Mayan legends say that the Chichén Itzá cenote is guarded by the aluxes, magical beings from Yucatán, and that the feathered serpent Kukulkan is the guardian of the Mayan ruins, but it would not be the only one.
The dogs Osita, Cachimba, and Pinto are the modern guardians of Chichén Itzá who have become famous on social networks thanks to the custodian of the place, José Antonio Keb Cetina.
The dogs went from being homeless dogs to become the “sacred dogs of Kukulcán”, enjoying the sun in the green areas of Chichén Itzá or contemplating the sunset at the top of the Kukulkán pyramid.
In July 2019, the “Chichén Itzá Dog Rescue Operation” began, with the support of the Culture Board, four animal defense associations, and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
After arriving at the home of one of the Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, the three dogs were vaccinated, sterilized, dewormed, and are now used to living with visitors without being affected or harmed.
José Antonio Keb Cetina told the story of the “guardians of Chichén Itzá”, Osita, Cachimba, and Pinto, who arrived in different and surprising ways at the archaeological zone.
“It may be that some of those dogs have stayed in the jungle and left puppies until today,” said the custodian, who shares photos and videos of them on social networks.
“There are several little dogs, the ones that are with me now are the very famous Osita, Cachimba, and Pinto.”
Keb Cetina said that Osita, the most famous of the trio, Cachimba and Pinto have been with him since 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began, and with the help of all the workers they have been vaccinated and given the food and care they need.
José said that sometimes it is hard for him to take care of them because of expenses such as food because he is “short of resources, but I always see what to do” and he related how they give him emotional support.
“My daughter spoke to me at 1 in the morning, and told me that a doctor who worked with her died and she and her partner had Covid,” he began to remember.
“The only comfort I had that night was the dogs. They saw me crying and they both came up and hugged me. Since that time I have great affection for them and I try to take care of them as best as I can,” he said.
TYT Newsroom
