as an urban legend, creating an ongoing invitation
to randomly shoot stray Xolos.
Other threats are less obvious but no less insidious. For
instance, we’ve all encountered prospective owners looking for a social prop
rather than a dog. Anyone dedicated to protecting and promoting a hairless breed
is familiar with the red flags that typify irresponsible ownership. An unusual
dog is certainly an attention-getting device. Attaching an urban legend to the
Xolo’s visual impact creates an even bigger lure for foolish customers and fad
breeders. These stories are entertaining and certainly have great potential as a
sales pitch, but they do not encourage any genuine understanding of our breed or
the realities of dog ownership. If anything, they are guaranteed to foster a
throw away mentality when the novelty wears off. They also implies that we
ourselves don’t take the breed seriously, which is an especially dismal
commentary on anyone devoting their time and effort to breeding or showing Xolos.
We face a similar dilemma discussing the Xolo’s traditional
medicinal power. The breed’s reputation for healing powers is based in Mexican
folklore. In that context it is benign and quite likely ensured the Xolo’s
survival for many centuries. The breed’s evolution and heritage are
unquestionably fascinating but we walk a fine line when emphasizing this aspect
of Xolo history. Anything that appears in print can be taken out of context and
sensationalized. This is precisely how urban legends like the Chupacabra get
their start. And as breeders, the buck stops here.
Yes, we need to publicize our breed but we also need to be
aware of potentially damaging consequences when publicity crosses the line to
media hype. Myths and legends tend to take on a life of their own. Once they
start making the rounds they are not easily explained away. The Xolo is one of
the world’s most fascinating breeds and there is no shortage of amazing facts we
can use when promoting it to the public. However, it is our responsibility to
create and sustain a positive perception rather than allowing the Xolo to be
parodied as an urban legend, quack remedy or winner of ugly dog contests.
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