Is Hollywood Getting Rid of its Chihuahuas?
Real interesting cover story in the Spring 2010 issue of Dog's Life magazine. (Motto: "Be Your Dog's Best Friend.")
The piece, by Kyra Kirkwood, is titled, "Small Dogs, Big Crisis," and is about the massive influx of Chihuahuas into California animal shelters.
"Between 30 to 50 percent of shelters' populations are now comprised of this diminutive breed with the over-the-top personality," Kirkwood writes. "This nearly -- and in some cases, totally -- overshadows the one-time record holder, the Pit Bull."
Kirkwood cites the usual suspects for this deluge of small dogs -- blame the influence of those "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" commercials. Blame Paris Hilton, Brittney Spears, and Legally Blonde. Blame puppy mills. And blame all of the people who brought Chihuahuas home and now can't handle them.
"The truth is," the Dog's Life story says, "that Chihuahuas bark (sometimes a lot, and at anything), require a financial commitment, are prone to certain medical issues like tracheal collapse and seizures, are notoriously difficult to housetrain, need constant training, and demand just as much work as a big dog does. When real life hits and the novelty of having a "toy" runs out (usually at the time the Chihuahua begins acting like a dog instead of a stuffed animal), people lose interest, say rescuers."
The story goes on to note how animal relief groups have airlifted shelter-bound Chihuahuas out of California and into the lives of people residing in Colorado, Utah, and New Hampshire.
Photo Credit: The image accompanying this post was taken by Flickr user Toronja Azul. It was used under Creative Commons license.