Foreclosure Dogs Need Your Help

The saying, adopt a dog, save a life has never embodied a more urgent a plea. Across the fruited plain, in cities, towns and hamlets, upscale, downscale and no scale communities, dogs are being abandoned and too often forgotten. Confused and frightened, dogs and puppies are simply left alone without food or water in foreclosed homes. Others are dropped off on lonely roads, in parks and woodlands. The lucky ones have been given to new homes and families, to dog rescues or no kill dog shelters for later adoption.

Revealing just how the severe the crisis is, Sharon L. Peters of USA Today writes, ” They’re arriving by the thousands every month, homeless, hapless victims of foreclosure…are landing in…(dog) shelters in large numbers in some parts of the country.

And this is not an isolated occurrence “We’re seeing more and more cases of people leaving their homes and dropping the dog off at the shelter and…. in the local park,” says Michael Mountain, president of Best Friends Animal Society. “Sometimes they even just tie the dog up outside and drive off.”

Eileen Drennen of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution brought it all home in with an actual case history “One abandoned dog Lt. Mary Lou Respess can’t get out of her mind is a Chihuahua. He’d been tied up so long, said the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter manager, his collar had gotten embedded in his skin and had to be surgically removed. He’s one of hundreds whose owners have left them behind.

Small enough to fit in a shoe box, this Chihuahua’s guardians saw fit to abuse and desert their tiny dog.

While we are sympathetic to the plight of folks who are suffering as a result of the economic and mortgage meltdown we have zero tolerance for cruelty and neglect as demonstrated here.

And this abject cruelty and neglect extends across dog breeds and sizes as well.

In Stockton, California, Evelyn Nieves of the Associated Press wrote, “The house was ravaged by owners who trashed their home before a bank foreclosed on it. Hidden in the wreckage was an abandoned member of the family: a starving pit bull.

The dog found by workers was too far gone to save …”

So what can be done?

Here’s a few suggestions:

– The ASPCA suggests that you try to find someone to foster or adopt your dog. Check with your family, neighbors, friends, and coworkers.

– Make the effort to find a no-kill shelter. It’s extra work but it is your responsibility. There is no excuse for taking the easy way out when your dog’s life is at stake.

– Contact local dog rescue organizations to see if they can help you find a home.

– Advertise your adoptable dog in a dog-specific classified ad listing. Screen potential adopters carefully. Rescue groups can help you with a set of questions such as: where the dog will live and what would be a reason for them to get rid of a dog . Do not advertise “free dog” in your ad as there are unscrupulous people who will take free dogs with little regard for their well being and some have even sold family pets to animal testing labs.

– Contact your veterinarian. He/she may also be able to find a new home or temporary guardian for your dog. Never drop your dog off in a crate or box on the veterinarian’s doorstep as this can be unsafe. He might escape or suffer from a lack of water or temperature fluctuation before help arrives.

– Contact your local animal shelter or animal control facility to see whether it will accept your dog and assist in finding it a new home .

– Support legislation in your area:

California, one the of states hit hardest by the sub-mortgage meltdown is considering Assembly Bill 2949, which would allow bank representatives to immediately seek potentially life-saving help for animals abandoned at foreclosed properties. The bill is supported by the ASPCA and the California Animal Association.

It is never OK to leave the family pet to fend for himself. There are options and we should all be compassionately vigilant to help educate those facing economic hardship that will tear them from their home and split up their family. Many people will welcome the help at a time when they simply don’t know where to turn or what to do.

Others, sadly, will not be responsive to help and will continue to take the easy way out by abandoning their dogs. That’s where all of us have a responsibility to work within our own communities, with dog rescues, veterinarians and dog shelters to help re-home man’s best friend, when his family, in an act of inexcusable cruelty, forecloses on his love and loyalty and he is left behind.

Mull Over the Chweenie As Your Next Pet

Mull over the Chweenie! The what, you say?! The Chweenie is a charming breed, melding all of the best characteristics of its ancestors, the Chihuahua and the Miniature Dachshund. wholesale dog breeders do not breed this odd combination intentionally; but natural desire sometimes insists and voila! The half of the moniker “weenie” derives from the nickname for Dachshunds: “weiner dogs” because of their elongated, slim, Oscar Mayer torsos. The look is so sweet you can barely keep from hugging them!

