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Chupacabra strikes Texas town?

Traveling all the way from its point of origin in Puerto Rico, the chupacabra (literally "goat sucker") has now popped up in the Texas town of Cuero. Or it allegedly has. Even better, sheriff's deputy (in training no less) Brandon Reidel caught the supposed chupacabra on tape.

The animal appears to have a long snout and forelegs slightly shorter than the hind legs, the textbook, or rather folkloric, description of the animal that likes to attack livestock, particularly goats, and drink their blood. Short-haired (rather than hairless like the classic chupacabra) the dread beast looks like a small dog, or perhaps a coyote crossed with a small dog such as a pit bull.

Or it could just be a coyote. After all, that's what the last chupacabra sighting in Texas turned out to be: coyotes suffering from a bad case of mange. Either way, the truth is out there.

 

Tags: urban legend, texas, cryptozoology, coyote, chupacabra
More News Blog: Next: Quantum weirdness wins again: Entanglement clocks in at 10,000+ times faster than light Previous: Big claim about bigfoot: bogus or bona fide?

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  1. 1. SPIKE 06:30 PM 8/13/08

    THIS LOOKS LIKE A COYOTE OR A MIXED BREED DOG WITH MANGE

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  2. 2. AaronW 06:37 PM 8/13/08

    Man-Bear-Pig is real!!

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  3. 3. tlincain 07:31 PM 8/13/08

    So, you're saying the region's coyote population is fraught with mange? That's quite the epidemic.

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  4. 4. countrygirl46705 07:55 PM 8/13/08

    first bigfoot now a chupacabra!!! what's next?

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  5. 5. rmeeuwsen 08:00 PM 8/13/08

    Sorry, for serious discussion how about

    http://www.currentnewsonline.com/2008/08/13/chupacabra/

    Where's Nimoy when you need him?

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  6. 6. lostwolf 10:09 PM 8/13/08

    if you look at the head then look at a image of a tasmanian tiger .. they had short front legs an longer rear legs. bob the tail a bit an you have almost a dead ringer for this lost animal.

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  7. 7. JeffreyCharlesArcher1 11:24 PM 8/13/08

    Obviously a mangy dog or coyote or coy-dog. Silly attention to such obviously false cryptozoological encounters detracts from the encounters many folks have with creatures that are not yet classified by science. There certainly are unknown species existing in our world that do deserve research, and perhaps some quite fantastic by the establishment's standards. Mangy canids are, however, not news, save as a health hazard to family pets.

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  8. 8. trish 12:52 AM 8/14/08

    hi. i ran across this by accident and had to watch the video, while watching my first thougt was, its a rabid dog or coyote, then the officer said the front legs were shorter than the back legs, i couldnt believe what i was hearing.
    Several years ago my brother was on some land out in the country where we live, Limestone county. He was walking along and spotted a skeleton along side a barb wire fence, his first thought was that it was the skeleton of a dog or coyote, when he looked closer he noticed the front legs of this animal were shorter than the back legs and the snout was longer than that of a dog, or coyote. For weeks we tried to find out what it was and couldnt. I will definately call him tomorrow and tell him he has to come see this video he is gonna die. But what the heck is it? We had the skeleton of what ever that thing is running down the road. He carried it around the back of his truck for a week trying to find someone who could give us the answer, no one knew, I will find out where he buried the skelteon, i know that sounds gross, but the curiosity is coming back. Very Weird.

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  9. 9. RPoyfair 01:02 AM 8/14/08

    That video footage is entirely inclusive, it mostly shows us the obviously k9 creature from the behind. When it does show the head, well it looks a bit blurred. I think maybe its a dwarfed coyote or something.

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  10. 10. womanspirit 02:50 AM 8/14/08

    neither dogs nor coyotes have snouts like that - why people are so adverse to admitting there maybe some animal we have no clear scientific records on out there is a mystery to me - THAT is more of amysterty than the animal itself. But, clearly, whatever this one is - it is not a pig - or coyote and if it is a dog - it is not one yet discovered and well documented by science - but this does not mean it can not be the strange animal said to suck the blood of goats- what would be so strange about that anyway? Nature is full of incredible animals and creatures who do lots of - what we would consider- strange things. I sdisagree with Jeffreycharlesarcher's comments here that this creature does not deserve "research". why not? who are YOU to say it is a mix of a coyote and dog? Based on what? The fact is - we do not know what this animal is- and THAT is why it deserves research.

