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Street Dogs
A collection of sepia-tone photographs taken on the streets of Puerto Rico and Mexico offers more than ninety close-ups, showing the indefatigable spirit of the stray dogs and the rescuers who rehabilitae them for adoption in the United States.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2007
91 people want to read
About the author
Traer Scott
17 books25 followersTraer Scott is an award winning fine art and commercial photographer and author of five books. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, Life, Vogue, People, O and dozens of other national and international publications. She was the recipient of the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts 2010 Photography Fellowship Grant and the 2008 Helen Woodward Humane Award for animal welfare activism. Recent exhibitions of her work have been held at Blue Sky Gallery in Portland, the Shanghai Photographic Arts Festival, the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel and the Irene Carlson Gallery. Traer lives in Providence, Rhode Island with her husband, daughter and pit bull.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 17, 2016
Stray, feral, and community dogs in Mexico and Puerto Rico are lovingly photographed in STREET DOGS.
Street dogs in general are a fascinating subject. Through their behavior we can observe the ancient partnership of canine and human, when the first primitive wolves crept along the borders of human encampments. Indeed, when left to randomly breed on their own, domestic dogs start evolving away from many human-selected traits, and instead begin to resemble the Australian dingo, which is probably what the first dogs looked like.
The dogs in this book are still close enough to human ownership and intentional breeding that most do not look like the "natural" or "pariah" dogs of India and Southeast Asia. Many are recognizable breeds or close mixes. Many are not feral, and will seek human contact. Organizations such as Save a Sato in Puerto Rico have begun importing ex-street dogs into the US to be adopted.
Among the recognizable breeds appearing in this book, you will see that the street dogs now include fighting and gripping breeds. Bred to execute the killing bite in an explosive, tenacious attack, the prevalence of these dogs should be worrying to those working to increase adoptions and sympathy for street dogs. Fighting breeds are more likely to cause fatal or disfiguring attacks, and also attack other pets. These sorts of behaviors aren't likely to encourage positive feelings about street dogs in any community where they occur. I also couldn't help but read between the lines regarding the importation of small-breed foreign dogs into US shelters--these dogs are snapped up quickly because in many parts of the US, shelters are overrun with higher risk dogs.
Street dogs were once a common sight in the Western world, before sanitation, spay/neuter, and evolving attitudes toward animals made them disappear. In many parts of the developing world, these dogs still perform the sanitation job they did in the earliest human societies, feeding on refuse, abandoned livestock carcasses, and the rats these materials attract. It is a difficult life of constant breeding, disease and parasites. Let's hope our attitudes toward man's best friend evolve to where a home with human caretakers is the preferred way to see dogs, but at the same time stop molding their bodies and behaviors so far away from the natural canine that they lose what made us love dogs in the first place.
Street dogs in general are a fascinating subject. Through their behavior we can observe the ancient partnership of canine and human, when the first primitive wolves crept along the borders of human encampments. Indeed, when left to randomly breed on their own, domestic dogs start evolving away from many human-selected traits, and instead begin to resemble the Australian dingo, which is probably what the first dogs looked like.
The dogs in this book are still close enough to human ownership and intentional breeding that most do not look like the "natural" or "pariah" dogs of India and Southeast Asia. Many are recognizable breeds or close mixes. Many are not feral, and will seek human contact. Organizations such as Save a Sato in Puerto Rico have begun importing ex-street dogs into the US to be adopted.
Among the recognizable breeds appearing in this book, you will see that the street dogs now include fighting and gripping breeds. Bred to execute the killing bite in an explosive, tenacious attack, the prevalence of these dogs should be worrying to those working to increase adoptions and sympathy for street dogs. Fighting breeds are more likely to cause fatal or disfiguring attacks, and also attack other pets. These sorts of behaviors aren't likely to encourage positive feelings about street dogs in any community where they occur. I also couldn't help but read between the lines regarding the importation of small-breed foreign dogs into US shelters--these dogs are snapped up quickly because in many parts of the US, shelters are overrun with higher risk dogs.