What characteristics of the two kinds blend in the chweenie? Is is thought that the Chihuahua was raised to contain the rodent population in Mexican cities, where the dogs used to wander in wholesale dog gangs to find prey. But they went on to become the dears of the rich and famous, particularly debutantes. Carried in purses and accompanying their best human friends to restaurants, wholesale dog stores, and everywhere else, the little dogs became a mark of success. As little as just two pounds, with pointy ears, silky or smooth coat, of brindle or tan, the Chihuahua is the embodiment of the babying that humans do to indulge dogs. Remember the pictures of Paula Abdul with her fascinating Chihuahua? These little darlings get dolled up; groomed; have ribbons put in their little topknots, and they nestle blissfully with their besotted owners!

The Dachshund is nearly the contrary. It was raised as a hunter. It is a true scent hound, following its prey mainly by sense of smell, although its hearing is very sharp as well. Its broad front, longish floppy ears (that can also perk up straight), squat limbs and elongated torso make it perfect for searching out animals that live underground and, in fact, it was originally a specialist in hunting badgers. The Dachshund is adamantly steadfast, but not particularly fond of humans other than its own. The miniature Dachshund has the characteristics of its more ordinary-sized counterparts, but packed in a bitty torso. Even as a miniature dog, it is not inclined to exhibit the wholesale dog human syncophancy that the Chihuahua works on.

Put them together and what have you got? A little mutt with ears that are either straight up or drooped down, broad chest, elongated torso, but often without the stumpy limbs of the Dachshund. The chweenie keeps some of the enthusiastic qualities of the Chihuahua, but hunting talent goes to its core and the chweenie more often than not will be enthused about the chance to hunt in his backyard. The cheweenie does not comprehend that it is pint-sized and won’t confine itself to prey its size, so don’t permit it to run free in the woods! Don’t count on gussying up your chweenie or transporting it around with you to the fancy wholesale dog food stores; they are too freedom-loving for the kind of fussing that Chihuahuas naturally attract.

The chweenie: really, really appealing but no-nonsense. If you buy one, you won’t have second thoughts.

Dog Breed DNA Testing

Volunteering for the Chihuahua and Small Dog Rescue has made it clear that sometimes it’s very difficult to determine what breeds have combined to make some dogs. Until recently, a guess was all that could be done.

Dog Breed Testing kits are now readily available and are more affordable than ever before.

Why is it so important to know the breeds present in a dog? Dog Breed Testing can tell you how big or small your dog might be. It might help you determine grooming for your dog. It can even determine what illnesses and diseases your dog might be prone to, due to genetics.

The most important reason is to help you determine your dog’s potential temperament. Temperament is like the character of your dog. It’s what has been handed down from generation to generation to make a breed what it is.

Temperament is why Border Collies like to herd. Temperament is why Labradors like to retrieve. Temperament helps determine if a dog is going to be good with children, or if they are going to like to running with you. It can help you understand your dog and its behavior.

We have a little 5 pound dog named Leon. He is black and tan, similar to a Doberman. We were told when we got him at 7 weeks, that he was a Chihuahua and we had no reason to think otherwise.

As he grew, we noticed that his head wasn’t as round as a Chi’s and he was rather lanky to be a pure Chihuahua.

Temperament wise, he was mostly Chihuahua, although he seemed to tolerate strangers better and he learned things very quickly. It took him only five minutes to learn the command “sit” when he was only 9 weeks old.

We thought that this was due to the fact that we took him everywhere and that we used positive training methods. As an adult, he is a very well adjusted dog and he is even registered as a therapy animal.

Everywhere we went, people would always ask what he was, even though Chihuahua owners always knew he was a Chi. Most people focused on his coloring and guessed he was a Miniature Pinscher.

When we noticed an advertisement for a Dog Breed Testing Kit, just had to see for ourselves what genetics had made this wonderful dog.

The kit came in the mail and was self explanatory. There are levels to each breed present that make up Leon and they will be indicated in descending order. For instance, Level One is any breed that is 75% or more present in Leon, Level Two is any breed or breeds that is 37%-74% present in Leon all the way down to Level Four.

