Chihuahua glut: Chihuahuas flooding CA shelters. Plane to be charted to fly them to other states.

[Liberal_in_LA]

Chihuahuas flooding shelters, rescue groups warn
December 9, 2009 | 3:31 pm

They're tiny, they're cute and they're besieging animal shelters from San Diego to Northern California.

The Chihuahua glut has become so severe that representatives from half a dozen San Francisco Bay Area shelters, surrounded by 50 yipping, shivering Chihuahuas, begged animal lovers today to help them find homes for the petite pooches.

In Los Angeles, only pit bulls outnumber Chihuahuas in the city's shelters. At the Peninsula Humane Society in San Mateo, 60% of the dogs awaiting adoption are pure or mixed-breed Chihuahuas. At the San Francisco Animal Care and Control shelter, Chihuahuas are 30% of the canine population and rising. At the East Bay SPCA, it's 50%.

"A few years ago, we joked that wouldn't it be great if all these pit bulls were Chihuahuas," said Allison Lindquist, executive director of the East Bay SPCA. "Now they are. This is what happened with pit bulls, Dobermans, German shepherds and other dogs that become popular through TV and movies."

The pint-sized pups with outsize personalities became increasingly popular after Reese Witherspoon's character in the 2001 movie "Legally Blonde" accessorized her Pepto Bismol-hued wardrobe with Bruiser as she plied the halls of Harvard.

-------------

"People get enthralled with the movies and think dogs have a certain type of personality," said Kathy Davis, interim general manager of the Los Angeles Animal Services agency.

"They bring the dog home and they don't spend sufficient time to train and socialize the animal, and unfortunately the Chihuahua doesn't become the star it was in the movie," she said. "The dazzle wears off, and the shelters end up with the pets."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/12/chihuahuas-flooding-shelters-rescue-groups-warn.html

Yo quiero una casa! - Chihuahuas fill shelters
Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

In what appears to be strictly a California phenomenon, Golden State animal shelters have been deluged with Chihuahuas. The trembling, pop-eyed canines have replaced pit bulls as the dogs most likely to turn up at the pound.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Everyone's juggling Chihuahuas. It's nuts," said Deb Campbell, spokeswoman for the San Francisco Animal Care and Control. "These days you hear a lot of 'awwwww's around here. They're awfully cute."

Oakland's shelter has so many Chihuahuas that staff members are arranging to charter a plane to airlift the petite pooches to other states, where small dogs are in demand. Volunteers have already driven more than 100 Chihuahuas to shelters in Oregon, Washington and Arizona.

In Berkeley, there are so many Chihuahuas they've outgrown the small-dog accommodations, so staffers let them run around the office all day.

San Francisco, where Chihuahuas comprise one-third of the shelter's dog population, workers are launching a public campaign to encourage small-dog adoption. Some days up to eight Chihuahuas arrive at the shelter.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/09/BAPB1B18CG.DTL#ixzz0ZEuZdBLh

[anonymous171]

1. lol

[Shell Beau]

34. What is funny?

[EndersDame]

94. Animals who are deserving of respect and love suffering obviously

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[notadmblnd]

3. that's sad. My grandmother kept chihuahuas

I just remember the little dogs shaking all the time.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. They do shake alot. They seem so weak and helpless. Cats have 100 times

the self reliance of a 'taco bell' dawg

[Shell Beau]

35. You haven't been around the chis that I have. They think they

are pit bulls. A lot of them think they are big ole dogs. They do shake for whatever reason, but that doesn't mean anything. They are a little more fragile because of their size, but don't tell them that. But they are like any other animal. You never know what you are going to get until you get it. They tend to be feisty, spunky, and high energy, but that also isn't always true. They aren't the type of dog for me, but they make great pets to the right people. This just shows that people should research dogs before they get one. Or, as I prefer, adopt one.

[Liberal_in_LA]

39. They are very yip yappy.

[ThomCat]

42. That isn't always true either.

Mine is almost always very quiet, for example. She only yaps when strangers are close outside. I'm sure a lot of others are often very quiet too.

If you believe stereotypes about animals you will rarely like any animal.

[Liberal_in_LA]

43. I like all animals. Thinking Taco Bell dogs are yip yappy doesn't make me dislike them

[barbtries]

45. my chihuahua

has a wonderful disposition. and as someone upthread said, is not at all fearful. he loves other dogs and when we're out walking just tries to make friends with every one of them no matter the size. i really think he does not know how little he is (about 7 1/2 pounds)

[ThomCat]

46. Mine is 6 lbs and also doesn't know how small she is.

:)

She is the alpha dog in our house, and tries to be the alpha dog when friends bring their dogs over to visit.

