How it all began...

Our experiences with Chihuahua's began in the early 1980's when we were asked to take in a tiny scrap of a dog whose mother was a Chihuahua and father, unknown. A jet black scrawny little dog with the most happy disposition, loving everyone who came near him - strangers, family and friends, without showing any signs of favoritism.

This tiny little dog, Sasha One, was destined to live for the very short time of eight months, three of which were with us. However, we believe he had completed his purpose in this life! He had convinced Rita and Mayer that the Chihuahua breed of dog was something very special, and our lives were never to be the same again!

The sorrow and grief after the little fellow's death lead us into searching for another Chihuahua, not to replace Sasha One, but to fill the devastating vacuum of our "empty nest"!

Reading advertisements and phoning breeders was our next move. Finally a 200 klm trip to the country to a breeder who had little Chihuahua's all over the yard! One little bright eyed chappie crouched in the corner, vigilantly wary, wondering and watching these massive animals check out all his little brothers and sisters! He decided he better tell us off! "woof, grrr, woof" in a miniature bark and growl, up onto his feet and the whole two inches high majestic puppy strode towards us! The most beautiful little fellow, all golden and fluffy, with a white stripe from the crown of his head almost to the tip of his nose, and such a self righteous attitude!

BOXLEY
We called him Boxley, and in those very first days we were severely tested by this baby puppy. He decided he did not like the upheaval from his four legged family, certainly did not trust these two legged lot, so simply would not eat! The first of many trips to the Vet, and a small fortune paid out. At this time when Boxley was only eight weeks old, he was so small he could sit in a regular teacup and still have room to move, so you can imagine our worry when he would not eat!...

...Boxley gave us so much love, fun, joy, pleasure and happiness, along with the stress and worry over his disobedience. Oh, yes, we took him to obedience classes - and got expelled from three! In the end we decided to just love him and put up with the bad patches. He took over our bed, our lounge chairs, our kitchen, as we carefully stepped around him. Those he loved, he loved devotedly and totally...

Our experiences with Sasha One and Boxley led us into voluntarily doing Chihuahua Rescue which gives us, to this day, such satisfaction.

Chihuahua Rescue is a vital necessity these days and is a very costly exercise - not too many people realize this. Maree Turner started the Sunshine Animal Welfare Centre in the 1946. She saw a need to specialize with rescued Chihuahuas twenty years later and continued this work voluntarily until 1995 when she became quite ill and unable to continue this service to the community. Mayer and I took over.

The very first rescue...
The phone call came through. "I have found a little female Chihuahua running loose on the street. We would love to keep her as she is a real little darling, but I am pregnant and due any day now. We think it might not be wise to have a new baby and a new dog coming into the home at the same time."

Despite an empty fuel tank we did not hesitate - just hopped in the car and headed for Mornington. Here we met a really tiny Chihuahua, simply scared almost to death at the sight of strangers! We took this baby home and straight to the Vet to check she was healthy enough to be put with our own Chihuahuas. This little dog sat for a week on the doggy doona, would not play with the others, and only showed some joy when I came near her and picked her up. She would not eat, so followed a period of trying to work out what she would eat! Only chicken fillet - if you don't mind! She would only eat and drink while sitting on my lap, but was not terribly interested in anything else! After a week she was beginning to take the other dog's food which we cooked for the Chihuahuas with beef, vegetables and rise. She decided she would sleep in our bed! She had very obviously been treated as a close companion by someone. Her name was Honey...

HONEY
A delightful, happy little dog with a cheeky little face, very small (1.5 kg), a pale golden yellowish color, long hair, just gorgeous. Advertisements were placed in the local newspapers and there was no response (so what else is new!). Three weeks after picking her up we received a phone call from Lynette (Mornington Pound) to say someone was advertising in the paper that their Chihuahua was lost. I called the number and the lady described her Chihuahua. Chihuahua Rescue's main aim is to return lost doges to their rightful owners. In this case my heart almost broke! We had become so entranced with this tiny little girl that we had hoped no one would claim her back! ...

We have become only too well aware of how much it costs to rescue one of these little dogs. Only those prepared to give a great deal should even contemplate this exercise. Some of the costs involved in rescuing one of these little babies are the never ending Vet fees for check ups, neutering, immunizing and correcting any other thing that may be wrong with the animal. There are the phone calls, petrol and car expenses involved with picking them up and delivering them, worm and flea treatments and never ending food bills to pay. No money is recouped when we place these little dogs for adoption apart from the vet bills. All other costs are at our own expense. We feel the love and joy that they give to us when they find themselves comfortable, well fed and secure is more than enough compensation! Quite often when people advertise for the return of a lost animal, they offer rewards. On every occasion when we have returned a lost dog we have been told "I do not have any money with me. I will post you a cheque." During five years we have not had one who has kept their word. To compansate for this mean attitude we meet with so many very generous people, who donate to this worthy cause.

There are many satisfactions and heartbreaks but we would not give it away. Chihuahua Rescue to the rescue!