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  11. 11. womanspirit 02:54 AM 8/14/08

    Jeffreycharlesarcher1 says it is a mangy dog or coyote dog mix - based on what EVIDENCE? For someone who says it is a false cryptozoological you don't offer much of that do you? This is no dog or coyote - look at the snout. This animal is as deserving of research as any unknow - fact is - we DON'T know what it is - do we? Based on the images - we have no idea what this animal is at all - so lets find out shall we.

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  12. 12. rmeeuwsen 11:49 AM 8/14/08

    "The chupacabra is a creature said to inhabit parts of the Americas"
    The chupacabra is not new!

    http://delphipsychic.com/chupacabras/chupacabras.htm

    Even the deputy in the video does not think it's a chuba. Looks more like a dumb dog. There are 'suckers' up there, but not a goat sucker!

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  13. 13. gregorandis 12:20 PM 8/14/08

    Did you ever consider Philosene or tasmanian tiger or perhaps a cross breed ! You have something truly historic happening and if you treat it with an open mind and very delicately you have a chance to bring back something thought to be extinct ! DONT BLOW IT !!!

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  14. 14. gregorandis 12:36 PM 8/14/08

    Chupacabra ! Are you simple dig your head out of your rear ! Looks an awful lot like a Thylacine a.k.a Tasmanian Tiger look it up theres pictures. even if it's not a native species it's not impossible ! Your dealing with Something thought to be extinct lets try not to kill this one Billy Bob !!

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  15. 15. greenheat 02:35 PM 8/14/08

    The whole chupacabra myth what solved by the the History Channel show, MonsterQuest with real bodies and DNA testing. All chupacabra sitings like these are actually coyotes or coyote/dog/wolf mixes with mange a skin condition that starts with mites and eventually grows into major hair loss and skin damage.

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  16. 16. curiousokie 03:07 PM 8/14/08

    Regardless, as long as this is an unidentified animal it is newsworthy and deserving of further investigation. It hardly suffices to merely say, "It looks like a mangy canine."

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  17. 17. curiousokie 03:10 PM 8/14/08

    Regardless, if this animal is unidentified it is newsworthy and deserving of further/ scientific investigation. It does not suffice to merely say, "It looks like a mangy canine."

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  18. 18. curiousokie 03:13 PM 8/14/08

    Regardless, if this animal is unidentified it is newsworthy and deserving of further/scientific investigation. It does not suffice to merely say, "It looks like a mangy coyote or dog."

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  19. 19. Jacques Hoff 04:29 PM 8/14/08

    This is obviously a man in a suit. If you look at 1:07, you can see the zipper.

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  20. 20. delpayne 06:17 PM 8/14/08

    Looks like a bull terrier to me. The snout is classic bull terrier.
    Take a look at this guy:
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Bullterrier.jpg/751px-Bullterrier.jpg

    If his color were correct he could be the spitting image of this dog.

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  21. 21. Yay-Yay in reply to lostwolf 11:26 PM 8/14/08

    That's kind of what I thought when I saw the head, looks a lot like a Tasmanian tiger, except I think they are extinct.

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  22. 22. stacyb1 12:26 AM 8/15/08

    thats not a chupacabra the one Iv read about is lizard like long fangs long sharp claws and large red eyes its been sited in Mexico yes it too is called the goat sucker So are there different types of them or something, thats if they are real anyway could be but not on this vidio it just seems the angle of the camera is giving it the apperance an elongated jaw ang shorter front legs.

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  23. 23. Racltk007 12:27 AM 8/15/08

    Andrew Macintosh is a morron! Come on Sheriff "deputy in training no less" he is a corporal typical Clinton News Network Bull! Twisting of the facts. I guess he never had video realtions with that creature!

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  24. 24. stacyb1 in reply to gregorandis 12:29 AM 8/15/08

    you definatly maybe on to somthing does kinda look like one

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  25. 25. Racltk007 12:31 AM 8/15/08

    Typical Clinton News Network, Sheriff's Deputy in Training None the less! word for word From Andrew Mcintosh! The Deputy is a Corporal look at his shoulders. Typical liberal twist! And the evidence is in your face. Then Mcintosh will get mad cause somebody pointed out he is a liar! PAB!

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  26. 26. cowboyrick35 03:10 AM 8/15/08

    I'm Just wondering-- why were cops out checking fence's ?