We were sure that he is mostly Chihuahua, but very curious to see what other breed or breeds could be in his ancestry.

We took the cotton swab and ran it inside his mouth for the determined amount of time and were careful not to contaminate the evidence as we shipped it back to the laboratory.

Two weeks later, we got a letter in the mail stating that there weren’t enough cells to test and they asked for another sample.

We thought that this was due to his small size and did another sample, but using his gums to get the sample, instead of the inside of his cheek.

Two weeks later, the packet came in the mail and it was proven that there were only two breeds present in his little lineage. He was Chihuahua in Level Two and he was poodle in Level Three.

We decided that this meant that one of Leon’s grandparents was a poodle and that one of his parents was half poodle, half Chihuahua.

After knowing what dog breeds make up little Leon, there are a few things about him that now make sense.

His large ears that stand straight up are clearly the end result of a poodle that has large ears that lay down and a Chihuahua that has smaller ears that stand up.

His small frame and skinny body are clearly that of a Poodle, while his coloring is obviously from the Chihuahua breed.

Understanding his temperament is the most valuable information stemming from the results of the Dog Breed Test.

Taking after his Chihuahua side, Leon is very entertaining and lively. He is very playful and has lots of energy. He has bonded closely with one of his owners and cries if she leaves. He very tough and is an excellent watch dog.

On the other hand, he loves to play with dogs of all different sized and shapes and he meets most strangers with a friendly wag of his tail. He is extremely intelligent and he is really easy to train. These are the traits of the Poodle Breed.

Having the Dog Breed Test done on Leon has helped us to understand is behavior better and helps us to keep him happy.

If you ever have a chance to use the Dog Breed Testing Kit, we don’t think you should hesitate one bit. It was an interesting and informative test that has brought us closer to our Leon.

Look at Chihuahua Mixes

Chihuahuas are a very popular breed of dog despite their annoying yipping! They’re extremely tiny (the smallest in the world, actually) and cute (some would say) as well as having an amusing personality in which they don’t seems to realize how much smaller they are than… everything else. Their attempt to intimidate and impose their will on others is amusing, adding to the likability of this animal. It’s for these reasons that Chihuahuas are one of the top 10 most popular dog breeds in America. Another popular idea in modern times are Chihuahua Mixes Dogs created by breeding pure-bred Chihuahuas with pure-breds of another breed. These new animals can vary in size and colour depending on what the other parent breed is, and often combine the traits of the two animals both in physical appearances, as well as personality traits.

Some of the breeds that are popularly bred with Chihuahuas to make desirable mixes are Terriers, Pomeranians, and Poodles. Each of these combine the parent breeds in unique ways from one another.

Pomeranian Chihuahua mixes almost perfectly combine the appearances of Chihuahuas, and Pomeranians. They tend to have a Pomeranian’s long and fine hair, a body that seems like a natural combination of a Pomeranian and Chihuahua, while maintaining the Chihuahua’s unique facial structure.. Interestingly enough, they have personality traits, which are uncharacteristic of each parent breed, making them their own unique animal. They should be well groomed on a regular basis to maintain their look, as their hair is quite long and easily matted.

After the advent of the Taco Bell dog in the mid-90’s, Taco Terriers became popular in the United States. They’re a combination of a Chihuahua and a Toy Fox Terrier, and are just one of many Chihuahua-Terrier cross breeds.

Poodles are also often bred with Chihuahuas to create an interesting animal which combines various traits in a unique (although not very attractive) way. While they’re bred often, they are not altogether popular and can often be found as strays on the streets or in rescue shelters.

Another common combination, although more for financial gain than of the breeder than the choice of the buyer, is a cross between a Chihuahua and a Miniature Pinsher. This results in a dog that looks like a pure-bred Chihuahua when it is very young, but as it gets older it quickly becomes evident that it’s not as it gets much larger than a Chihuahua and with slightly different facial features.

