♥ Machu Pikachu ♥

It is with a heavy heart that I write this blog today. Yesterday, many dogs were given poisoned meat in Ollantaytambo, and our favorite dog, Machu Pikachu, was unfortunately one of the dogs that consumed this poison. This may be due to the beginning of tourist season in Ollanta and the municipality not wanting so many stray dogs around.

Many of us teamed up together to try to save him with various medications, charcoal pills, inducing vomiting, and rushing him to a vet in Urubamba, but it just wasn't enough.

When he was on his way to the vet in Urubamba with Adam and Laura, the head of Awamaki (another NGO here in town), we held a vigil of sorts, burning coca leaves and confetti as a "pago", or payment, to the Apus (mountain Gods), sending much love Machu's way in true Peruvian fashion. Machu seemed to be doing better at the vet's office, but upon his return to Ollanta, he had a large seizure and passed away. Luckily, Adam was by his side the entire time and gave him much comfort in his last hours.

Machu was one of those dogs that greeted you enthusiastically by jumping up on you and would run across the plaza to greet you when you called his name. He was truly a great source of joy for me in Ollanta and I really looked forward to seeing him everyday. A truly pure spirit.

Another one of our favorite dogs, Jill, hasn't been spotted since the poisoning and we are very worried. Please send good thoughts.

We are discussing a spay/neuter campaign in Ollanta with a local vet, but we are not sure how to municipality will respond to this idea. We have heard that the vet has discussed a campaign with the municipality in the past, but they "prefer the poison". It's heartbreaking and cruel because the dogs can suffer for many hours before finally passing.

This is truly unacceptable and my hope is that we can make things better for our dog friends here in Ollanta. After all, poisoning of dogs is technically illegal in Peru.

This has been a very trying time for Adam and me and we are devastated. We welcome any positive energy you can send our way. Thank you and rest in peace, my dear Machu.