Dogs and neighbors

In any Cuban neighborhood, life goes by at a slow pace, as if time were not pressing. Neighbors often go out to sit on the sidewalk, in front of their homes, in a park or on the Malecón. Many of these scenes include a dog, either resting in the shade, wandering among passersby’s feet or accompanying those in their home. Daily life in Cuba is full of small postcards where a furry friend is much more than a simple companion: it is an essential part of the shared routine.

An afternoon in the neighborhood. Photo: Kaloian.

Negra has her own “identity card” hanging around her neck because “she usually goes out for walks alone and sometimes gets lost,” her owner tells me. Photo: Kaloian.

In these spaces of interaction, dogs mingle with conversations, children’s games and the movement of neighbors. They are protagonists in the dynamics of the neighborhood. In many cases, they don’t wear a leash while roaming the streets, which they know as well as people; although the risks they run are very different.

“He likes the photos a lot,” says this man while posing with his dog. Photo: Kaloian.

Many dogs in Cuba, like “their humans,” seem to have learned to wait. They watch patiently, with a certain boredom. In a country where resources are scarce and problems are ubiquitous, waiting has become a constant. Cubans wait, and their dogs too, whether for electricity, water or simply for the heat to subside with the setting of the sun.

A neighbor from Centro Habana sitting at the door of his house with his three pets. Photo: Kaloian.

In the midst of difficulties, there is always room for love and care. Many Cubans share the little they have with these life companions, silent confidants and unconditional sources of affection. This bond helps them cope with everyday reality.

A four-legged companion, an unparalleled emotional balm. Photo: Kaloian.

Walking through a Cuban neighborhood is to witness this relationship of solidarity and empathy. There are families who tend to collectively care for dogs that thus become community dogs. The neighborhood becomes their home, and they, as if they understood the unwritten rules of community life, know who to turn to when they need something.

On social media, there are sad stories of abandonment, but also of rescue, adoption and collective care. These platforms have also been key to raising awareness about animal welfare and coordinating efforts in caring for the most vulnerable. However, there is still a long way to go.