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From Above


Kellie Denny


You learn to look for it.  Cuban roof dogs.  Yes, Cuban roof dogs.  Cuban dogs on Cuban roofs. 

They don’t always bark from up there, so you raise your eyes to the skies, or at least the roof lines. All sorts of dogs – big dogs, little dogs, furry dogs, dogs with shirts, dogs with other dog friends…all hanging out on the roof. This is the stuff of a Dr. Seuss book.


   

Not sure if this happens elsewhere – western Cuba is the only place I’ve seen it – it’s curious on first sight, then just fun.  And it’s not a one off – many visits over a decade have gifted many roof dog sightings.  I can’t help but smile when I look up to find a canine face peering at me.


   

How did they get up there?  A good question…most Cuban homes have a decent stairwell to the roof.  Many people hang their laundry on the roof and almost all have a water tank or two up there as well so it’s a well traversed route.  The dogs go up and down the same way as the people. 




Why are they up there?  An even better question…and as is typical of Cuban answers, I’ve been given various and interesting responses:

  • They like to watch what’s happening in the neighbourhood.
  • We don’t have a yard or fence; this keeps them at home.
  • It keeps them from chasing the chickens in the yard.
  • It’s cool under the water tank so they like to sleep there.
  • They can alert us by barking if anyone is coming in.



All good reasons it seems.  The dogs appear happy enough up there.  It would be quite extraordinary to see dogs on an Ottawa roof, even a bungalow, but in Cuba it’s just normal.  And for me, Cuban roof dogs have become a reassuring presence and reminder of where I am. Connection to place comes in many forms.