Mexico and Brazil are quarrelling over a dog breed. Here’s why

It’s become a bone of contention. Brazil and Mexico are involved in a rather interesting international debate. Over what? The caramelo dog, which is considered a national symbol in Brazil.

Recently, Mexico recognised the perro caramelo, or the caramel dog, as a national symbol, sharing the recognition with iconic breeds such as the Xoloitzcuintle, the Chihuahua, and the Calupoh.

But why has this resulted in Brazil and Mexico locking horns? We explain the dogged tale.

Brazil’s love for the caramel

Before we explain the fight between the two countries, let us understand more about this breed of dog. Known as vira-lata caramel in Brazil, the caramelos are described as a mixed-breed dog.

The long-ignored caramel-coloured street mongrel, which has long been on the streets of the country, is believed to be a mix of 300 breeds from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. A New York Times report states that the ancestry of this four-legged creature can be traced back to dogs brought by Portuguese settlers and later by immigrants from Italy, Germany, Spain, and Japan.

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As Jacqueline Olivera Rosa told the New York Times, “The history of the caramel is the history of Brazil.”

The caramel-coloured street mongrel is a mix of 300 breeds from Europe, Asia and the Americas. Image Courtesy: Instagram

In 2019, the caramelo dog became a viral sensation in Brazil, with social media accounts posting all kinds of content featuring the cute dog — whether it be a caramelo urinating on stage during a dance show or one playing dead while receiving chest compressions for a CPR training video.

Such was the popularity that a petition began to replace the macaw on the country’s 10-reais bill, attracting nearly 50,000 signatures. “The caramelo has become a symbol of the Brazilian people, beloved across all states and an excellent representative of our culture,” the petition stated. In 2020, another petition advocating for the dog to appear on the 200-reais note garnered even more support.

Moreover, caramelos even have a carnival parade, and last year became the topic of a Netflix movie. As Diego Freitas, the film’s director and co-writer, told the Associated Press, “The Caramelo ended up becoming the great symbol of Brazil, a symbol for the people.”

Today, this breed of dog can be seen across the streets of Brazil, scrounging for food, while many others languish in shelters.

For many Brazilians, caramelos are a symbol of the “crazy mixture” of Brazil and its people. “It comes from a marginal place, like Brazil. It has a history of survival and marginalisation,” Tina Castro, an English teacher in Rio de Janeiro, told the Associated Press. “We value the caramelo in the way we value our country, as it is.”

Mexico adopts caramelos as its own

In April, the State of Mexico’s Environmental Agency, also known as the PROPAEM, announced on social media that the caramel dog is now the fourth symbolic national dog in Mexico, ranked alongside the Chihuahua, Calupoh and Xoloitzcuintle.

PROPAEM noted that the canine is part of Mexico’s culture and identity, as many are seen roaming around the streets and neighbourhoods in Mexico.

The designation isn’t just symbolic. Mexico has one of the largest stray dog populations in Latin America. Shelters struggle to find homes for the abandoned dogs. The adoption rates for mixed-breed dogs are extremely low. By recognising the caramel, it gives the breed the visibility. The message is simple: these dogs already belong to the culture. They belong in homes, too.

Brazil bites back

However, Mexico’s move has irked Brazil and its citizens. One Brazilian wrote on Instagram, “This dog is Brazilian and no one can take him from us.”

“Caramelo é brasileiro,” another added, followed by a Brazilian flag emoji. Others were even more direct: “Caramelo dog came from Brazil! Mexico has nothing to do with it!”

One posted on social media, “Caramelo is 🇧🇷!!! We literally have a dog movie with the name Caramelo.”

Another Brazilian was quoted by the New York Times as saying, “How can they say caramel is not Brazilian. It’s the face of Brazil.”

But Mexico doesn’t see it that way. Claudia Edwards, the programme director of the Humane World for Animals, a non-profit, told the New York Times, “Brazil was the first to recognise it and put it on the map. The Brazilian people should be very proud of that.”

However, she added that the breed of dog didn’t belong to Brazil alone. “It’s Latin American.”

Whether caramelos are Mexican or Brazilian, one thing is certain: this canine has earned a place in the hearts and minds of the people.

With input from agencies