Notes: Carl, the Dogs of Guanajuato, and the Puppy Rescue
Capítulo Cuatro: Los Perros de Guanajuato (The Dogs of Guanajuato)
Setting the Scene:
Guanajuato has a significant dog population: 100,000 people and 50,000 dogs, meaning one dog for every two people.
These dogs primarily live in the streets and alleys, not in homes.
They often lack sufficient food.
Carl Encounters a Dog:
One day, Carl spots a dog near Marta's house.
The dog is visibly hungry, very skinny (flaco), and extremely dirty (sucio).
Carl's Initial Reaction and His Mother's Warning:
Carl is deeply unhappy upon seeing the dog's condition, recognizing its need for food.
His mother cautions him, saying, "No toques al perro, Carl" (Don't touch the dog, Carl), out of concern that it might be sick.
Carl's Empathy and Decision:
Despite his mother's warning, Carl observes the dog's hunger and thinness, understanding its plight.
He decides to name the dog "Rufus" because it needs a strong name to help it.
Veterinarian Visit:
Carl and Janet (his mother) contact a veterinarian.
They take Rufus, whom they believe to be a sick dog, to the clinic.
Upon their arrival, they greet the doctor.
The Veterinarian's Findings and Revelation:
The doctor examines Rufus and makes a surprising discovery: "No es un perro. Es una perra. No es Rufus. Es Princesa Rufus" (It's not a male dog. It's a female dog. It's not Rufus. It's Princess Rufus).
The veterinarian concludes that Princess Rufus is not actually sick; her main need is a home and food.
Carl's Plea for a Companion:
Carl expresses his desire to keep Princess Rufus, explaining to his mother, "Mamá, yo no tengo amigos. La perra no tiene amigos. Yo quiero una amiga. La perra quiere un amigo también" (Mom, I don't have friends. The dog doesn't have friends. I want a friend. The dog wants a friend too).
His mother, Janet, agrees to let him keep her, but emphasizes Carl's responsibility: "Tú tienes que darle de comer. Tú tienes que cuidarla. No es mi perra. Es tu perra. Es tu responsabilidad" (You have to feed her. You have to take care of her. She is not my dog. She is your dog. She is your responsibility).
Princess Rufus's New Life:
Princess Rufus eats a tremendous amount of food, described as "más que un elefante" (more than an elephant).
She becomes Carl's constant companion, following him throughout the house, sitting when he sits, and even sleeping in his bed.
Carl's Joy and Unique Bond:
Both Carl and Princess Rufus are very happy with this new arrangement.
Carl engages in activities with her, like playing video games and reading "Captain Underpants" books aloud.
His mother finds this endearing but a bit silly, remarking, "¡Qué ridículo, Carl! Esta perra no habla inglés" (How ridiculous, Carl! This dog doesn't speak English).
Carl and Janet laugh, acknowledging that the dog speaks "perro" (dog), not human languages.
Carl is incredibly content, laughing for the very first time since arriving in Mexico, indicating a profound positive shift in his emotional state.
Capítulo Cinco: Los Perritos en la Calle (The Puppies in the Street)
Discovery of New Puppies:
One day, while Carl is climbing stairs with his mother, they hear the distinct cries of puppies (perritos).
They search for the source of the sound, which leads them to a large wall at a construction site.
The puppies remain unseen but their distressed cries are clearly audible.
Carl's Brave Act:
Despite being a normal boy, Carl decides to climb the large wall to find the puppies.
His mother, Janet, warns him to be careful, but Carl assures her he is fine.
He slowly ascends the wall using both his hands and feet.
The Puppies' Condition:
From atop the wall, Carl sees three very small (muy pequeños) puppies.
They are crying continuously, clearly not well, and are without their mother.
The narrative explains that many mother dogs abandon their puppies because they lack food and milk to nourish them.
Carl's Rescue Mission:
Carl jumps down the wall to retrieve the puppies.
He carefully picks up each puppy one by one, climbs back up the wall, and hands them to his mother.
He repeats this process for all three puppies.
Description of the Rescued Puppies:
The first puppy is brown (café).
The second is also brown with some black (un poco negro).
The third is entirely black (completamente negro).
All are dirty, very skinny (flacos), and infested with fleas (pulgas).
Another Vet Visit:
Carl carefully places the three puppies into his backpack.
He then takes them to the veterinary clinic.
At the clinic, he places the backpack on the examination table.
The veterinarian provides them with special food and medicine.
Carl's Unwavering Devotion:
Carl spends the entire day at the clinic, sitting on the floor with the puppies.
He wants to stay overnight, but his mother insists he go home to sleep until morning.
Pulgas - The Very Sick Puppy:
The following day, Carl returns to the clinic.
The doctor informs him that one of the puppies is gravely ill.
Carl makes a makeshift bed for this puppy and sits with it all day, talking to it and offering water and food.
He feels a powerful urge to cry due to the puppy's fragile state.
Carl names this critically ill puppy "Pulgas" (Fleas), acknowledging its specialness despite its condition.
Evening at the Clinic and Uncertain Future:
Carl stays with Pulgas from morning until night. At 6:00 PM, his mother, Janet, arrives.
Carl is sad about leaving Pulgas and wants to stay the night, but he cannot.
He names the other two puppies "Sam" and "Gaby."
Janet asks the doctor about Pulgas's prognosis, to which the doctor replies, "No sé. Está muy enfermo. Necesita comida y medicina. La voy a llamar por la mañana" (I don't know. It's very sick. It needs food and medicine. I'm going to call you in the morning).
Carl's Deep Connection and Empathy:
Carl reflects on Pulgas's loneliness in Mexico, relating it to his own feelings of being alone there.
He notes that he has his good mother and Princess Rufus, but Pulgas has no mother and only Carl.
He tells his mother, "Pulgas me necesita, Mamá" (Pulgas needs me, Mom).
Janet understands Carl's emotional bond but gently reminds him that Pulgas might be too sick to recover even with medicine.
Carl wants Pulgas to get better and struggles to hold back tears.
Capítulo Seis: Casas Nuevas para los Perritos (New Homes for the Puppies)
Anxious Morning:
The next morning, the doctor does not call.
Carl is eager to visit the clinic immediately.
Bringing a Friend:
Carl invites Jorge, a kind and good-natured five-year-old boy, to accompany him.
They head straight to the clinic.
Search for Pulgas:
Upon entering the clinic, Carl anxiously looks for Pulgas but cannot find him either on the floor or with the other puppies.
He scans the entire clinic, searching for Pulgas.