The Canary Dog
This is the "Perro de Presa Canario" or the "Canary Dog". The Canary Islands are well known for their native dogs. In fact, the islands were named after the dogs found there when the Spaniards first arrived on the islands. ("Canis" = Dog). Many think the islands were named after the Canary Bird, native to these islands but instead, the birds were named after the islands which were named after the native dogs. The dogs first found there were not these dogs, however. The "Canary Dog" was developed much later in time.
I'm not sure who's dog this is but I didn't take this picture. It came to me from someone on the Canary Islands.
I was on the Canary Islands a couple of years ago and while on La Gomera, I picked up a small package of banana seeds. Upon getting home to New York, I put one of the seeds in some moistened soil and this banana tree erupted. You see these banana trees all over the Islands. Bananas are a principal export of the Canaries. This tree is out in my back yard right now but the cold weather is on it's way and it's almost time to bring this tree indoors. I have no idea where I am going to put it.
Article About the terrible Canary Dog Attack in San Fransisco (mentions me)