[Subdivisions]

112. Mine is 5 pounds and isn't afraid of anything. She does

shake occasionally though.

[jberryhill]

53. I used to think that...

They are great alarm dogs. They are yip happy to people OTHER than their owners.

[FreeState]

74. Mine rarely barks

I've been to a race with over 2000 chi's and not a single bark.

[Behind the Aegis]

83. Voodoo is the same.

When we marched in Barkus, he never barked nor got scared.

[EndersDame]

88. any dog was not given proper exercise would bark their head off

It is the owner not the dog. Sadly alot of owners of chihuahuas treat them like stuffed animals

[tonysam]

54. My chihuahua doesn't yap. He is VERY intelligent.

The thing about chihuahuas, like many toy breeds, is they are hard to housebreak. But these dogs are wonderful, almost too much dog.

I am glad these animals will be rescued.

[FreeState]

75. We box trained our Chi

It's great - he has a cat litter box he uses but he still would rather go outside:)

[barbtries]

4. this makes me sad!

i love my little chihuahua to death. if i was still in CA i'd go rescue one.

[NV Whino]

17. We'll be happy to ship you one

or two... or three.

[merh]

81. If only it were that easy.

I'd take a couple. But you can't put them on a UPS truck and the post office isn't going to let you use priority mail.

x(

[Behind the Aegis]

82. Check out "Delta Dash."

[merh]

85. I wish I had the money

thanks for the tip though.

[Behind the Aegis]

86. It really isn't too bad.

We are having ours shipped in from Oklahoma. I can appreciate not having the moohlah, though. Maybe someone else will see this post and some little Chis will get new homes! :)

[merh]

98. that would be neat

Enjoy your new furbabies, rescue pups are wonderful, they know they are loved and they are so loyal.

:hi:

[ThomCat]

18. We have a 21 year old dog that doesn't have much longer.

Jack. He's a wonderful boxer mix. :loveya:

When he finally has to leave us, we're thinking of getting another dog, and it will definitely be a toy dog from a rescue organization. If Chihuahuas are what they have, then that is what we'll get.

We already have one Chihuahua. She lives in my lap and she alternates between being the most affectionate thing in the world and being the most intelligently manipulative, evil thing you've ever imagined. Her name is Coco, but her nickname (if you've ever read Harry Potter) is VoldeMutt.

[Kajsa]

21. I love that name, Thom!

She's lucky to have you as her human.

:hug:

[blaze]

44. Voldemutt!!! LOL!!! n/t

[ProdigalJunkMail]

5. boutique pet... hate it for the poor pooches ...

many people who want dogs have no idea what it takes to keep one...should have to take a fucking course before you get one!

sP

[Kajsa]

22. +1

n/t

[Posteritatis]

52. Yep. I know a few people who got them for wardrobe purposes

I shit you not, explicitly as fashion accessories.

One of them still has the two she got and is reasonably good at taking care of them physically, but even for stereotypical toy dogs the things are complete headcases - neurotic, spastic, things terrified of their own shadows who snap at any other humans on sight.

Pisses me right off.

[spanone]

7. 'you talkin' to me?'

[EndersDame]

80. OMG! Too Cute!!! What is his/her name

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. How sad. Once the new wears off and they're no longer fun as an accessory to their outfit...

They don't want them anymore. Poor little pooches. :(

[dysfunctional press]

9. market them to python and boa constrictor owners...

'circle of life', and all.

[KamaAina]

10. See #10.

:spank:

[dysfunctional press]

12. snakes gotta eat too.

they must get bored with a diet of all mice.

[ThomCat]

15. Should we then feed your snakes to pitt bulls

because people don't like snakes? :shrug:

If you start feeding every animal people don't like to every other animal, what animals will be left?

[dysfunctional press]

33. i don't have any snakes...

do pit bulls normally eat snakes?

"if you start feeding every animal people don't like to every other animal, what animals will be left?"

whose making the argument for doing so..?
the shelters there have a glut of chihuahuas...obviously some of them will likely be euthanized.
i'm offering a solution that doesn't let those lives go to waste(with the exception of snake guano).

[Kajsa]

24. Oh crap!

This shit is getting really old!

:thumbsdown:

[Randypiper]

11. They're eazy to walk,

hang them out a window and squeeze.

