Many early societies viewed purebred dogs as the rightful claim of royalty and the aristocracy, and the Aztec culture was no different;  Chihuahuas were companions to noble families who believed that when one among them died, it was necessary to kill a Chihuahua and cremate or bury the dog along with the deceased. The departed’s soul needed help crossing the river into the afterlife and would crawl onto the back of the dog’s spirit to reach his or her destination. Some breed historians speculate that a sacrifice of the dog also absorbed the sins of the deceased, and enhanced their prospects for a welcome into the hereafter. Being a Chihuahua in Aztec society, then, was a mixed bag. The dogs likely lived well while they were alive, but the moment someone died……

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