Exklusiv für zoos.media – 27.10.2026. Von: Dr. med. vet. Kerstin Alexandra Dörnath
On the occasion of the first National Xoloitzcuintle Day, Dr. Dörnath sends greetings from Germany to Mexico. Her zoos.media column, WildLifeGaze, features the full message, available for both reading and viewing.
Congratulations on the National Xoloitzcuintle Day – From the German permanent forest directly to Mexico
From Germany, I send my greetings to distant and beloved Mexico.
Anyone who was invited to and witnessed the festivities of the National Xoloitzcuintle Day in Mexico from 8 to 13 September 2026 will simply have had their breath taken away. Nowhere else in the world is there such respect, such deep love and such a wave of appreciation for this unique cultural heritage. Nor can I think of any other subject that unites culture, science, art, politics, spirituality and such deep love and admiration for a living being.
If I now look out into the dense, primordial green of our German permanent forest, that feeling from back then remains crystal clear: we are not talking about just any date on the calendar. This is about an ancient and indestructible bond between human beings, animals and our creation; and about the stance of people willing to fight tirelessly against all odds for years to make it happen.
Naturally, no one achieves such a historical milestone alone: “no man is an island”. If we look at the minds who made this day possible in the first place, the greatest thanks go to Congresswoman Ana Erika Santana González for her iron determination and wisdom. Likewise, I bow deeply to Dr Ricardo Forastieri and his life’s work; without him, this day simply would not exist.
Behind the political summits and specialists, however, there are always years of hard work. You need a true foundation, and that only works as a team: my deepest respect therefore goes equally to Efrén Cruz and Hatziri Revilla Ayala, as well as to all those who have walked this path tirelessly so that this foundation could emerge. After all, there are 15 years of disciplined commitment working behind the scenes here.
Since written words are sometimes not enough to show this connection, I have captured my greeting message for today – the first National Xoloitzcuintle Day – from the heart of nature, with replicas of the Colima dogs in my hands and a dried cempasúchil flower (Tagetes erecta), surrounded by the beautiful art of Miriam Salas.
You can access the video greeting in Mexican Spanish with English subtitles you can activate directly here.
Anyone who knows me knows that I call a spade a spade. Those who wish to read what I conveyed today, 27 October 2026, to the participants via a video message directly from Germany can find it here in black and white translated from Spanish into English:
“From the deep, primordial green of the German permanent forest, I send you warm greetings on National Xoloitzcuintle Day.
Here, where nature and history breathe, I hold these wonderful Colima dogs in my hands – accompanied by this beautiful work of art by Miriam Salas. And I have with me this dried flower that I brought back in September from the celebrations at the Palacio de San Lázaro.
They are witness to a deep and ancient connection between human beings, animals and our creation, transcending all continents.
My greetings go very specially to two extraordinary people: Congresswoman Ana Erika Santana González, without whose determination and wisdom we would not be here today, and Dr Ricardo Forastieri, without whom this day would not exist.
How I would have loved to be there with you now.
Today I will definitely be dancing the Cumbia del Xoloitzcuintle!
Kind regards from Germany. Happy Xoloitzcuintle Day!”