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  27. 27. bcpbcp1970 08:09 AM 8/15/08

    Are you kidding! You need to look into helping the population of coyotes get healthier. Somethings these poor beasts need help.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  28. 28. Pheonix1 11:54 AM 8/15/08

    There are tons of exotic zoos in Texas! I'll bet that somewhere a long time ago around the 20's someone had a Tasmanian Tiger and it got loose and bred with coyotes or wolves and made this crossbreed. The Tasmanian tiger is all but extinct, and its behavior is the exact same as what they are calling the chupacabra. The two breeds probably didn't mix well and ended up hairless, but the body style of this creature is EXACT to a Tasmanian Tiger.

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  29. 29. Pheonix1 11:58 AM 8/15/08

    There are alot of exotic zoos in Texas, and I'll bet that somewhere in the 20's (long time ago) someone had a tasmanian tiger and it got loose. This creature has the exact same body build and features. They probably have been mating with coyotes or wolves of the area and that has produced baldness in breeding. It is probably nothing more than a mixed breed animal. Granted the tasmanian tiger is all but extinct now in Australia! But they have the same habits as this chupacabra creature does. Look it up on google!!!

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  30. 30. kensyen 02:25 PM 8/15/08

    Funny, we only have had television etc.. for around 50 years. The First World War could not be broadcast live, images by film needed to be sent home and many went into movie theatres to see the "news". Now, that we are in the media age, we feel an arrogance that we know all that is around us and are quick to discount any type of new breeds, or dispell myths. There is so much of this planet that has not been discovered and our "media age" is such a small blip in to what the future holds, I feel that it is our sheer ignorance to assume that new species etc.. don't exsist, as I feel we still know very little about all of our world out there. Science is still very developmentary.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  31. 31. skeetmagnifico 02:45 PM 8/15/08

    Does anyone agree that this totally is a dead ringer for the tasmanian tiger that supposedly is extinct?

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  32. 32. joepalermo 04:31 PM 8/15/08

    Filmmaker Joe Palermo from MonsterQuest Chupacabras here. The animal in the video, albeit very strange, is NOT the Chupacabras from Puerto Rico. For the real story, including illustration (no one has gotten a photo of it) go to www.its-dms.com/elchupacabras.htm

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  33. 33. delpayne 06:18 PM 8/15/08

    The thing I recall about tasmanian tigers is that they had a very unique gait. They walked like normal animals, but when they ran it looked more like a of a bipedal hopping like a kangaroo or a galloping type gate like a horse. While I think it is quite possible tasmanian tigers are still out there I don't think this is one. The gait is looks like a dog running.

    An animal needs to be in the same genus to be able to crossbreed with another animal . Since the tasmanian tiger is a marsupial, tasmanians and dogs/coyotes/wolves only share their Class Mammalia. A cross breed is not possible.

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  34. 34. niko_361 07:32 PM 8/15/08

    i cant beleive that they would even think twice as to what this is...it is completely rediculous

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  35. 35. niko_361 07:33 PM 8/15/08

    I cant believe that they would even think twice as to what this is...it is completely rediculous.

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  36. 36. edge 09:49 PM 8/15/08

    Damn
    The Chupa Cabra is real
    i tot He Was Fake
    If dat Aint da Chupa cabra..Den What it is ?

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  37. 37. edge 09:51 PM 8/15/08

    Damn
    Da Chupa Cabra Is Real
    I tot He Was Fake Or Made up
    If Dat Aint da Chupa Cabra..Den What Is ?

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  38. 38. edge in reply to niko_361 09:53 PM 8/15/08

    Yo Dood


    Do You tink Dat Chupa Cabra Is Real ?

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  39. 39. geauxp 04:03 PM 8/16/08

    This is a Xolo dog or Xolo mixed with coyote but most likely pure bred from malformed dogs bred just north of this area. Irresponsible breeders will dump puppies if they don't conform to show standards. SPAY AND NEUTER and adopt from a shelter. SAVE A LIFE.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  40. 40. Cacogen 10:24 PM 8/17/08

    Dog/Coyote hybrid with mange. That's absolutely NOT a pitbull.

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  41. 41. boju 02:00 PM 8/19/08

    I think it's more than just simple mange creating Chupacabras from Dogs and Coyotes. I've found reports of similar periodic reports of "vampire dogs" in England going back 200 years. Here's the link http://www.dappercadaver.com/blog/2008/08/18/monster-mondays-chupacabras-around-the-world/
    There are also old reports of people being biten by Chupacabras and the strange symptoms that causes.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  42. 42. Jericho 01:07 AM 8/20/08

    The TASMANIAN TIGER isn't lost 'Lost Wolf'.
    The term is called EXTINCT!!!!!

