As the proud owner (parent?) of an ultra-cute little Chihuahua mutt myself (he’s half Chihuahua and half cartoon), I read this item from today’s Los Angeles Times Metro desk with tears welling up in my eyes. About 20 to 30 of these CUTE little guys and gals are being dropped off at Los Angeles dog pounds every single day. Call it the “Paris Hilton syndrome” if you like, she—and the Taco Bell commercials—are only partly to blame: It’s really the dog breeders who went way overboard in recent years.
“We need a constant supply of new foster homes, because we have a constant supply of new Chihuahuas,” [Kim Durney, administrative director of Grateful Dogs Rescue] said, calling for a halt to “irresponsible” backyard breeding.
In January, Santa Barbara County will begin an effort aimed in part at such breeders. That’s when a new ordinance will go into effect requiring owners of unaltered dogs to get a special license.
Fourteen months ago, the county staged Adopt-a-Chihuahua Week to find homes for more than 100 of the abandoned breed that had ended up in its three animal shelters.
Each dog came with its own pink carrying case, trimmed in black fake fur.
Look into those soulful little eyes. Can you stand the idea that this sweet little creature probably won’t live into the new year? Feel your heart strings being tugged here? Full disclosure: I am trying to manipulate you. If you can provide a home for one of these sweet, hyperactive li’l critters—trust me, rescued dogs know they’ve been rescued and they love you all the more for it—why not pick up the phone right now, before you change you mind, and adopt?
Kudos to actress Katherine Heigl for her generous support of these defenseless creatures. Heigl’s charity, the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, paid for 25 Chihuahuas to be airlifted to New Hampshire last week, where all of them found loving homes in a single day. On Saturday, the charity’s mobile adoption center will be at Topanga Feed and Seed, 106 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cross posting this from BrandX
Photo: A Chihuahua at the East Valley Animal Care Center in Van Nuys on Dec. 9, 2009. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times