Calif. Shelters See Surge in Chihuahuas

A Hollywood-fueled demand for Chihuahuas in California has morphed into shelter populations that make up 50% of the dogs in some places. “It's been a slow and steady climb,” a San Francisco animal control spokeswoman tells the Los Angeles Times. “We call it the Paris Hilton syndrome.”

To stem the tide, which has made Chihuahuas more common than pit bulls at some shelters, cities are getting creative. San Francisco held “Chihuahuapalooza” to encourage adoption. LA took a more drastic step: “Flying Chihuahuas,” an airlift of 25 dogs to Nashua, NH, where they were snapped up immediately. While the situation is “alarming,” an official says, it’s not shocking. The reality of the dogs is that they’re “small, fragile, door-dashers, nervous, not a good fit for families." Uhh, and please adopt one. (More chihuahua stories.)