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  43. 43. manfox 03:05 AM 8/20/08

    it seems its running to the olymics nah jk looks like a Pig/terrier mix somehow
    o_O

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  44. 44. Jericho 03:29 AM 8/20/08

    Looks nothing like a Tassie Tiger.
    And coming from Australia I've even seen video footage of them.
    Mind you, someone here said a theory about one cross breeding with a coyote or wild dog to creaate this freak of a dog. Thats the best theory I've heard yet.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  45. 45. Travis 10:37 PM 9/3/08

    Hey, I from Mount Airy, North Carolina and I would like to know more about this animal ( Chupacabra ) because I killed one the other night. I have pics and video of it. Just would like to now what type of bread this animals are. Never seen or heard anything about them. Thanks Travis Collins

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  46. 46. Travis 10:39 PM 9/3/08

    hey, I would like to know more about this animal because I killed one the other night. I have pics and video. I`m from Mount Airy, North Carolina and killed it at my house.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  47. 47. keithphillips 12:57 PM 9/9/08

    My buddy actually has one in the freezer. He found it on the road dead in Clay County, Texas. Not sure what to do next!

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  48. 48. keithphillips 01:07 PM 9/9/08

    My buddy has one in his freezer! He found the body in Clay County, Texas. I have seen pictures and video and will inspect it in person today. It is not a coyote or dog. It has hair much like a havalina or collared peccary. It has a long, thin snout. It does not look as if in could kill very easily. More conducive to eating bugs. It's ears are thick and do not bend very well. It's feet are different too. Will report more tomorrow!

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  49. 49. Rick81 01:42 PM 9/15/08

    Farmer kills Chupacabra in Evant, TX
    Find the scoop on that and see what they really look like!

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  50. 50. SBrooks 09:34 PM 11/19/08

    ANYONE WHO THINKS THIS IS A COYOTE HAS NEVER SEEN ONE. THIS IS SOMETHING VERY UNCOMMON. AFTER RESEARCHING THE SO CALLED CHUPACABRA THIS IS ACTUALLY THE CLOSEST THING TO WHAT IT ACTUALLY COULD BE. MANGE...NO, HAIRLESS YES POSSIBLY. OPEN YOUR BRAIN UP AND LOOK AT THIS. AFTER 30 YEARS HUNTING AND SPENDING MUCH TIME IN THE SOUTH TEXAS BRUSH I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I'M A BELIEVER!

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  51. 51. bryankelly 11:26 AM 12/2/08

    this coverage is kinda inaccurate. The "last chupacabra sighting in Texas" turned out to be half Mexican Wolf (paternal) and half coyote (maternal). That was the DNA finding of the chupacabra to the link that was given (the one with the picture of the head in the video). It was the time BEFORE that, which the thing turned out to be a bad case of mange coyote, but there are no pictures of that one. This video looks very much like the chupacabra of Cuero, the new half breed that we think we've found.

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  52. 52. bryankelly 11:29 AM 12/2/08

    this coverage is kinda inaccurate. The "last chupacabra sighting in Texas" turned out to be half Mexican Wolf (paternal) and half coyote (maternal). It was the time BEFORE that, which the thing turned out to be a bad case of mange coyote but we don't have a picture of that one. The thing in the video does look very much like the other two road kill creatures found in Cuero that turned out to be the mix breed.

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  53. 53. badgerkins 09:41 PM 12/21/08

    Why didn't he shoot the stupid thing and submit the body for examination? I think this is a bad case of a running dog meets photoshop.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  54. 54. zoology_chic 01:25 PM 2/4/09

    i beleve this "breed" is a relative of the common coyote but i also beleve it is not a coyote . coyotes dont have that prominant of k-9 teeth. this also may be a breed that we have just overlooked in science history and dissmissed it as a mixed breed. but i dont think this is the legondary "chupacabra" that many people have "seen" the only thing these two creatures have in common are the large "fangs"

    science girl ... out!!!

