Grateful Dogs Rescue Blog

This post was submitted by one of Grateful Dogs Rescue's volunteers who is also a Board Member and evaluator.

In Defense of "Chihuahua Mixes"

This post isn’t about Chihuahuas, those little 3-6 pound purse dogs that celebrities love to carry, but about Chihuahua mixes, the 7 to 15 pounds dogs that are filling up the shelters in California.  The dogs that many potential adopters that want a “small dog that is not a Chihuahua” won’t even look at, and that some rescues have started to just say no to because they have so many already.  I love these dogs, and I think more people need to give them a chance.

First let me say that these dogs are more small breed mutt than Chihuahuas at all. Forget about the so-called Deer Chihuahua and Spider Chihuahua, the AKC only recognizes 2 types of Chihuahuas, short and long-haired.  The upper weight for a true Chihuahua is 6 pounds and they all have apple heads. The typical dog labeled Chihuahua mix is probably just as much Italian Greyhound, Miniature Pinscher, Toy Fox Terrier, Rat Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, Basenji, Pug, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Dachshund, Chinese Crested and who know what else.  But try as I might to label the dog as something else (I call my current foster a Taco Terrier which is a Toy Fox Terrier and Chihuahua mix) when I walk them on the street people say “oh a Chihuahua”.  At least these little ones do have hybrid vigor going for them. 

I have had a Chihuahua mix foster dog in my home, sometimes 2, for the last 4 years (occasionally I will have a terrier or a true Chihuahua). Sure there are the dogs that fit the stereotype of the “yappy, shivery Chihuahua” but most of them are amazing, fun, active companions.  These little dogs have so much character.   These dogs run and wrestle with my 40-pound pit mix like there is no size difference at all.  While only a few of them have jogging companion potential, they can make great hiking companions.  Some can fetch inexhaustibly like a retriever, and many are great with kids.  They usually have very easy to care for short coats, much less expensive than the dogs that require grooming.   After the hike they are ready to curl into your lap and nap, better than any hot water bottle.  Their small size makes them wonderful apartment dogs, and their active nature makes them perfect for weekend warriors.

At a work event last week, I listened to a coworker talk about how she hated those yappy little Chihuahua dogs, so yesterday when I had my Chihuahua mix dog at work for a couple of hours I took her to the coworker’s office to visit.  Within minutes all the prejudices fell away and she was saying what a great little dog this was.  Please give them a chance.  Potential adopters say they want to rescue a dog in need, well these are what our shelters are full of, and these dogs are the ones in need, and they are some of the most charismatic dogs you will ever meet.

Grateful Dogs Resceu would like to introduce you to Beethoven, a wonderful little dog who is looking for someone to adopt him. His foster parent, a Grateful Dogs Rescue volunteer wrote this post about him.

Beethoven is a charming and handsome fellow. He is great company, and will love being near you at all times. He is endearingly communicative, performing a quick footed cha cha cha to say he wants to go out (he's never had an accident). He will do a down dog bow with accompanying sounds to ask what is new, and he will do an amazing salsa wiggle to express his joy at seeing you. Beethoven is enthusiastic about any outdoor activity, and loves to go jogging or chase his friends around the field, but also is happy to sit in your lap and snuggle next to you at night.

While he can be a bit reserved and protective when a dog or human stranger approaches quickly, he settles down once he knows you are in charge of the situation. He would make a great buddy for someone who needs a reason to get outside and move, and/or a friend to come home to at night He could also enjoy the company of another small dog. This sweet guy is 8 years old, and weighs 13lbs. 

Please see our other available dogs at Grateful Dogs Rescue. Grateful Dogs Rescue incurs substantial medical and other costs in rescuing our dogs. In order to recoup some of these costs, we must charge an adoption fee. The adoption fee for Beethoven is $150.

Grateful Dogs Rescue was proud to be part of the 2012 Maddie's® Pet Adoption Days. At the Third Annual Maddie's Matchmaker Adoptathon (http://www.maddiesadoptathon.org), held the weekend of June 9-10, 2012 in San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa Counties, 2,601 dogs and cats found loving homes. 965 pets were older and/or dogs and cats who had been treated for a medical condition.

Maddie's^® Community Shelter Data Grant supports the collection and publication of shelter statistics from community coalitions comprised of animal control agencies, traditional shelters and adoption guarantee organizations. Collecting shelter data in Maddie's^® Asilomar Accords format enables coalitions to gather meaningful, standardized data to analyze and share results. It helps organizations track their lifesaving and develop plans to achieve and sustain an adoption guarantee for the healthy and treatable animals in their community. Here are the statistics from GDR that support these efforts.

Maddies' Fund 2012 Reporting (128 KB)

About Maddie's® Pet Adoption Days

The goal of Maddie's® Pet Adoption Days is to give all healthy, senior and treatable shelter dogs and cats a second chance. Adoption of dogs and cats will be free to qualified adopters and in return, Maddie's Fund has set aside $4 million so it can give each shelter or rescue group $500 - $2,000 per adoption.*

Maddie's® Pet Adoption Days is held to increase awareness of shelter animals and their need for loving homes and to shed light on the tireless efforts of the shelters and rescue organizations across the country that work so hard to save the lives of countless dogs and cats every day. This adoption event honors the memory of the foundation's namesake, a Miniature Schnauzer named Maddie.

