Nov 12, 2008

Lifestyle - Peru offers bald dog of Incas to Obama family

Peruvians crazy about their national dog, a bald and often toothless breed popular among Incan kings, offered on Monday to send a hypoallergenic puppy to the Obama family.

US President-elect Barack Obama has promised daughters Malia and Sasha a new pet for the White House. But Malia is allergic to most breeds, he said as speculation swirled about the dog the family would choose. Owners of the Peruvian Hairless Dog, a breed dating back 3,000 years and depicted in pre-Hispanic ceramics, say it is perfect for kids who are sensitive to dogs. "They do not cause any type of allergy and are very friendly and sweet," said Claudia Galvez, 38, director of the Friends of the Peruvian Hairless Dog Association. "We want to give a male puppy to Obama's daughters, so they get to experience all the joys of having a dog but without any allergies."According to Peruvian folklore, the dogs have above-average body temperature, which compensates for their lack of hair and helps alleviate symptoms of asthma or arthritis.

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