Chihuahuas in trouble ...

[Getupngo]

I just heard this very sad story on National Public Radio. I know we have chihuahua lovers amongst us. It seems these little dogs are ending up in shelters in HUGE numbers. Listen to Small Dogs, Big Woes.

[BirdbyBird]

The numbers/percentages really are surprising...... I wonder if it is more localized to the west coast. The midwest still has the hound/beagle mixes running neck to neck with the Pit Bull mixes or even better the Chow mixes.....at least to be found in the shelters.....the cute and the little get out pretty fast.....

[Echo]

Here where I am in TN it's Lab mixes, hound mixes and cattle dog mixes and they all seem to have pit in them too. In the northeast when I was haunting the shelters it was just a jumble of all breeds.

[Getupngo]

Maybe, like the story says, the Hollywood "pocket dog" craze is wearing off and the dog du jour ends up at the pound. Poor, frightened babies.

BTW, I had an idea last night and posted an item under "pets" on Craigslist," hoping it will be seen by the person who dropped my Little Little Dog Kiwi off at the shelter two years ago. I wanted her previous owner to know that she was adopted, that she's happy and loved and is The Navigator in my MH. I included a picture of what she looked like when I got her, and what she looks like now (in her cute little fleece jacket!).

Maybe the previous owner (or someone who knows the PO) will see it. Hope so.

[Bethers]

I was on the board of directors of a humane society. Those dogs might come to the shelter, but if they were under 35 pounds, they found a home sometimes the day we put them up for adoption. The exception would be a problem dog. If they were a large dog, but mainly a breed that people liked (Lab, golden, etc) they would be pretty quick to go also. Larger dogs that were mixes of breeds or pure breds like dobermans, pit bulls, etc were harder to find homes for - however, the saddest part on those breeds were the number that had to be euthanized rather than ever getting a chance at being adopted. By no fault of their own, previous owners had trained them to do things that made them impossible (or illegal) to adopt - like dogs who had ever fought.

Janice, great idea - but unfortunately, most of those who leave dogs at shelters do so with no 2nd thought. It's amazing. One man brought in his dog - his wife and son both upset and crying - they'd had the dog 3 years. The man had only taken the dog out with him hunting once - said the dog was no good at it - so good riddance. Course, the dog hadn't been trained to hunt, either, just was supposed to know. Needless to say, we were thrilled to get this dog, but so sorry for the wife and child. Course, we were sorry for them that they even lived with that man. Then there were the dogs that had been obviously abused. Or how about the family who brought in a 5 or 6 month old puppy telling us we had to euthanize it because it tried to bite the baby. Turns out the mom was ok with the baby pulling the puppy around by the tail. The puppy tried to hide under the sofa and the baby reached in with anything it could find to get at the dog - finally got it's tail, pulled it out - and the puppy bit the hand. Well, I would have bit, too - probably a lot sooner. Luckily in this case, the dad pulled me aside while the mom was telling another worker this puppy was no good and had to be put to sleep. Dad signed a paper for me that we could see if we could get this puppy adoptable. Course, as soon as they left, the puppy lost it's fears. We simply wouldn't adopt it to a family with children under 12 - and warned the family who adopted it that it might never like to see another baby again. Oh, these are the nice stories. I could tell you about a case at a vets where a cat was brought in - obviously in major distress - tail was burned, and other signs of burning. To make a long story short, 12 year old boy had been home alone, and gave the cat a bath - then thought the cat would be better off and happier if dried quickly - so he put the cat in the microwave to dry it. Fortunately, he did it for a couple shorter bursts - the cat survived - but only after some miraculous work by this vet, that was even more miraculous after we found out the story. This boy actually thought he wasn't doing anything that could harm the cat. Scary, eh? I hope who took your pet into the shelter was someone of the unfortunates who simply have to do it for whatever reason. But those were not the norm.

[Acadianmom]

The best cat we ever had and we have had a bunch came from someone bringing her to the vet to be put to sleep. My DH just happened to be there and the vet knew we liked cats so he gave her to him. That was the most loving cat. If you picked her up she would put her paws around your neck and lick your ear. It was like she knew we had saved her. We had her for about 18 years.

I just had a tom cat neutered that had been hanging around for a month. He was fighting with the other cats so I took him for an attitude adjustment. He was someones pet at some time because as soon as we started feeding him he would sit in your lap. We live on a country road so a cat shows up every once in a while. My DH was not too happy about me bringing the cat to the vet so he is now referred to as my $100 cat. lol

Martha

[AlmostThere]

Just on the Oregon news: over 100 dogs rescued (I can't remember but think it was east of the Cascades). They were chained outside in below zero weather for days with no shelter and the owner threw them carcases from the nearby slaughter house for food. The dogs were trying to dig holes in the frozen ground for shelter and one baby was dead, frozen to the ground. They were mostly cattle type dogs. Then in Tillamook (west coastal town) they rescued 95 Rat Terriers. Some had to be put down. They were starving and there were lots of puppies. So cute! Today they said that 35 have already found new homes!
I will never understand why people do some of the things they do to animals!!
In Alaska there were some starving horses. People would stop by and throw bales of hay to them and the owner would call the cops on them!! Finally the law took the horses away but not before they were eating bark off the trees and the hair off each other. It was so shocking!! I have no idea why the law didn't step in sooner! Just angers me to tears!

[JanetA]

Dear God in Heaven!!! my heart is breaking, reading this!!!

[Christine]

I had just heard about the Chihuahuas in LA .... One of our radio people was saying "dont adopt" them.. they make horrible family pets. they pee all over the place.. they bite..!! I just about choked on my toast when i heard that.... Chihuahua's are like any other dog. You have to set rules with them..and be consistant on training etc LIke all Byb that breed these dogs they may not be the best quality, but they still need loving care... Some with bad bad temperments wont be placed, but many make wonderful pets.. If you mody-coddle them they get so darn spoiled they get snippy etc... again training and obeying are so important. YOU ARE ALPHA they are BETA....
In fact one of my friends i know she has trained her long haired Chihuahua to do tracking and has a title in it... so one cant say these dogs arent trainable...
I do hope many will find loving home with one that has lots of patients... they didnt ask to be born... Human error is all it is... money hungry idiots...

[JanetA]

I agree! Chi's make wonderful pets, if you like a cuddler, and who of us doesnt! I had one and she was a love. The only place she peed was in the bathroom on the mat,, where I designated her to do so. When I took my job @ the hotel in colorado I gave her to one of my dear customers who lived alone and wanted a lapdog companion. She and this lady had a wonderful life together and she expired of old age. My friend was so sad and hasn't found another one to take her place,, and agreed that little "tinytoot' was one of a kind. Companions, they are the BEST! I highly recommend them for single ppl w/ NO children!

just sayin.........