Man’s best friend is going miniature at the DC Humane Rescue Alliance, where 35 rescue chihuahuas will be available for adoption. The diminutive dogs range in age from 10-weeks-old to 7-years-old. The first of the chihuahuas are expected to be available for adoption as soon as next week, after passing through the standard medical quarantine for rescues, according to Claudia Roll, the Humane Rescue Alliance’s vice president of operations.
“We’re really working on socializing these little guys and girls so that they’re ready to go into somebody’s home, so some of them may take a little longer,” says Roll.
The petite pups are Mississippi natives. They journeyed to DC after 140 chihuahuas were surrendered by a breeding operation to the Hub City Humane Society in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. And there could still be an additional 100-to-150 chihuahuas on the breeder’s property, according to Roll. “It sounds like a breeding operation that just got out of control,” she says.
Since there were so many chihuahuas, the mini pups were dispersed amongst several shelters. Sixty of the original 140 were sent to Loudon County Animal Services; after, a little over half of those were transported by van to the Humane Rescue Alliance. While it isn’t unusual for the shelter to receive that many dogs at once, Roll says it’s unusual to get this many dogs of a single breed. She advises potential adoptees to be understanding of their new canine companions.
“Going and living in someone’s apartment or someone’s house is going to be brand new for them, and adopters are just going to have to know that going in. [They should] be patient and know that these dogs are going to have a lot to learn,” Roll says. “From what we’ve seen, though, they’ve all got great potential. They’re going to be great little pets.”
For what it’s worth, the breed, famed for their appearance in both Taco Bell commercials and Paris Hilton’s purse, are known to be fiercely loyal. For those interested in welcoming a chihuahua into the family, visit the Humane Rescue Alliance’s adoption page.