Journalism of Courage
Luciana Benetti, 16, embraces her pet pig Chanchi at home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Benetti found her plans for a big traditional 15th birthday party scrapped due to the Covid-19 pandemic last year. In its place, her parents gave her a pig, which turned out to be a loyal and loving companion. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Lorena Alvarez holds some of her 28 pet "petauros," or sugar gliders, for which she has a permit, at her home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “I get up and I live for them. They are my engine of struggle and of life," she said of the animals that scamper over her looking to be petted, or leap and glide down to the floor. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Solana Pesca holds one of her two pet rats, Reggea, at home in Buenos Aires. Pesca, a zoo worker who handles rats as food for other animals, adopted Reggea as a pet when it was gifted to her during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, when she started living alone for the first time. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Alberto Ramon Castro pets horse Coco at the San Jose Home for seniors where he lives in Tandil, Argentina. The 77-year-old had spent much of his time sitting in a chair. “It changed my life. I care for it, it seeks me out and when I approach, it neighs. As long as I am there, nothing is going to happen to it," he said. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Agustina Ancales and her partner Pablo Vazquez pose for a photo with their dog Sigmoide in Lomas de Zamora, Argentina. Ancales' mother got the dog for the couple as a gift after Vazquez was diagnosed with cancer during the COVID-19 lockdown to try to cheer them up. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Valentin Faijoo looks at his caged birds sitting on a bench outside the San Jose Home for seniors, where he lives in Tandil, Argentina. Faijoo was allowed to take his pets to the residence during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and said it changed everything for good. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Nurse Osvaldo Negri holds a tarantula, one of his 60 pet spiders in Lanus, Argentina. The 50-year-old nurse said he began raising spiders to overcome arachnophobia and that caring for them has helped him cope with working at the hospital in the midst of COVID-19, “unplugging” as he watches and sometimes touches the spiders, feeding them cockroaches. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Tulio holds his cat at home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tulio adopted two cats during the COVID-19 lockdown for their companionship during months at home. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Luciana Benetti feeds her pet pig Chanchi. Without Chanchi, “I wouldn't be me,” said Benetti, who often sleeps alongside the 20-kilo (45-pound) Juliana pig that greets her with a squeal of delight when she arrives at her house. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