Street dogs were once a common sight in the Western world, before sanitation, spay/neuter, and evolving attitudes toward animals made them disappear. In many parts of the developing world, these dogs still perform the sanitation job they did in the earliest human societies, feeding on refuse, abandoned livestock carcasses, and the rats these materials attract. It is a difficult life of constant breeding, disease and parasites. Let's hope our attitudes toward man's best friend evolve to where a home with human caretakers is the preferred way to see dogs, but at the same time stop molding their bodies and behaviors so far away from the natural canine that they lose what made us love dogs in the first place.
January 9, 2022
This time Traer Scott took photos of individual stray dogs, and groups of dogs, in the US, Puerto Rico, & Mexico. You get a feel for the lives of the dogs, and the experiences of people who care for them!
January 23, 2018
Hard to resist picking up the book while killing some time at the library. You'd like to adopt just about each one, and I enthusiastically applaud folks who dedicate their time to rescuing homeless pups (though, it seems there are plenty here to be adopted already). Luckily the photographs are not too heart breaking, and many of the mugs are adorable.
July 25, 2014
Dogs willingness to forgive and love humans regardless of cruelty shown them in the past is always surprising. The world would be a much better place if we could learn this behaviour from them.
This book was a wonderful companion to Shelter Dogs, and once again I had watery eyes.
This book was a wonderful companion to Shelter Dogs, and once again I had watery eyes.
December 30, 2007
Traer Scott is one hell of a photographer/storyteller. The photos, of street dogs she found in Puerto Rico and Mexico, are so beautifully composed that you will return to them again and again. And Scott's understanding of the conditions that create street dogs in the first place is complex. Many of these dogs have been adopted; some cannot be. Scott honors them all. I defy you not to cry when you read this--and to be inspired to action.
July 6, 2009
We forget that dogs (and cats) elsewhere are in need of homes. Our less fortunate neighboring countries have even less ability or resources to care for their abandoned pets. Mini documentaries about rescue groups and like minded individuals motivated by compassion for animals otherwise doomed. Very moving.
Read this in the library while I was searching for another book. I had to discreetly use a tissue to wipe my tears.
Read this in the library while I was searching for another book. I had to discreetly use a tissue to wipe my tears.
July 31, 2011
A terrific complement to the original in the series, Shelter Dogs. The book does cite a couple of cases of horrific cruelty to homeless dogs but does not dwell on them, but rather emphasizes the wonderful, selfless work of the many people who devote their lives to finding and caring for homeless animals and to the stories of those dogs who were rescued.
March 1, 2015
Street dogs focuses on dogs from Puerto Rico and a few areas of Mexico. Just like the author's previous book, the portraits of these dogs show them in a dignified light. The foreword was well written and informative explaining why there are problems with strays in these locations.
July 14, 2015
"Street Dogs" by Traer Scott reveals a series of photos of dogs who live in the streets, and information about each one. Traer captures the moment in each photo. It is beautifully written, and so touching. A FABULOUS job well done.
2015-Summer-Reading-Review
2015-Summer-Reading-Review
September 13, 2021
Traer Scott must have a stronger stomach (and heart) than I do, because reading? looking at? her books is very difficult for this wimp. All these beautiful faces with heartbreaking stories :(
I wish I could give them ALL homes. 😥
I wish I could give them ALL homes. 😥
November 13, 2008
Amazing documentary with more text than in "Shelter Dogs".
June 16, 2011
Beautiful photographs and surprisingly uplifting stories. Thank you, Robert!
August 18, 2012
Some parts sad and heart breaking, but good to know there are people trying to help the street odgs.
April 15, 2013
gorgeous pics, heart breaking book, I did like the updates on each dog.
April 25, 2015
I want my next dog to come from one of these rescue organizations. Great photos. My favorite were Wolly & Onyx.
November 29, 2017
heartbreaking but something that I'm sure most people do not think about. An important issue to consider, and I'm glad these peoples efforts to help some of these animals has been brought to light.
February 19, 2021
So many sad stories. But beautiful photos and I hope the ones saved are living great lives.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews