MUNGO EATS Latin America

I have written  about Mungo’s fame, but the subject begs to be readdressed.  I know that we have had our issues with travelling with a large beasty, but I have to tell you, when you see “the Mungo effect” on a daily basis, it is more than worth the effort. 

He IS a superstar.  People CONTINUOSLY stop us on our walks to talk to us about “el perro”.  We have had at least 3 different people ask us if we will sell him to them, we have had at least that many again ask us where they can buy one like him, and how much it would cost.  We have even had one fellow ask us if he could buy one of Mungo’s “children” (of which he has NONE).  He is the ultimate icebreaker and people who likely would not stop to talk to us, will stop to ask about the dog.  They all ask what kind of dog he is, and their eyebrows all lift when they find out the breed was used for hunting lions.  We had one fellow approach us in the airport and ask about Mungo, then he whipped out his cell phone and walked us through picture after picture of his 3 dogs.  Everyone asks what the dog’s name is and the universal response is…”Mango, like the food?”  His name always precipitates a smile.  By the way, the second question is “does he bite?”.

The response is either 100% positive or 100% “holy crap”.  People are either drawn towards the large dog, or hurriedly cross the street to get away from him.  Either parents try to push their small children towards him, or they scoop the kids up in their arms and rush away from the dangerous beast. 

I  gotta tell you though, when people like him, they LOVE him!!!  They will run out of their houses, or places of business to say “buenas dias Mungo”.  Forget about the poor saps that walk the dog 2 or 3 times a day, we do not get a greeting, but the dog…you bet! 

The hostel we are staying in today has a lady that is totally in love with the hound.  He can’t be within 10 feet of her without stimulating her to start cooing and cawing, “Hola Mangito, bonito, mi perro……”  It’s a 5 minute distraction every time we leave the room.  And now she has to show him to her friends, so whenever her friends visit the hotel, she asks if they can meet Mungo, and could I please show them the tricks that he can do?  Then they cheer and clap and Mungo is in dog heaven!!!  All this attention for little old me?  The room we are  in has a large double door and 2 windows, that open onto a patio right next to the office.    While we are in the room, the door and the windows stay open otherwise we would bake in the room.  Mungo’s biggest fan is constantly peering in the window and clicking at him, saying hello.  I tell you, the gal is out of control.

And I have to say, some people are very, very strange with him.  Many people reach down and pet him as he walks by, but they often pet him on the butt after his maw has safely passed by.  People will move out of his way, but then they click their tongues at him, or whistle to get his attention,  or wiggle their fingers in front of him.  Yesterday a guy stopped to chat with me and after a few minutes started rubbing his head, petting his ridge backwards, then he slapped Mungo’s butt and finally he picked up one of his feet.  Honestly, it is a good thing he is so well adjusted, the kids have him well desensitized. 

He has been asked into restaurants, museums and chicken buses…just another day in the life of the famous dog!