Tibet's dogs are somewhat legendary, this I knew before coming here. The most famed is the Tibetan mastiff - huge and black, with a head and mane somewhat resembling a lion. Most of them wear a red, furry neck ornament, which aims to drive the lion point home. Buying one is not cheap - it takes thousands, sometimes tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to install one as the household guard dog. (Yes, that amount is in US dollars.) Most of them are filthy, with long, unkempt dreadlocks. Many have mange or other pussy sores on their bodies. Tibet is one of the only travel destinations where pre-travel rabies vaccination is suggested, as these dogs will not hesitate to attack and even kill any person or animal that crosses their path. The only person
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