[Kajsa]

26. Ditto on the answer here,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7191256&mesg_id=7191725

[KamaAina]

27. 'eazy'?

You mean the late Eazy E had one? :shrug:

[ThomCat]

13. I have a Chihuahua and cats.

I have been a hard-core cat person for decades, but I'll say that I love this Chihuahua fiercely. She's a wonderful, affectionate, beautiful little dog with lots of great personality.

She belonged to a friend of a friend who passed away. My friend inhered her. But when this little dog met me she decided that she had to be mine. She absolutely insisted. She loved me at first sight and refuses to leave me. So she became mine.

She's the size of my smaller cat, and if we get any other dogs I'd definitely be willing to get another Chihuahua.

I hope more people fall in love with Chihuahuas. :loveya:

[tandot]

19. I agree with you. My chi is a mix (1/4 pug 3/4 chi). Here he is with our cat:

He shakes as soon as it gets a little bit cooler and loves to sleep underneath blankets.

[Kajsa]

30. I have a similar story, Thom.

I am/have been a cat nut all my life.
I love all animals but have liked larger dogs,
previously.

We had a neighbor dog, Paco, who was the most intelligent
dog I've ever met.

He was a Chihuahua, getting on in years, but sharp as a tack.
He would mind his own business, yet be friendly to neighbors.

Paco would run down the street, to make his "great escape" out into the world,
I'd see him, say "Paco, you KNOW you have to go home now".

He's look at me with a " Oh, Crap!" look, do a 180 and walk home!

He slipped one day and fractured several vertebrae.
The vet said he wouldn't survive the surgery, so his human who loved him to
pieces made the very hard decision to put him down.

We cried for weeks after that, Thom.

I still look out on the sidewalk and can see him walking down the street.

Paco changed my perspective about Chihuahuas for life.

:-)

[girl gone mad]

14. I blame Reese Witherspoon for all of my problems, too.

Seriously.

[Shell Beau]

36. This blame goes on Paris Hilton. Just sayin'!

[Toasterlad]

49. Now THAT...Was Funny.

[L0oniX]

16. I resemble that remark

[Neecy]

20. I do toy dog rescue

And the problem is that too many people think the dogs themselves are toys - but when it comes time for feeding, grooming, trips to the vet, and exercising the "toy" suddenly these fools suddenly realize it's just like any dog and needs just as much care and attention - sometimes more, depending on the grooming requirements.

That's why I'm so careful when I place a dog. Someone who just think it's cute doesn't cut it - they need to understand the breed, research it, and understand the requirements for caring for it. Toy breeds are terrific, very loyal companion dogs and these idiots who buy them as an accessory and then dump them piss me off in a major way.

[ThomCat]

29. +1

:loveya:

We have a lot of dogs in my neighborhood. It seems to be a requirement that you have to own one to live here. But in several houses they kept the dogs chained up outside all the time and we would hear them all day and all night.

The small one on the street behind us yips constantly. The mid-sized dog down the street howls and sounds like it is part wolf. We have often talked about going into those yards after dark with bold cutters to take those two dogs.

It is only because they are now inside now that it is cold that we haven't done exactly this. We set ourselves a deadline of the first frost. If the dogs were still outside at the first frost we were going after them. But the owners cared enough to bring them inside for the winter.

We are going to be taking a serious look at how healthy those dogs are when we see them outside again in the spring.

Some people really should not have dogs. :(

So many people in this neighborhood really love their dogs. Those few who don't really stand out.

[Kajsa]

31. Thank you for helping them, Neecy!

You know who is fit to care for them, also.

:hug:

[TokenQueer]

92. Sadly, this level of pet ignorance is not just limited to the toy breeds.

Every day at my shelter, I think I have seen the worst...then some asshole strolls in to up the stupid ante. Yesterday some man walked up to the railing in front of our shelter, tied the leash in a half-assed knot and walked away leaving a very confused Rottweiler behind. I mean really, you don't even have the balls to enter the building to surrender the animal?

[lukasahero]

109. Thank you for the work you do

:hug:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

23. I have 2 of 'em curled up beside me right now.

Never gonna desert 'em. EVER.

[tonysam]

58. Me neither. I will be homeless before my chihuahua and Lhasa

are.

[Techn0Girl]

25. "As God is my witness - I thought Chihuahuas could fly!"

(it's from something old)

[Toasterlad]

50. WKRP!

[winston61]

56. It's not your fault, Big Guy, it's that Nessmann!

[KamaAina]

28. One of my close associates has a Chihuahua seizure dog

he (the Chihuahua) is the hit of our bimonthly regional meetings!

