Dogs act as daily company to waste pickers in Curitiba

The dogs, who are faithful companions to the waste pickers in Curitiba, favor the performance of the workers

By Isabela Lobianco, Lorena Motter and Valentina Nunes

Translated by Mariana Gomes

The waste pickers are daily characters to those who live in Curitiba. These workers spend their days in the streets with their dogs in search of recyclable materials that can still be used, reformed or industrially recycled.

Usually, these individuals utilize hand carts, adapted to bicycles or tricycles, or even pulled by the force of human traction. Although they reduce the amount of domestic garbage that is accumulated in the cities and take part for the reduction of residue directed to landfills and dumps, the pickers are part of a group that suffers with stigma and social invisibility.

As it states in the Institute of Economic Research (IPEA), 90% of all that Brazil recycles is collected by waste pickers. It is estimated that there are between 800 thousand and 1 million of these workers in Brazil, according to the National Movers of the Recyclables Waste Pickers (MNCR). There are official data on the category, though.

The picker Virlei Silva says that his dog, Guardião, takes part in all of his work route for over eight years. “Guardião walks the whole path with me and already knows the way. I come here three times a week and he comes along”.

The picker adopted his mate when puppies were abandoned in a construction site next to his house in Fanny Village. The pair is so inseparable that other people started to help take care of the animal. “They saw I treated him [Guardião] well and started to help out, giving me money to buy him food”.

Otávio has a very different care with his two canine friends, Lola and Scooby. He prefers to leave them at home, due to all the danger in the streets. “They let these dogs get close to dying in the streets. I had to put my cart in the middle of the road so they didn’t kill them”, the worker comments. Even by keeping his pets at home, the picker gets benefits by the presence of his buddies. “I get home and they all get happy. It’s very good”.

Otávio during his work hours | Photo: Isabela Lobianco

When he still worked alongside his dogs, Otávio says that he felt less alone. “We got to the squares, put out water, food, rested for a bit then went. It was company.”

A try from the class to get comfort is to walk their paths alongside dogs. The trainer and dog behavior specialist Rafael Wineski believes that the dog’s company might reduce the abandonment feeling. “It is not a human relationship. Neither can it replace human relationships, but it serves as a way to soften sentimental cases caused by abandonment and also acts as emotional ‘bridges’ to new people and/or as catalysts to the intervention of psychologists and shrinks.”

Other than that, Wineski talks about the comfort of people being accompanied by a dog during work, since the relationship of the human with the animal has physiological and emotional. factors. This connection may help the mental health, reducing stress levels and anxiety to the pet’s tutor.

The specialist also adds that the dogs influence the mood of the human beings, in which they also help on work performance. People’s mood changes are noticeable when their in contact with these animals, which generates a high in focus and concentration, resulting in a growth in productivity.

The coordinator to the project Focinhos, a non-profitable organization that offers rehabilitation, protection, and adoption to street dogs, Thay Victoria Lima, explains the influence on human performance. “When they get in action it is like the worries that guide them go away and what is left is the joy that gives us strength to think effectively”.

Virlei and his dog, Guardião | Photo: Isabela Lobianco

Thays says that research shows that animal contact promotes a decrease in cardiac frequency, arterial pressure, and stress symptoms, and, this way, the contact with the animals makes possible rich and positive experiences. She confirms that many dogs are the only company and support reference to their tutors. Many times they are the reason to leave their homes and have contact with other people, providing better in social relationships.

The coordinator believes that the darkest feeling a human being can have is to end their lives. “This can happen by the feeling that we’re alone and have nothing to lose.” A research done by the University of Toronto observed that living with a dog can reduce 24% of the cases of early death by any disease.

*Otávio decided not to share his surname

PICKERS AND THEIR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR THEIR CANINE FRIENDS

The pickers Virlei and Otávio talk very proudly about their canine buddies. They themselves affirm that they don’t know a life without their four-legged friends. “A puppy is way better than a human, at times”, says Otávio, defending the dog’s innocence. Other than companions, to most peoples, these pets stop being only partners and start being family members. Because of this, the pickers think it is primordial having friendship and care to their dogs. 

Take a look at some images that represent the care that Virlei and Otávio have for their pets:

Picker Virlei during his work journey in the neighborhood Água Verde | Photo: Isabela Lobianco

Virlei and Guardião walk together three times a week | Photo: Isabela Lobianco

Virlei adopted Guardião over eight years ago | Photo: Isabela Lobianco

Otávio goes out to work on the street four times a week | Photo: Isabela Lobianco

Otávio gestures while talking about his dogs, Lola and Scooby | Photo: Isabela Lobianco