All You Need To Know About Breeding Chihuahuas

Made popular by celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Paris Hilton and Sandra Bullock, an increasing number of individuals are taking to adopting Chihuahuas as pets. Given the increasing demand for Chihuahuas, it is not difficult to find Chihuahua breeders these days. However, breeding Chihuahuas can by no means be something that can be taken lightly. Irresponsible breeding habits have the potential of producing Chihuahuas with hereditary illnesses that can prove to be extremely bothersome and heart wrenching, especially since adopting a Chihuahua is a long term commitment, considering the long lifespan of the dog. Given such, meticulous care is necessary for a potential owner when breeding Chihuahuas.

Contacting a breeder that practices responsible breeding practices is necessary. It would be a good idea to check with reputable canine organizations such as the American Kennel Club for a list of responsible Chihuahua breeders at the local or national level. Veterinarians, magazines and pet stores are all good sources of respectable Chihuahua breeders. A breeder with a respectable reputation who has good practices is the first step towards ensuring responsible breeding.

Upon selection of the breeder, it is necessary for the potential owner to interview the Chihuahua breeder chosen. This ensures greater understanding of the breeders breeding practices. Such practices include the breeder’s policy towards ill Chihuahuas as well as the frequency with which the breeder sends his Chihuahuas fro checkups at the local vet. The potential owner should also make it a point to examine the Chihuahua which would be used for breeding to determine any symptoms of poor health. Such symptoms include lethargy, flake and spots on the Chihuahua’s coat. As a precaution, it is also imperative for the potential owner to request a veterinarian certification from the Chihuahua breeder to ensure that the particular Chihuahua in question is completely free from illnesses.

This is important as certain illnesses such as Patellar Luxation and other deformities can be hereditary. Diseases are often acquired through poor standards in the Chihuahua’s living environment or can also be a result of insufficient nutrition. Hereditary diseases acquired by Chihuahua puppies often result in early death or may cause the Chihuahua to fall sick very often throughout the period of its life. Chihuahuas tested positive for any illnesses should never be used as part of the breeding process to prevent the spread of these diseases to the Chihuahua puppies.

Subsequently, a clean area should be set aside for breeding. This should be cleaned and disinfected to prevent any possible existence of bacteria and germs. The Chihuahua breeder should have concern over the hygiene and well being of the puppy and not just interested in making a sale.

Stringent criterion and selective breeding is necessary in any case. This is important in order to develop not only Chihuahuas with good external features, but also healthy Chihuahuas free from any genetic defects or hereditary illnesses. With careful selection in place as well as sufficient nutrition, adequate commitment and regular checkups, Chihuahua owners would be able to savor the joys of adopting one of the most popular dogs today.

Looking For A Good Chihuahua

The Chihuahua dog makes an excellent companion because of their loyalty and need to be close to their owner, while their size makes them a convenient pet for many households. Some owners have even been able to let Chihuahuas ride inside the pocket of their coat, in a purse or tote bag or simple just carried under the owners arm. Chihuahuas enjoy outdoor activities and are easy to travel with.

Although at home the Chihuahua dog can be a bit curious and mischievous. When left alone for a long period of time the dog will often find something to get into and make a mess. The Chihuahua gets along well with their own breed but often doesn’t get along with other dog breeds. So if you have a Chihuahua it is best to only have the breed or choose very carefully before finding another breed of dog to add to the household.

As a result of movies and advertisements such as the famous Taco Bell commercials the popularity of the Chihuahua dog has risen. Sadly this now means that you can easily find a poorly bred Chihuahua that won’t work with your household. Many families falsely believe the dog is perfect for their household because of their self-confidence and easy trainability. However, by buying from pet stores, newspapers or on the internet you will have no way of knowing whether or not a dog will work with your household and you can get a dog that was bred without any concern for their health or temperament. The good breeders will refuse to place a pet in a household that has a child under the age of twelve. The small litter size of the Chihuahua has led to a limited number of puppies available from good breeders. Therefore, before you decide if the Chihuahua is right for you it is best to carefully consider their temperament.

For the Chihuahua dog you need to focus on feeding requirements, exercise needs and grooming procedures. At each meal your Chihuahua only needs a small amount of dog food. For most dogs two or three ounces of high quality dog food with a few puppy biscuits is enough although a few of the larger Chihuahua dogs can eat up to a half can of dog food. Rather than having one large daily feeding it is better to have two or three small meals per day. The Chihuahua is capable of walking as long as the owner wants to walk, but they also won’t object if you want to carry them around.