[ThomCat]

32. That is wonderful!

:)

Training that dog must have been a bit of a challenge. They're a bit headstrong. But they certainly are smart enough. They're brilliant little dogs.

[EndersDame]

37. My BF's little sister informed me that Corgi's are the hot new sorority girl dog

And that chihuahuas are now considered trashy by some folk . Holy Shit!! I couldnt believe it!! I think that if people want an accessory dog they should go to a toy store!!

I just want to clairify that she doesnt hold that view and is infact a vegetarian and cares deeply about all animals

[Kajsa]

38. People need to understand that animals

aren't property, accessories or ornaments.

They are living, breathing creatures like us who
( like us) need food, water, shelter, love and companionship.

I wish there was a competency test people could take to see if
they were fit to adopt an animal.

Thanks for posting this.

[intheflow]

47. And exercise.

A lot of people forget the exercise component, and for high-energy dogs, that's an absolute must or your house will be destroyed.

[Kajsa]

96. Absolutely!

I forgot that one.
It's VERY important.

Thanks!

:hi:

[Kajsa]

40. I see a few posters here have found it

hilarious to post about feeding these dogs to other animals,
hanging them out of windows, etc.

Is animal abuse a reality for your future?
Or has it already happened?

[Liberal_in_LA]

41. +1

[Kajsa]

102. Thanks!

:) :hi:

[Toasterlad]

51. Yes, Because People Only Joke About What They're Going To Do.

:eyes:

[winston61]

59. Oh, pull the stick out of your butt, for God's sake, or don't you laugh

at anything?

[BuelahWitch]

67. Cruelty to animals isn't funny

[Kajsa]

97. Since when is animal suffering

funny?

[lukasahero]

110. Not about animal cruelty

Do you?

[shadesofgray]

66. +1

[Kajsa]

101. Thank you!

Welcome to DU.

:hi:

[shadesofgray]

107. Thanks! :)

[northzax]

95. is your chihuaha a vegetarian

or do you feed other animals to it? processed, sure. no one likes to think about it, but meat does come from animals. and if there are thousands of animals that are going to be killed anyway (euthanasia that is) an thousands of other animals that are also going to be killed (meat) why not?

[Kajsa]

99. I was referring to

the feeding of live dogs to other animals.

You are correct in your assessment.

[Toasterlad]

48. I Hate Those Fucking Rat-Dogs.

[Shell Beau]

60. A little harsh, don't ya think? I am not a big fan of many toy dogs, although

I have a mini-pin. Even as much as I LOVE her, I know she isn't for everyone. But saying you hate those fucking rat dogs is a bit over the top. Good God. Where does the hate come from? A bad experience? The look of them just pisses you off?

[Toasterlad]

93. A Little From Column A, And a Little From Column B.

I've always believed a dog is useless if it can't catch a frisbee. Plus, I hate dogs that yap. And now two of my sisters both have a Chihuahua/Terrier mix. One of them is a biter. Luckily (for it), it hasn't bitten me yet.

[freeplessinseattle]

68. charming. what a hoot at parties you must be:) n/t

[Toasterlad]

90. Touche.

[Behind the Aegis]

69. Who you calling a rat?!

Voodoo says he is no rat!

[EndersDame]

73. Voodoo could probably kick his ass!!

Small dogs rock!

[Behind the Aegis]

84. Yes they do!

He has a secret identity! Shhhh....

[Toasterlad]

91. I HATE Tiny Dogs...But If You Promise Not To Tell Anyone...

...I'll admit that thing is pretty cute.

[Kajsa]

100. You don't say!

No shit!

:eyes:

What a surprise!

[Trillo]

55. How sad. Get your Chihuahuas neutered and spayed. nt

Hope the dogs find some homes.

[tonysam]

57. The iron of the thing is "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" was about the importance

of responsible pet ownership and that every animal have a home. How in the world did people miss the obvious message?

[voteearlyvoteoften]

61. Save the wa wa's

I love me a good pound dog. I usually pick a yellow retriever mutt, but the small dogs are cool for apartments.

[Poiuyt]

62. Didn't Skinner have a Chihuahua?

[PatGund]

63. Why on earth hasn't the shelters set out traps????

That's what you're SUPPOSED to do with a rat infestation anyway!

[Blue_Tires]

64. ironic, because a few years ago, i distinctly remember

an NPR story on how huge the boom was on Chihuahua breeding in California...There were actually small-scale farmers ditching their crops and building kennels because the Paris Hilton boom had pushed prices to the moon...

