CARL PORTMAN: Blue dog snippets

Jon,

I write a blog every week for a heart forum. It goes worldwide of course and has some Texans as well as many other folks on it. I thought I would just ask the question ‘has anyone ever heard of the Texas Blue Dog’ just on the spur of the moment. I cut and pasted the replies and they are attached.

Of course, you will know much of it, if not all of it but there may be a snippet or two of use.

See how I think of you Jon – you bloody great bear.

Carlos J

Website: http://www.carlsplanet.co.uk/

































I have seen some specials on the TV, I think the Discovery channel about such a dog, but have not seen one live. They were trying to expel the myth of the Chupacabra, and were linking the sightings of this dog to sightings of Chupacabra. I believe they have done some DNA work to try and figure out where it has come from, but I cannot remember exactly what they have found since the dog does seem to be hairless but have some incredible teeth. Good luck in actually finding a picture of one.Eric, Utah

Carl, a quick look online revealed the state dog of Texas as a Blue Lacy. Looks very much like the dog on your site. A few months ago, workers, at a local hospital here in Maryland, took pictures of a strange animal in the woods that was described as a cross between a kangeroo and a dog. Looked alien. Turned out to be a red fox with a very bad case of mange.
Annette (Maryland)

Carl, I personally know someone who saw a Tasmanian Tiger. She was a fellow Northern Territory Policewoman and she was camping in the outback, in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. She got up one morning early to go to the river that they were camping on and looked across the river and saw the animal on the opposite bank. She went back and got her camera, and yes you could see the distinctive stripes on the back of the animal. It truly was a Tasmanian Tiger, or some other weird animal that had evolved in the isolated area that she was in. To make this incident even more believable, she didn't go to the media with her photo or other agencies. Her belief was that if the animal had survived out there all this time, then it deserved to be left in peace. She was a born and bred outback woman, and did spend a lot of time travelling and camping in remote areas, enjoying the environment. I often wonder if she did eventually report it and show the photo, but as the Kimberleys are not being inundated with camera crews and media or hunters, then I presume she didn't. This was in the 1980's that I saw the photo, and it was taken about 5 years previously. So hopefully, or at least I like to think so, there is a thriving community of Tasmanian tigers in the outback Kimberley area. It is a very isolated and rugged area, so hopefully this will ensure that they do stay protected. This is mainland Australia and very isolated. Almost the opposite end of the continent from Tasmania.
Chrissy (Australia)

I think what you mean is a Texas Blue Lacy. Breeding info is here... http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bluelacy.htmThis is a dog that is common in the ranch and hunting areas of Texas and good breeders can fetch big money for well bred and trained pups. It is now a recognized breed of its own. These dogs are tough enough to use to hunt wild boar and I imagine if left to their own devices would hunt in local barns and cause havoc. This is not the Chubacabra that is much storied despite the look in the photos.
Kat (California)

I periodically see very similar pictures of animals found in our desert regions down near the border with Mexico. Sightings always bring up the mythical chupacabra which I believe comes from Mexican legends. Interestingly they never provide follow up information on what the animal really is, but coyote seems reasonable based on appearance, size, and areas they have been found. You might try using chupacabra as your reference when looking up additional information on the beast.
Robopop (Arizona)

Comment from Carl – someone also sent me this link. It’s a mad mad world.
http://www.txbluedogdems.org/