This weekend the Humane Society of Knox County, one of our local shelters, held their annual spring cleanup and cookout event. Being a dog and not so handy pulling weeds or using a paint brush, I had to stay home and hang out with the kitties while my mom and Angelica had all the fun. You see, not only was it a day to give the shelter a fresh look, it was also a semi celebration for the shelter’s new arrivals; a dozen chihuahuas from Los Angeles, California. 
Each month in LA over 300 chihuahuas are taken in by area shelters. It has caused these shelters to become over populated and in need of help. Deemed the “Paris Hilton Syndrome,” chihuahuas have now eclipsed the pit bull as being the most common breed in LA shelters. In December, the actress Katherine Heigl and the Jason Heigl Foundation rescued chihuahuas in danger of euthanasia and flew them to a shelter in New Hampshire. This time, with the help of LA Animal Services, the HSKC, Global Packing and Shipping, and Pennsylvania residence Marge and Janet Fithian, the dozen chihuahuas were flown from the LA Animal Services facility to Logan Airport in Boston, MA where they were met by shelter volunteers. 
Even though they only just arrived on the 20th, all but three had been adopted by Saturday! Angelica and my mom spent some time with one of the pups yet to find his forever home. His name is Ricardo (but Angelica likes to refer to him as Ricky). 
Shy at first, Ricardo spent sometime snuggling with Angelica and mom (something I discovered later after doing a thorough smell check of mom’s clothes). Pretty soon his curly tail was wagging and his curiosity took over. Angelica said he really enjoyed watching a pair of kitties who were in an outside enclosure. Hopefully Ricardo won’t fall victim to black dog syndrome (black dogs have been shown to be the least likely to be adopted) and will find his forever home soon.
Happy tail wags!
Source: The Herald Gazette, The LA Times
Tags: fun in the sun, humans, other four-leggers
Oh, Ricky.
If I get my house done this summer and he’s still there he’s coming home with me. I hope he finds a home soon though. Poor little guy.
Mom says she’ll go over with you anytime you want so you two can have cuddle sessions.
We might have to do that soon!
Wow, I love the new “look” here. Being a black dog myself, I am pretty hirrified about the whole black dog symdrome–and it is true for cats too! I am glad Ricky got some snuggle time. Tell your Mom to send me some info like his Petfinder link and we will try to spread the word about him–he’s a doll!
Shady
Unfortunately, the HSKC is not set up with Petfinder. My mom has suggested it to them a few times, but they have yet to post the adoptable pets on there. If they ever do though, we will definitely send the links your way!
Thanks for the comment about my blog’s new look too! I always love feedback
I would volunteer to put animals on Petfinder if they wanted to do it.
You should suggest that to them!
I had not heard of the Paris Hilton Syndrome- brutal. Thank you for sharing!
I think it’s rather “popular” if you will, to adopt a type of dog that is currently in pop culture. This time, because of Paris Hilton and the movies Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Legally Blonde, it happens to be chihuahuas.
Thanks for commenting!