Woops! I'm reposting this, as I realized it really belonged more in Chi Pics, than in Chi Chat...
I had no idea how great chihuahuas were, before adopting our precious Chica back in April...but now that I'm completely smitten with the breed I really want another...specifically this little 3 year old, 7 lb sweetheart, available for adoption at a small-town shelter less than an hour away. The problem is that our city only allows a maximum of 3 dogs per household...and we have, in addition to Chica, also been blessed with 2 other wonderful furry family members (Squirt, our 9 year old toy poodle & Rascal, our 2 year old rescued yorkie-poo). I'm not looking to become an episode of one of those animal hoarding shows or anything, I would just like to adopt 1 more...both for the joy another furbaby would bring our whole family, and also so that Chica could have a little friend. Squirt and Rascal are the best of buds, but Chica avoids them both like the plague. I've heard though that many chis (especially those like Chica, who weren't properly socialized from an early age) strongly prefer the company of other chis.
Anyway, I am finding myself so drawn to this little furgirl, and I only learned about her a few days ago. I even called our city's animal control department, just to make sure that there wasn't some sort of special permit I could apply for that might allow us to rescue this little one, but no. The limit is 3, even if all of your dogs are toy breeds as ours are. I don't exactly understand why this little one in particular has grabbed my heart so strongly, but she has, and it's really hard. I keep an eye on the websites of a few different shelters in our area, so as to post pics of adoptable animals to my facebook page/in order to encourage rescuing. I run across chis all the time, and while I of course wish I could save them all, I had accepted that our furkid family was complete...but not now. It makes no sense to grieve the loss of something you never even had, but I just can't explain it. I've purposefully not driven out to the shelter, because I know if I do I'm in real trouble. I don't believe in knowingly breaking the law, so I know it's best if I never even meet or interact with her. I find myself feeling very protective of her though...like when a woman posted on the shelter's fb page, asking only "Is she housebroke?" and "What are the fees and requirements for adoption", I found myself instantly on guard and quite sure that this woman would not provide this little one with the life she deserved. Anyway, I knew the only place that wouldn't think I was totally nuts sharing this was CP, so there it is. Thanks, guys, for listening. Someone is going to be so blessed to have this little girl in their family, and I only hope and pray she knows nothing but love and kindness the rest of her days.