“Kids would light up and scream, ‘Dante from Coco!’”
Valentina Pinci has always found Xoloitzcuintles, a breed of Mexican hairless dogs, beautiful, so when she welcomed Quetzalli into her home, she was thrilled. She thought the little pup was absolutely perfect — but unfortunately, not everyone agreed.
“We moved to Puerto Rico, where Xolos are very rare,” Pinci told The Dodo. “We would get a lot of curiosity on our walks from passersby, but sometimes disgust or even fear!”
Xolos unusual looks and practically hairless bodies can turn heads in ways good and bad. Pinci wanted others to see Quetzalli the same way she did — and one day, she found a way.
Pinci is an artist with deep ties to pre-Hispanic culture, and she used to paint her ex’s Xolo from time to time before she got Quetzalli. When Quetzalli was a puppy, she loved painting her face whenever the pup was in a chill mood, but it wasn’t something she did frequently. Years later, she decided to try it again.
“I was feeling kind of low one day, and I spent the whole morning doodling mandalas on her booty,” Pinci said. “She was an absolute babe about it. Napped the whole time, didn’t grumble or even move unless I politely asked her to. It was therapeutic for me, and people’s reactions to seeing her all done up really made an impact on our day.”
Now, Pinci frequently paints Quetzalli using nontoxic, dog-safe paints, and the practice has brought so much joy to Pinci, Quetzalli and everyone who meets them.
“The days I painted her face or doodled on her booty, people would be a lot more receptive, and a lot friendlier,” Pinci said. “Kids would light up and scream, ‘Dante from Coco!’ It’s super sweet to see, and I love using those moments to educate people on Xoloitzcuintles’ history, mythology and cultural relevance.”
Quetzalli is a happy, chill dog who loves routine and hanging out with her mom in her art studio, and occasionally becoming the canvas brings her just as much joy as it does for everyone else.