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  55. 55. zoology_chic in reply to countrygirl46705 01:26 PM 2/4/09

    MAN_BEAR PIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  56. 56. Ereliz 01:58 PM 2/6/09

    oh my gosh! wow.im a 9th grader here at cypress creek and have heard of this strange animal multiple times.to see this, is AMAZING.this legend never stops! since i was little girl i remember being terrified of coming across this creature and to see it now and to know that nearly hundreds have seen it; it feels good.

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  57. 57. lionstorm 12:30 AM 3/20/09

    The mystery animal, purported to be a chupacabra, is not a chupacabra at all, but either a Peruvian Hairless Dog or Mexican Hairless Dog. Once you view photos of these two dog breeds, the mystery is put to rest.

    The Peruvian Hairless Dog  Google images
    http://tinyurl.com/c7nb5w

    The Mexican Hairless Dog  Google images
    http://tinyurl.com/c7nb5w

    Both breeds range in size from 10 to 50 lbs. In both breeds,

    The larger pedigreed dogs have sleek bodies similar to the Pharaoh breed, just like the purported chupacabra.

    The rear legs are longer than the forelegs, just like the purported chupacabra.

    Most never develop teeth, but some have canines/fangs, just like the purported chupacabra.

    Most have the slate-gray or slate-black skin, just like the purported chupacabra.

    The Peruvian and the Mexican Hairless differ primarily in the shape of ear and size of ear in proportion to head; one sports huge bat-like ears, while the other has ears like the Pharaoh breed, just like the purported chupacabra.

    The dead animal is obviously no more than a mangy Peruvian or Mexican Hairless, a breed never before encountered by the ignorant Texans.

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  58. 58. Hunter N 04:22 AM 3/28/09

    Please take a moment of your time and take a look at this scenario and learn from this event which happened in Texas. The general public at times finds it annoying when couples insist on bringing their infant along on their outings, such as restaurants, movie theaters, and undoubtedly more so when they bring baby along for a robbery. Can you just imagine how terrifying it is both for the mother and the infant she is carrying to see herself on that situation? Yes, folks, that's right, some joyful family unit down in Texas brought their infant along for an armed robbery of a payday loan store in the Lone Star State. This not only added to a growing number of payday loan store robberies, it added a nearly surreal element of bringing along their infant child that will no doubt grow up in foster care since the parents will be going to prison. When most people think of fun for the whole family, armed <a rev="vote for" title="Couple Brings Baby to Payday Loan Store Robbery" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/03/23/couple-brings-baby-payday-loan-store-robbery/">robbery</a> isn't what most have in mind.

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  59. 59. mlopez 03:58 PM 5/11/09

    They always say the same things about chupacabras, and show drawn pictures.They also show the same images of rare dogs so people think they are chupacabras.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  60. 60. Cazzie 67 03:38 PM 5/18/09

    2 years ago my 34 year old son and I were on our way back to Colorado from del Rio on a fishing trip. As we left Amarillo to Dumas a WEIRD dog/coyote type thing jumped out in front of us. It had No hair, front legs shorter than the back, long snout, UGLY as heck. We avoided hitting it, now I wish we had. I am 100% sure it was one of these things, NO DOUBT. My son has two Pit Bills, this was NOT a Pit Bull for sure, no dog, not grey fox, or anything like that.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  61. 61. i love zach 11:34 PM 5/28/09

    my grandma said her dad caught one but when he turned and turned back it was gone i belive in it i have no proof but i know its true it's like our ordainary animals but this one needs to be studied before it can be one of our ordainary animals

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  62. 62. i love zach 11:39 PM 5/28/09

    my grandma's dad caught one he turned away looked back it was gone i belive this creature is real it just needs to be studied before it can be one of our normal non-changing animals.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  63. 63. chris killz 08:34 AM 9/3/09

    I don't know...if you go to whatsachupacabra.blogspot.com there's really convincing evidence that this animal is a new species, not formerly known to science. The news is all over this story so it must be real.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  64. 64. trit8483 06:22 PM 9/11/09

    Uhhh, this is a hairless mexican dog. Scientific name: xolo xcuintle. I have a breeding pair and a few puppies, they look exactly like the "chupa" I was kinda dumbfounded when I saw it on the news that they didn't know what it was. There's not very many of them left, but there are still wild ones running around in Texas/Mexico

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  65. 65. slim99 12:30 PM 12/6/09

    in mexico they always find or hear something in the far land and dessert

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  66. 66. slim99 12:32 PM 12/6/09

    everybody is always scared in mexico because they dont want to take they're children

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
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