How to Start a Chihuahua Rescue in Tennessee

The Chihuahua is a small, hardy breed originating from the Mexican city of the same name. The Chihuahua was originally bred to be small guardians and as pack hunter for poor Mexican families. Chihuahuas are very social and friendly, making them excellent family companions. As sweet and loving a breed as the Chihuahua is, it has not spared them from abandonment and mistreatment. Starting a Chihuahua rescue can help many dogs find new, loving homes and can be an extremely rewarding endeavor.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Homeowners Insurance
• Crates
• Toys
• Treats
• Bowls
• Dog Food

1. Review the local laws in your part of Tennessee. Certain counties in Tennessee have regulations against how many dogs you can have, so make sure that starting your rescue will not violate any laws. The Tennessee Valley Humane Society can put you in contact with law enforcement in your particular county to find out exactly what the laws state for pet ownership.

2. Call your insurance company. Many policies do not cover dogs or rescues, so you need to make sure you have adequate coverage before you start taking in dogs. Tennessee does not currently have any restrictions on the Chihuahua and most homeowner’s policies allow Chihuahua rescues without any additional restrictions.

3. Secure your home. Chihuahuas are very small and curious dogs and can be injured if allowed to roam alone. Close off any stairways and put any harmful products out of reach.

4. Set up a room in your home for new dogs. The room should be separate from your other pets in case you take in any sick dogs and should be comfortable enough to allow new dogs to settle in quietly.

5. Contact your veterinarian and local shelters to notify them of your rescue. Many shelters will foster dogs out to knowledgeable breed rescues to ensure they have good homes.

6. Place ads in local Tennessee publications to notify people of your rescue. Newspapers such as the Tennessean, Memphis Daily News and Knoxville News-Sentinel reach a wide population base and will give your rescue good publicity.

7. Take any new rescue Chihuahuas to your vet. They will be given a thorough check to make sure they are free of any illnesses that might spread to other pets.

8. Allow new rescue dogs to get used to their new home slowly. Give them time to rest in their crates and eat before introducing them to the rest of your family. Due to their small size, some Chihuahuas are very skittish and will take time to get used to new people and places.

9. Play with your new rescue Chihuahua and spend time with him to get him used to a normal home life. You should be gentle with any new rescue dogs and give them plenty of your time and attention so they develop a healthy understanding of how to behave with a family.

Tips & Warnings

• Use caution to avoid overloading yourself. Some Chihuahuas are very needy and require a lot of time and attention, so taking on too many dogs can deprive them all of the individual time they need.
• Do not let any sick dogs interact with your existing pets. Certain diseases are communicable and healthy dogs can be very easily infected.

Resources

• Tennessean
• Memphis Daily News
• Knoxville News-Sentinel
• Tennessee Valley Humane Society