Relieved Mexican Street Dog Can't Take Eyes Off Rescuer During Freedom Ride

When Americans visit other countries, they are often surprised by the population of street dogs, as most of the stray population in the U.S. is currently managed by animal control and kept behind the doors of shelters. But it’s a common sight in many other countries, with roaming packs of dogs on beaches, in tourist spots, and on city streets. Many of these dogs are not actually strays, but belong to and are somewhat cared for by the people they live alongside. (Think of Tramp, in The Lady and the Tramp, who has his usual hangout spots and even restaurants where he is regularly fed.)

Others, however, suffer from the same fate as all domesticated animals who don’t have people looking after them—from injuries, disease, hunger, and the cruelty of human nature. For this street dog, rescued in Mexico and on his freedom ride to his new forever home, it’s like he cannot believe his luck.

The woman who made the video, Dawn, travels in her RV. While staying at a park near the beach in Puerto Peñasco, on the north end of the Gulf of California, she met a shy little pup she soon christened Roman. He stood outside her RV, begging, and because it was cold and night, she soon made him a little bed with cushions and a blanket outside.

Related: Mandy Moore Adopts Precious Dog Found Wandering the Streets

Obviously, Roman like this scenarios.. He also clearly liked what he saw when it came to Dawn and her love match with her other, fluffy white dog Potato.

She started feeding and loving on Roman, too, and he clearly thrived under the attention. When it came time for Dawn and her RV to move along, she decided she couldn’t leave without him.

What to Do With a Stray Dog

If adopting a stray dog, it pays to get it to a vet. Vets can help you ascertain if the dog has been microchipped, spayed, or if there are any health concerns hat you need to worry about—especially if you plan to bring it into a household with another dog, like Potato.

Before You Adopt a “Street Dog”

Before you take any supposedly stray dogs home with you, it’s worth finding out if they are, actually strays. Even shelters in the United States usually have a mandatory wait time before dogs that are brought into the shelter are available for adoption. Sometimes the dog is just lost, and its owner may be desperately searching for it.

The situation is even more complex when it comes to the “street dogs” one often sees in other countries. Though they live on the streets, that doesn’t always mean they are homeless. In many instances, they belong to the neighborhood in which they live, and have names and people who love them and take care of them—and, most importantly, would miss them if they vanish. When I was in Havana, Cuba, many of the “street dogs” wore collars indicating their name and the general area they called home, so as to keep them safe.

But Dawn asked around at a local rescue and learned that Roman was one of the far too many stray dogs in this area, so she was free to adopt him and take him home.

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