What makes them an excellent choice for the elderly is that they get most of their exercise simply by playing around the house. When grooming you should rub them down with a wet towel or glove to make their coat shine and use a soft brush. Trim the nails regularly and make sure you keep their ears clean.

Getting The Real Scoop From Chihuahua Breeders

When you start looking for a Chihuahua breeder to get your dog from then you are going to want to find out all the important things about that breeder before you do business with them. To do this you need to know what to ask a prospective one so that you can tell if they are reputable and if they know the business of properly raising and breeding Chihuahuas as well. Make sure you ask any questions you have, as a reputable one will expect questions.

The very first thing you want to know is what national breeder registry the breeder is listed with. A listing with a registry means that the breeder understands and uses the practices of good breeding and that is something you absolutely want. If they are reputable they will have something to show you that lets you know what registry they are listed with.

Get your breeder to talk about the support they offer after the dog is home with you. They should not disappear after you leave their property because any owner will need contact with their breeder in case something goes wrong with their new pet. A good breeder will be available for consultation for many years after you bring the dog home and if they indicate that this is not the case then consider another breeder.

Probably one of the most important questions about a prospective Chihuahua breeder you will ask will be asked not to them. but rather to your vet. If you do not have a vet then establish a relationship with one and discuss the various breeders in the area with your vet to be sure you are dealing with one your vet trusts. A stamp of approval from your vet is extremely important for the future health of your new dog.

As painful as it may be, any good Chihuahua breeder will have a policy where they will take back the pet at any stage of its life if the owner can no longer care for it, to avoid having the dog be abandoned. They will not offer a cash refund but they will offer the dog a second chance at a new owner and offer the old owner a chance to do the right thing and not leave their little pet abandoned to die.

Deciding on a Chihuahua breeder is important so be ready to ask a lot of questions before you settle on one. A good one will be expecting a lot of questions so don’t think you are doing anything new and many reputable ones will insist that you ask as many questions as you can think of because to a good breeder a solid relationship with the owner is just as important as any other part of the dog’s life.

Rescue Chihuahua

When we say Chihuahua Rescue, the first thing that comes into our minds is a pitiful dog abandoned because of sickness, behavior problem or old age. But that is not the truth. Dogs in a rescue are not necessarily problem dogs. Some of them were abandoned because of their owner’s incapability to provide proper care, either they can not afford to procure the dog’s needs or they find the breed unfit to their way of living.

Nevertheless, there are more reasons why a rescue Chihuahua can still be a good household pet. Most dogs in the rescue are older dogs and are already housebroken so you will never have to go through arduous task of housebreaking. They will less likely commit accidents and the possibility of you cleaning their dirt and urine stain is minimal.

When they are turned over to the rescue, the rescue staff gathers as much information as possible from the previous owner. This information includes the temperament, whether its good with children or other dogs and animals, how much it barks and other important information. Most of them are already vaccinated so you will never have to worry about the vaccination procedure and the possible side effects of it to the dog.

Some people think that rescue dogs are turned over to their rescue because they are sick or are already very old and dying. Another wrong connotation I must say! Why? Dogs in the rescue are older but not very old. They usually range from one to three years of age.

The rescue don’t just give out Chihuahuas just like giving out of freebies or food samples in the grocery stores. Before anyone can get a rescue, they make sure you can provide proper care for the Chihuahua. Dogs at a rescue may sometimes need medical services, so they will make sure that you are aware of that and you are willing to provide care the best way you can.

While it is true that the rescue shelter requires adoption fee, it is not true however that they are doing it for a profit. The fee is to cover up the expenses spent for the dog while in the shelter. Whether it’s spent for the basic needs or the medical needs, the rescue shelter has the right to require adoption fee so that they can continue helping more abandoned dogs. They earn their money to take care of their animals through donations and adoption fees.

Getting a rescue dog will not only benefit you. Rescue shelters can accommodate limited number of dogs. By getting a dog from the rescue, you help the community by freeing one space for another dog that needs the care of the rescue shelter. Thus you help minimize the number of stray dogs in the community. You will also save the dog from possible death on the pound.