Uruguayan gaucho and his dog.

Recently I visited the Gaucho Museum in Montevideo and prepared an article about it, also a bit of history of the Gauchos in Uruguay and Argentina. During my research I came along the story of „El Gaucho“ the dog of Durazno. During my travel to Durazno a few years ago I made some pictures of an unusual dog monument without knowing the background. Now I went into it and here it is. The Gaucho post will follow next week.

   The annual gaucho festival in Durazno, Uruguay.

The Legend Dog from Durazno, Uruguay.

In the 1960s Durazno puppy „El Gaucho“, became a true living legend for residents of the Uruguayan city, and visitors taking knowledge of its history as for his nobility. The legend is told today in several different variations. I took out the facts which are told almost every time. The dog Gaucho was well known and loved by the people of this city.

  A well deserved bronce monument of the famous dog „Gaucho“ of Durazno, Uruguay. Click on pics to supersize.

His owner, Facundo Ferro, called him „Gaucho“, both lived in the town of Villa del Carmen, and were very close. One day the master became ill and must be moved to Durazno to be admitted to the Hospital Dr. Emilio Penza.

  Villa del Carmen.

It was then that „Gaucho“ was alone and took off to walk the path followed its owner. He crossed wetlands and streams, ran more than 50 kilometers away until he reached the place where its owner was boarding.

  From time to time the history is warmed up in newspapers.

There the dog remained without departing from accompanying him, because he was his friend for life. Residents and hospital staff managed to meet its inseparable presence and gesture of nobility. When the master died, in the room listening to Gaucho mourn with remorse like days ago when its owner complained of any pain he suffered.
That dog almost dark hair and sad eyes accompanied him during his wake and till he received burial.

  Local kids still love this dog „Gaucho“ (pic El Pais).

For more than 30 days Gaucho guarded that grave, cemetery workers gave him water and food, but he did not accept it. Then one day he left in the mornings to pick up some food that the people would provide him. Roaming the streets, to return late again beside the grave of his master there in the cemetery.

  „El Gaucho“ monument in front the cemetery of Durazno.

Several people tried to seize him, giving him food, but he ate and then went away and its course was always the cemetery.
Thus he lived a long time, people say about 9 years, becoming endeared to people and children in the city area of Durazno.

  Durazno newspaper article after „Gaucho’s“ dead.

When the animal died people of the area had a great sorrow to know the history of this extraordinary loyalty. The people of Durazno had paid this tribute, carving a bronze monument to never be forgotten, which is located in front of the local cemetery where rests his beloved owner.

Bronce monument of the dog „Gaucho“ in Durazno.

„Sometimes we have many apprehensions to the cemeteries, often we are committed to something intimate and personal, when we go through these places we may have something that hurts us. But cemeteries have a collective sense, keep the memory of a society and then we also have to get used to cross them to know and learn more about our collective being“. Padron Favre, director of Museums of the Municipality of Durazno.

      Does he look at you ?

The „Gaucho“, highlighted by a dog be powered with its existence, the bread of loyalty. Best friend of human beings.