Negro Matapacos facts for kids
A graffito of Negro Matapacos at La Cisterna
|
|
| Species | Dog |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Died | 26 August 2017 (age 12) Santiago, Chile |
| Owner | María Campos |
| Offspring | 32 |
Negro Matapacos was a famous black dog from Chile. His name means Black Cop-Killer in Spanish. He became well-known for joining in street protests in Santiago, Chile, especially around 2011. Later, he became a powerful symbol during bigger protests in 2019 and 2020. People saw him as a sign of standing up against unfair treatment and fighting for dignity. You can find many artworks and statues made in his honor across Chile. He even became a symbol in protests in New York City in 2019. He was easy to spot because of his black fur and the red scarf often tied around his neck. He also had blue and white scarves that his caregiver would put on him.
His name came from the Spanish word matar (which means "to kill") and paco. Paco is a slang word for "policeman" in Chile.
His Story
Negro Matapacos first became famous among university students in Santiago. This was mainly at the University of Santiago, the Metropolitan University of Technology, and the Central University. During the student protests from 2011 to 2013, Negro Matapacos became known for taking part in the marches. He would often bark at or chase away members of the Carabineros de Chile (the Chilean police). This made him very popular with the protesters.
Even though Negro Matapacos was often seen around different universities and streets, he wasn't a completely stray dog. He was cared for by María Campos, who adopted him in 2009. She fed him, gave him a bed at her home, tied his scarves, and even blessed him before he went out. During his time in the protests, some news outlets called him the "Chilean Loukanikos". This was because he was similar to a dog named Loukanikos who became famous during protests in Greece between 2010 and 2012.
Negro Matapacos passed away on August 26, 2017. He was cared for by veterinarians and his caregivers. Many sources say that when he died, he had fathered 32 puppies with 6 different female dogs.
See also
In Spanish: Negro Matapacos para niños