Grateful Dogs Rescue adopter Danielle shares her story of adopting Cedes

"I adopted "Cedes" from Grateful Dogs Rescue back in October 2012 and she has brought nothing but joy and unconditional love into my life. She is transforming everyday and building her tiny confidence and nothing makes me happier than being her companion person. She is such a love bug. Her tiny personality warms hearts wherever we go, and I take her everywhere!. She melts people's hearts and has the capacity to make anyone's day better. We get stopped on the street all the time by people who can't stop smiling when they see her. She was found wandering the streets by SF Animal Control and was terrified. She did not pass any of their socialization tests and sat paralyzed by fear in her cage...The SPCA passed on her as well, but luckily Grateful Dogs Rescue came to save her in the knick of time. She wouldn't have made it without their support and the loving support of her foster mom, Karen."

Karen rehabilitated "Cedes" for 2 months in her loving home, giving "Cedes" time to recover and heal from her traumatic shelter experience. I am thankful everyday for Grateful Dogs Rescue and "Cedes" foster care mom. Without them I wouldn't have this tiny precious love filled companion in my life. Her name is Greta now. Everyday she is showing me more and more of her quirky personality. She loves to chase birds and go on beach adventures. She follows me everywhere and spins in circles when she is excited. She curls up to sleep on my lap in cafe's and at book readings, She loves car rides and doesn't mind the BART train. I love her so so much.  Thank you for saving her life by rescuing her from the shelter and giving me the chance to love her." ~ Danielle

Posey is the first foster dog to RSVP her attendance at this Grateful Dogs Rescue adoption event at Belle Pelle Salon. Read more about her below and check back here to find out about dogs attending the event on March 30th.

Read more about Posey | http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/25580658

BellaPelle Skin Care Salon in Maiden Lane is hosting an adoption event for Grateful Dogs Rescue on Saturday, March 30th from 11:00am - 2:00pm. Please join us and meet wonderful dogs of all sizes and shapes who have been rescued and have been fostered by Grateful Dogs Rescue volunteers until they are adopted. 

Join Grateful Dogs Rescue for an rescue dog adoption event at Pet Food Express on Market Street on Saturday, March 16. Meet wonderful dogs who have been in foster care and are ready to be adopted.

Grateful Dogs Rescue adopter Ceclila shares her story of adopting Rosie.

"I adopted Rosie (previously named Hombar) almost a year ago now and she has brought so much joy to my life. She was aggressive and insecure when I got her and I was told she could only be in a single dog home. I've adopted another dog a few months ago and they love each other and have been getting along so well. Rosie is truly a changed dog with so much love to give. She is still working on some b
ad habits but makes progress every day. I come home to loving kisses and hugs from Rosie and Kona and I am so thankful everyday to have them in my life. Thank you Grateful Dogs Rescue for saving dogs everyday. Rosie would have been lost on the streets with no home if it werent for you! I am truly grateful and wish everyone at Grateful Dog Rescue a wonderful Thanksgiving."

Grateful Dogs Rescue adopter Tina, shares the story of her dog Penny who she recently lost.

"I adopted Penny in April of 2006 when she was about 7 years old. She was shy and standoffish, having been abandoned and not liking it a bit. We bonded quickly and tightly, going everywhere together. She was my main squeeze and support when my partner passed away in 2008. For a quiet dog, Penny had a very impressive presence. Something about her was not only cute and sweet to me but to so many other! Her ears were very soft and people would coo over her, and many MANY times, people would photograph her, often people pulling over in cars to do so! I walked her around Stow Lake for about a year daily. I told all of the other Stow Lake walkers that I was moving and when my and Penny's last day would be. People showed up with video cameras to capture her unique and sweet saunter. Penny asked for so little and gave so much. I had to put Penny to sleep last week, a hard decision to make, but the best for her quality of life. A huge hole is in my life with her gone. I'll never get over her." ~Tina

Grace and David share their story of adopting Bella from Grateful Dogs Rescue:

"We adopted Bella from Grateful Dogs Rescue after meeting her in September of 2011. She had only just weeks before gone through her amputation surgery but was so resilient running around our yard sniffing at chickens and exploring her new environment. We almost instantly knew that we had finally found our dog.

Over the last year that Bella (or "B" as I call her) has been living with us, we have learned many things about her. First, is that she almost never finishes her food, but always insists that we share ours with her--snorting if she doesn't get her way. She is a horrible sleeper, moving throughout the night and taking up the entire bed. I am always removing a paw from my rib cage or off of my face. She is a lover of all animals; kissing piglets on the mouth, play-bowing to goats twice her size, and laying along the fence line with turkeys.

She has selective hearing when her name is called, as she is more concerned about the acreage she hasn't sniffed, than whether or not I make it to work on time. Bella is mopey, resilient, and cranky. She is playful, energetic, smart, and extremely dopey. She's patient, and restless, hilarious, and spoiled. She's perfect, and we love her so much." ~Grace and David

You can read more about Bella's surgery through GDR here.

When Bert first went missing, Grateful Dogs Rescue used the services of The Social Pet whose search dog Dino was adopted through Grateful Dogs Rescue.

Dino was able to track Bert from Fort Funston to South San Francisco, an area where his first foster family lives. But this is not an inexpensive process. To donate to Bert's Search fund, click on the DONATE  link below.

Jackie of The Social Pet is a certified missing animal response technician (MAR tech) certified through Missing Pet Partnership Her dog, Dino, is a scent specific trained tracking dog. This means he can follow the scent of a specific animal. He has trained specifically in urban and suburban environments, so following an animal anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area is what he is comfortable with. In addition, Dino has had a few cases where he was challenged to follow the scent of the pet he is tracking even through large cow and goat herds. At first he was hesitant, but he figured a way through his feelings to follow the track on the other side.