Mexico Claims Caramelo Dog as Native Breed, Sparking Dispute With Brazil Over Millions of Strays
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 2
Mexico Claims Caramelo Dog as Native Breed, Sparking Dispute With Brazil Over Millions of Strays
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 2
Mexico has designated the caramel-colored stray dog a native breed, setting off a cross-border dispute with Brazil, where the “caramelo” is treated as a national cultural symbol.
Millions of tan mutts roam both countries, but in Brazil the dogs carry unusual symbolic weight—appearing in memes, songs, T-shirts and even Carnival floats.
Brazilian anger flared because the caramelo has also reached mainstream prominence, starring in a Netflix film last year and nearly appearing on Brazil’s currency.
The clash highlights how a common street dog has become a proxy for national identity in two countries with large stray populations and shared affection for the tawny mutts.