Yup. You read that correctly. I got attacked by two random stray dogs. I alluded to it on my Instagram, but here is a fuller explanation.
Disclaimer: The following blog is written in a hyperbolic style. Dramatics, absurd descriptions, and poor grammar are to follow. Reader discretion is advised. (In all seriousness this actually happened, but I’m completely fine, and it wasn’t that big of a deal)
I woke up like any other morning, I ate breakfast, and realized I wanted to go for a run. The temperature in San Pedro was unique. The actual air temperature was a cool 60 degrees, but we were so high in elevation, that the sun beat down much harder than usual. Your skin felt as though it was being slow cooked in a crock pot and cooled by the breeze of a refrigerator the same time. We were also in the middle of the driest desert on Earth. Dust and Sand ruled the land.
I had gone running in plenty of countries with stray dogs before, and I didn’t think this would be any different. In fact most stray dogs in Chile appear to be community pets. They freely roam, and get fed and taken care by anyone passing by. I had been greeted by tens of friendly stray puppers throughout my time in Los Andes, Chile. Turns out San Pedro is a little different. I was going on a leisurely jog, when I pass this home with a fence made of old, battered ply wood..when..
BAM
The ply wood comes busting down. I make direct eye contact with two scruffy fur babies barring all of their teeth and barking that, “YOU CAME INTO THE WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD” sort of bark. They’re barreling through down the desert towards me. I was completely caught by surprised and release some choice words that I have since, repented of, and been forgiven for. I turn 180 degrees and begin sprinting as fast as I can while also maintaining eye contact with their teeth. All that’s going through my head is how they’re quickly gaining ground on me, they aren’t stopping. We play this impromptu game of tag for maybe 50 meters, before I trip over the rocks that littered the ground, and hit the ground hard. When I quickly get back on my feet, and look back at the dogs. They had stopped chasing me. I seemingly startled them when I came crashing into the Earth like a clumsy meteorite. They were still growling, barring their teeth, and ballistically spewing barks and borks of assorted variety. Although, I couldn’t complain because they were no longer chasing me. We came to a mutual understanding. I won’t walk home down that road, and they won’t kill me. We parted ways, and I proceeded to travel the long way home.
When I eventually made it home, and walked in the door, I was greeted by Jessie. She, with the biggest possible smile, pointed out the window. “Look how cute those dogs are!”, she exclaimed with joy, as I proceeded to make eye contact with the same two dogs who just chased me down the street.
I left the whole thing, untouched by the dogs. I only had a few scrapes and bruises from tripping. It was only 10am, and I was ready for a nap. Stay tuned, for my next blog explaining how I was deported from Bolivia two days later.
