Join in the fun!
My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so this was a return to Southeast Asia that I looked forward to. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning a bit about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy some of what I learned and see some of what I saw.
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Puppy abandoned at monastery. The monks will feed it. |
Cats are not frequent in Burma. If you see one, you’d rather not because they are the saddest creatures. Dogs, on the other hand are everywhere. Most are feral. Some are not. They all look like the village dogs of old. There’s is a hard existence, and I imagine their life expectancy is about four years in the cities, maybe a bit more in the country or at monasteries.
Nothing like a lovely scratch and stretch. |
He waited for scraps near a restaurant. |
lilicasplace.com says
To think how rough life is for those dogs makes me sad. Thank goodness there are some lucky ones. Great post. Have a great night. Eva
Mina Burrows says
All those dogs! Wow. That's sad. No wonder Sophie has a smile on her face. Lucky dog.
Natasha Duncan-Drake says
I'm glad to see at least one is a pampered pet.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Michelle Wallace says
Seems like the canines have quite a "raw deal" over there. Really sad.
Happy D-Day!
Tammy Theriault says
Abandoned dogs…. So sad
Suzy says
Such a beautiful dog at the winery. The stray dogs remind me of India – so many strays there too. I hope the puppy abandoned at the monastery found a home with the monks.
worddancewoman says
Only 4 years…. 🙁 So no cats, feral dogs — are pets not a Burmese cultural thing or are do other creatures become pets I wonder…
Shooting Stars Mag says
That's so sad they don't live long here, but it's nice that some are able to be cared for!
Sarah says
The stretched out dog looks like Choppy!
Beverly Fox says
Well, that seals it. I can't go to Burma. I can deal with human suffering (not well, but I can bear it)- but dogs suffering? I get so angry when I see that Sarah McLachlan SPCA commercial it's all I can do to avoid throwing my remote at the screen. Thank God for the monks and anyone who cares for them.
And I'm guessing that the answers to both of those are true.
Nadine_Feldman says
So sad they have such a short life span. Life is tough for so many, people and animals alike.
Sandra Almazan says
They remind me of the wild dogs in Africa. (I helped fund a research project on them several years ago.)
I'm guessing both answers are false.
Susan Oloier says
Your post reminds me of the dogs we see on the reservation here in AZ.
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – it's sad animals aren't cared for in poor countries. At least one dog is happy …
I'd be scared of rabies … and I wouldn't be surprised if there was some truth in the second question .. cheers Hilary
Yvonne Ventresca says
So sad for the dogs that aren't cared for.
Yvonne
Megan Herbert says
I'm actually scared of dogs (something happened when I was little), but I love dogs. It must really be terrible for the dogs – how sad that they live that way.
For the questions, I'm going to say false for the first question and true for the second one.
I'm also doing the A to Z Challenge and mine is at http://www.writerscrossing.blogspot.com
AJ Lauer says
Puppies! We don't have too many of those wandering around these parts, on account of the coyotes and occasional other carnivorous creatures that wander down from the mountains and into the neighborhood…
~AJ Lauer
an A-Z Cohost
@ayjaylauer on Twitter
Joanne says
this is a very interesting blog – I shall keep checking back to learn more.
Rhonda Albom says
It reminds me a bit of Samoa, where there were stray dogs everywhere. Your first quiz question was going to be my question to you – is it safe? Now I guess I will have to come back tomorrow.
Empty Nest Insider says
I also think it's sad that there are so many stray dogs in Burma. Regrettably, the second question is probably true.
Julie
J.H. Moncrieff says
I'm always sad to see the state of dogs on islands and in third-world countries. They obviously want love, but they're often so mangy, sore and flea-ridden that I'm afraid to touch them.
I'm going to guess false for the first question and true for the second.
David Macaulay says
I have heard Burma is a beautiful but sad place given its regime – cool that you got to live in Laos…
nashvillecats2 says
Those poor animals, I hate to see hungry animals.
You highlighted it excellently and it was also interesting to read.
Leetah Begallie says
D should always be for Dogs! Cute pictures 🙂
Cathrina Constantine says
I love all animals, especially dogs. I pray for the homeless, abused, and unloved humans AND animals.
T. D. Harvey says
I struggle seeing stuff like this. I know many countries have feral digs and cats wandering the streets and in poor condition, but I have to switch off from it. Otherwise I don't sleep!
T. D. Harvey says
I struggle seeing stuff like this. I know many countries have feral digs and cats wandering the streets and in poor condition, but I have to switch off from it. Otherwise I don't sleep!
Lisa says
I had no idea about dogs like this in Burma, but that's not saying much. I don't know much about Burma at all, so this is a great theme for me this month to follow! Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
Margo Kelly says
I LOVE dogs, and it saddens me when they are not properly cared for by humans.
Debbie D. says
How sad that there are so many feral dogs in Burma. Same thing in southern Europe. 🙁 At least some people are caring enough to feed them and look out for them. I'm surprised to learn that cats are more rare, since the Burmese breed comes from there.
Sarah Foster says
That's so sad that there are so many strays! I'd probably want to adopt them all, too.
Debbie D. says
How sad that there are so many feral dogs in Burma. Same thing in southern Europe. 🙁 At least some people are caring enough to feed them and look out for them. I'm surprised to learn that cats are more rare, since the Burmese breed comes from there.
Chrys Fey says
That's so sad! Golden Retrievers are my favorite breed. I'd want to pet and feed all of those dogs.
Sheila @ A Postcard a Day says
It's years since I had a dog but at that time we were frequently travelling to France. Only to France, but we still had to take precautions over rabies. I imagine it's endemic in Burma.
Birgit says
My friend has been going to Thailand the last 3 winters and it breaks my heart when he tells me how poor the animals are taken care of. I would say that it is True in both cases. There might be rabies and other problems so if a dog bites you, you could become infected. I am not sure about the 2nd one…I will say False instead.
Jennifer Hawes says
I would love to visit another country. I'm afraid I might walk away with a hundred zillion photos! My son would adopt all the dogs:-)
Bish Denham says
I should think feral dogs could be quite dangerous as they can pack up to hunt. Sad that there are so many…
A Tarkabarka Hölgy says
As a dog lover it is hard for me to see abandoned dogs… Especially sick ones. My family has been known for picking some up, but sadly you can't save all…
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary – Epics from A to Z
MopDog – 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary
Elizabeth Seckman says
That's heart breaking. I'd want to bring them all home 🙁
Patricia Lynne says
I would probably want to take all those dogs and give them a home. I'm such a sucker for strays.
~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
How sad to think of all those dogs without homes. I think True and True this time.
Catherine Stine says
Interesting info. Similar to India. When I was there we saw many feral dogs.
Angela Brown says
Seems being a stray, dog or cat, is a common thing for many places. That one at the end of your post seems pretty content.
J.L. Campbell says
Those dogs look like the ones we have here. There are lots of strays. We als have our fair share of stray cats.
Tyrean Martinson says
That's so sad for the dogs and the cats, but I imagine that life is tough there, for everyone one. I'm glad that some dogs can find care at the monasteries.
Christine Rains says
I can imagine there's so few cats since there's so many dogs! Lovely dog at the winery.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
That Golden is a beauty.
Harsh place for both people and animals.