Adoption and Fostering

In 1995 I became interested in the plight of animals who were unfortunate enough to not have the loving homes and comforts that they deserved. I adopted a kitten from a co-worker who already had quite a menagerie of animals on her farm. I named her Tequila. Nicco, as big as he was, was so gentle and kind to Tequila. They became fast friends. A little later on, I adopted a small mixed breed dog, Sadie, at the local PetsMart. Sadie must have had a very traumatic beginning to life. To this day she fears strangers and won't leave the comfort of our home unless she needs to go to the vets. It took almost 6 months for her to warm up to everyone in the household. Of course, Nicco was there to help her. (Tequila wasn't thrilled with Sadie and they still have issues.)

Wanting to help out more, I learned about adopting retired racing Greyhounds. I ended up adopting two. A male, and a female, Abby. Owning a Greyhound is truly one of the most joyous experiences one will ever have. These atheletes are extraordinary and if you have ever thought of adopting one (or two or three) I encourage you to look into it. Greyhounds are very loving, caring, sociable and can be downright goofy!

I got involved with helping to get adopted greyhounds to their new owners. Through various adoption groups and other individuals, I made many trips here and there to pick up or drop off adoptees at various locations so that they could get to their new homes. This is a picture of one of those special dogs.

This is Dexter, about 75% (if not more) Greyhound. I sprang him from a kill shelter in Lynchburg. After spending the night with us, he traveled with me to work in Dahlgren early the next morning to catch the next leg of his journey to his forever home in New York. Such a friendly and happy boy!
Animal rescue can be so rewarding.

Having had the opportunity to get to know different breeds, I decided to focus on the smaller ones. Though each breed has its setbacks, the main reason I chose Chihuahuas is that their lifespan is relatively longer than the larger breeds. Although it is part of life, losing a family member is devastating to say the least and I don't think my heart could stand it on a regular basis. Since dogs will always be a part of my life, I would like them to be around as long as possible. Chihuahuas are small, loving and loyal companions who fit the bill perfectly. Who wouldn't want one?

At the start of 2003 saw an ad in the Free Lance Star...a small breed rescue group was looking for foster families. ME! ME! ME! I managed to successfully foster three little guys before the group dissolved. One of those little guys who was adopted out ended up coming back and we adopted him ourselves. Such a joy! Jakob has more personality than a majority of people I know. He gets along so well with the three female dogs we already had and they, as girls will do, keep him in line all the time.

Jakob - our first foster boy. A bounce-back who we couldn't let go of again.	Buddy - a Heartworm Survivor. A gentle sweetheart who lives in North Carolina now.	Noah - A playful boy who guards his toys carefully. He now lives in Pennsylvania.

I just fell in love with the small breeds. So much so that I got the yearning for a puppy. Not just any puppy though, a Chihuahua! It had to be a Chihuahua. The search began.

I saved queries on Petfinder.com for any shelter or rescue group within 100 miles that had Chihuahuas (any age, any sex) for adoption. Well, just as it is anywhere, I guess you have to "know someone". I let my vet know I was looking and I let everyone I knew who had "connections" know I was looking for a Chihuahua. Alas, more than a year later, I was still Chihuahua-less. I really wanted to find a Chihuahua through a rescue group though. I don't know why I had such a tough time. Getting desperate, I'm ashamed to say, I even stopped at a pet store on my way home from work one day to see if they had any Chihuahua puppies. That was the turning point. Sure enough they had two little puppies. I had no intention of purchasing a puppy from a pet store nor do I ever intend on it. I just wanted to see what I was wanting so bad. Somewhat surprised by what I saw, I turned back to the internet.

Maybe it's just me, but there's something wrong with a full grown dog being able to fit in my breast pocket.

Maybe it's just me, but although I would spend whatever was needed to get my pet through an illness or injury, I find it hard to spend $2000 for a puppy that will not even grow big enough to survive a spay or neuter procedure.

Maybe it's just me, but what I see out on the internet as far as "Chihuahua Puppies for Sale"...sickens me.

I know, I know, it's not just Chihuahuas. So many breeds are suffering at the hands of unethical breeders in the want of the almighty dollar and breeding for the tiniest of dogs. Just how many tiny mommies have to die giving birth because they are too tiny to begin with?

I don't know, maybe it's just me. But this is something that I feel very strongly about. I'll get down off of my soapbox now.

Well, "just me" has decided to search out the truly ethical, responsible, successful, and dedicated breeders of Chihuahuas. They are the people who don't put prices on their web pages. They show you their accomplishments and their love of the breed. And, they are more than willing to offer advice and help out someone like me who wants to learn more and educate others.

Having "stumbled" into one of those ethical breeders/exhibitors, I consider myself truly lucky. It has been a long search up until now. I can't wait to start the rest of my journey. I am a novice and an addict. Here is my story...Diary of a Novice