A few years later, we are seeing the residual effects of overbreeding and flooding the market...

[sweetloukillbot]

89. I'd be surprised if Phoenix doesn't have the same problem...

Seems all the rescue dogs are Pits or Chihuahuas... And when you drive past some of the malls on the weekend there are backyard breeders lining the street with chihuahua and min-pin puppies...
I had a chi/min-pin mix we adopted from someone who couldn't (or probably didn't want to) take care of it, and the dog was a terror! Really sweet and cuddly when I was going to bed, or sitting around the house, but he was loud, dominant, territorial, impossible to housebreak and full of endless energy. And fearless - he terrorized our German Shepherd, and ultimately gave that dog a complex. We ended up giving him to a friend's 80-year-old mother who turned him into a fat, lazy lap dog...

[roody]

65. Breeding dogs is cruel. Spay and neuter please.

[TorchTheWitch]

70. no, breeding unhealthy dogs is bad

Breeding to perfect health and eliminate chronic problems like hip dysplasia is a good thing. Spay and neuter dogs of non-breeding quality and those that won't be used for breeding purposes.

[LeftyMom]

77. Oh, that's a lot of horseshit.

First of all dogs are dying right now for lack of homes. Breeding more animals when there aren't homes to take all the ones that already exist is just stupid and cruel. Second, because breeders don't breed for health, if they did they would be breeding mutts for hybrid vigor and not pedigree dogs based on arbitrary breed standards in which dogs are inbred into strange (and often inherently unhealthy and cruel) shapes for profit or as some sick hobby.

[EndersDame]

87. A regular at my dogpark imported a Dobie from Yugoslavia

First of all let me clairify- there are plenty of animals here and she should have adopted , (to her credit she has two rescue poodles though.)
I would never buy from a breeder.All my animals have been strays or in my pup's case flat out abandoned that I took in.

BUT apparently in Yugoslavia they do breed for health. The Dobie's mom said that she would not take an American purebred because they breed in alot of health problems.Just looking at the Dobie he almost looks like a different breed from an American Dobie. He isnt so skinny and does not have a small head. He looks broader stronger bigger and more like a pony


I also am aware that in the country it is common for people to breed collies and other worker types with different breeds but those dogs have jobs to do

That being said I think that most should adopt from a rescue group shelter or take in a stray :)

[roody]

104. +1

[roody]

103. For every puppy born, a shelter dog is killed.

[PJPhreak]

71. As much as Cosmo,our Chihuameranian (PomChi)

Is the Bestest little dog in the world....So he thinks anyway!

He thinks he weighs 100 lbs. With A 'Tude!

When one of us walk him our conversations go something like,

Us...Cosmo,please do not go attack that Rottwiller...You won't win,in fact in that critters mind you are not a threat,You are a Snack!

Cosmo...Lemme at'im, I'm gonna rip him up! Leggo that Leash!!

Us...Duuuude,You realize to that Rottie you look like a Tootsie Roll with Feet,Don't You?

Cosmo...I'll show him "Tootsie Roll With Feet",jus leggo that Leash,you Dang Human!NOW!!!


Gotta love little dogs with a big Napoleon Complex!

[EndersDame]

78. Check out my little min pin/terrier wrestling with a 110lb black lab

My pup is about 15 pounds right now and she was a bout ten pounds then

[aikoaiko]

72. I guess this is the Paris Hilton effect wearing off.

They always seemed like abominations of nature myself, but if you're into extreme dog breeding I can see why they desired.

[FreeState]

76. I love my Chi

[EndersDame]

79. He looks like one of my friends from Highschool

he was about 5'2 115lbs but he was one feisty motherf*cker who kknow one messed with much like a chihuahua or a min pin

[FreeState]

108. LOL - well he thinks he's tough but he is not really all that tough

As long as you have a treat hes happy - he meets new people every day and has been socialized extensively so he may give you a growl but its only pretense:)

Forget to give him the ice cream bowl however and he has a fit!:)

[seemunkee]

106. Do not cross me

or I weel Keel you and bury the body where no one weel ever find you.

[semillama]

105. My God! Cali ran out of ditzy blondes with empty handbags??? n/t

[Subdivisions]

111. That makes me sad. I hope they find a home just like I did...

My Kitty =)

[MrScorpio]

113. "I'm sick of these muthafucking Chihuahuas on this muthafucking plane"