Saturday, November 25, 2006

Liberated twice !!!

About 6 years ago, when Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski came for another winter to Punta Boca del Salado and his friends the Gonzales, he noticed a puppy chained to a tree. Looking not very happy and an empty food bowl in front of him. This poor dog was condemned to a life chained for guarding the rancho. Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski went for a chat with Alfredo Gonzales. To figure out what was the thinking behind this concept. And to see how flexible this concept might be. The dog was called Gorba and eventually Alfredo was convinced that for guarding a rancho it would be even more effective to have a dog roaming free on the premises. The strategy of stretching a concept by offering positive options had worked. Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski obtained permission to free Gorba. This, the dog has never forgotten. Whenever his liberator returns from travelling and meets him again, the loyal and thankful animal gets out of his mind of joy and happiness. He decides to live with the man who freed him for the time he is around who honours that by offering him twice a day a bowl of delicious dog food as well as fresh water. When Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski is living at Punta Boca del Salado, Gorba believes he is in a five star hotel.
This time Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski returned to the rancho of the Gonzales family to find Gorba chained to a tree again. Miserable and skinny. Unhappy and sad. Lucretia Gonzales explained that Gorba had picked up the habit to occasionally attack the goats they have and bite one of them to death. And once a dog gets this habit, it can’t be stopped. They have tasted blood, and blood they want to taste. The other dogs of the rancho were getting inspired by Gorba and followed him on his occasional goat-killing spree. Goats are important to a rancho family. They represent money. When they need cash, they sell a goat. Each goat dying is money lost. In normal circumstances Gorba would be taken into the mountains and shot. To be left as a delicacy for the coyotes. This time they decided to chain him to the tree again. Unfortunately for Gorba, Alfredo has a new girlfriend where he spends most of his time away from the rancho. Leaving Gorba to be taking care of by Ismael who hardly has time for this. For days Gorba had no food. For weeks he had no freedom. Until he saw his friend returning from far away. Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski has never seen a dog so happy. But Gorba is a killer now. He developed an incurable double personality. However, after new rounds of negotiations Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski obtained again the privilege from the Gonzales to liberate Gorba. When he is with you, he will behave, they claimed. Gorba was freed and danced around like a young cow for the first time again in the meadow. Running this way and that way. Jumping and jolting. How unique to see joy expressed so freely. After Gorba had calmed down, he was called to have a serious conversation. Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski believes in talking to animals. In fact, to children as well. In a serious and adult-like way when necessary. Gorba was told to stop this nonsense of going after the goats. That he would get enough food and water to be satisfied and that he should abandon his freaky hobbies or it would be back to the chain. As of then, Gorba behaves very well. He stays near Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski’s motor home and any stranger approaching too close receives a concert of barking. Gorba accompanies him on his post-siĆ«sta walks along the sea although he prefers to sleep in the shadow that time of day. But when from the nearby mountains the little bells ring of a herd of goats grazing, Gorba lifts his head.

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