Mooching Mongrels

Good master or exploiter, this homeless man in Chapinero found a way to turn these stray dogs into a profit stream. Unfortunately, I suspect that the coins this guy collects go to wine or drugs, and that the food that he and his four-footed friends eat comes from the garbage cans.

I've seen variations on the theme in Bogotá, including one set of dogs trained to carry bowls in their mouths and approach diners in outdoor restaurants. But I was once approached by a guy leading a dog with a festering sore on its side and begging for money for the dog's medical treatment. That beggar was too delicate, I guess, to mutilate himself. More photos of human-canine relationships here.