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800 Rescue Dogs Cause International Adoption Craze

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PHOENIX – The rescue of 800 Chihuahuas in a filthy rural Arizona home last week made headlines around the world.

It was an extreme case of hoarding, which caught the media eye and turned out hundreds of goodwill seekers who then got ugly in the process of trying to adopt the rescued dogs.

Nearly 800 small dogs, mostly Chihuahuas, and 82 parrots were found in a large mobile home near Tucson by the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.

When the news broke on the international media circuit on Thursday, a frenzy descended upon the shelter, said Spokeswoman Jenny Rose for the shelter.

Calls reportedly came in from Germany, Australia and across the nation.

With hundreds of people packing into the shelter to inquire about adopting the dogs, tempers flared and a couple incidents of shoving matches broke out, said Rose.

The sheriff’s department was called to the scene and dispersed the crowds; the shelter then closed for the day.

But on Friday, a crowd of 500 was waiting for the doors to open. To manage the crowds and maintain order, the shelter passed out numbers and had the applicants return in groups of 100 each day since.

“This has been uncharted territory for us,” Rose said. “We would like to give everyone a dog who is interested, but we just don’t have enough.”

To deal with the crowds and overwhelming interest, the Humans Society has had to call in staff members out on vacation, and has cancelled a free spay/neuter event for pit bull owners, which had been scheduled on Friday.

According to Rose, the crowds have not only been overwhelming but persistent in tracking down information on the shelter, and even herself.

One man from Massachusetts dug up Rose’s cell phone number and woke her up with a call Saturday morning.

“He said, I know it’s 8 o’clock there, but I really want a dog,’ ” Rose said.

“Oh, thanks, that’s sweet,” she retorted.

Currently all the adoptable dogs have found forever homes, while those with medical conditions or are yet too young, are in foster homes.

People who were in Thursday’s line and were not able to adopt a dog have been put on a waiting list and will be notified when the puppies mature and the sick ones recover.

As for the lingering crowds of hopeful adopters, Rose said, “You’re just going to have to stop by and see what you get.”

The hoarding case stemmed from an elderly couple, who Rose said, owned the animals and would not part with the pets since they felt no one else could give them a new home.

While no charges have yet been filed against the couple, the home was in poor condition, rampant with urine and feces, said officials.

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Stacey C.
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It's a shame people trying to do the right thing got so crazy. I hope the shelter is able to find the best possible homes for each of those animals. And maybe all the attention will help a few other dogs to find forever homes!
 
Katie L.
Katie L. (dogkitt)
1 year ago
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I'm glad about all the support the shelter got. It's nice that peopel care so much about animals.
 
louisamg
louisamg
1 year ago
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How do you even get 800 dogs in a trailer home?? I have enough trouble finding space for three large dogs in my own house....
 
jdog123
jdog123
1 year ago
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I can't even imagine that many dogs in such a little place. My apartment seemed small for three cats.
 
vyp
vyp
1 year ago
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.Can't we get some of those eager people interested in some of the other dogs that are needing to be adopted?
 
Gene M.
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Good, I hope they didn't adopt without thinking about the dogs long term care
 
AbbyScott
AbbyScott
1 year ago
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I would bet they were screened carefully.
 
Eight dogs in one mobile home sounds like a crowded situation. Eighty dogs, a zoo. Eight hundred dogs -- a "collector" or "hoarder" gone wild. I saw this situation eleven years ago in northeast Ohio with Arabian horses. The "owner," a mentally unstable older woman -- whose husband was totally overwhelmed and had almost stopped communicating because of his wife's actions -- was related to some of the "Youngstown Mafia," so the Trumbull County authorities were afraid to do anything with her for fear of retaliation. She kept a nice big pile of tarped hay stored away from the barn and let dozens of horses starve to death and/or die of thirst within site of her home, where she continued to eat.

Surely there can be criminal "profiling" of such people, who may not have a prior criminal record, but whose purchases of unusual quantities of pet products, whose homes reek of urine/fecal odors (can't the mailman or other delivery people smell it?), etc. Something must "snap" in the brain when numbers get so totally insane.

I hope the little dogs' lungs are all right, after having breathed such a stench and had possible burning from the acrid, foul smell for so long.

This is the type of case where ankle monitoring bracelets placed on the offending people would surely prevent other animals from falling into such a living hell.
 
evelyn m.
evelyn m. (evelyn)
1 year ago
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I am happy that there are so many chihuahau lovers. Because there are so small people probably won't think twice about adotping two. I am sure the outpour comes frfom the abandonment situation. People's hearts are usually opened when something is thrown in their face like this.
 
Brenda
Brenda (BrendaM)
1 year ago
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People need to chill – I mean the crowds of people have caused other programs to be abandoned for now – like the free spay/neuter event for pit bull owners, which had been scheduled for that Friday. And that is a shame.
 
Debbie
Debbie (mallfada)
1 year ago
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Chill??

This takes away from the animals already in a shelter.
 
John  P.
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I'm so glad to see that much turn out for these dogs. But on the other hand, it's a shame that people don't go out of their way for dogs in shelters that don't make national headlines. They are just as in need of homes as the 800 rescued from Arizona.
 
stephanie h.
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There are so many great animals waiting for homes; why are these people not flocking to the shelters to get an animal on other days? I am glad they all found good homes but all animals need and give love.
 
AbbyScott
AbbyScott
1 year ago
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I would tell you that this happens anytime a shelter or a rescue has a story about a dog or cat in need. There are always plenty of applicants and usually very good ones. The media inspires peopel to think about having room for one more or helping in some way.
 
jana s.
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I wonder if it was just that they were Chihuahuas or if they really wanted to help? What about any other type of dog, are other shelters there empty? I just don't get it.
 
Amy F.
Amy F. (aferanec)
1 year ago
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How strange that people would be fighting over these dogs! There are PLENTY of dogs in shelters - more than enough to go around.
 
AbbyScott
AbbyScott
1 year ago
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They want a dog that's been in the media. And the story touched them and moved them to do something.
 
Karen
Karen (kmharper)
1 year ago
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The greatest thing ZooToo has done is to get communities aware of their local shelters. Before this makeover contest, people would look for shelters they heard about through the media when the shelter was involved in a big rescue. Yes, there are many animals at many shelters waiting for permanent homes. Thank goodness local media outlets think rescues are news worthy, and thank you ZooToo for "encouraging" shelters to make themselves more visable to the general public!
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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Bill G.
Bill G. (1OldGuy)
1 year ago
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If they've run out of dogs to adopt out wht not partner with their neighboring shelters and see if they can't place some of their animals? I have to think that this could be a win - win situation for all the shelters in the area.
 
Brenda
Brenda (BrendaM)
1 year ago
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People are crazy. These dogs and dogs like them are up for adoption every day in animal shelters across the country. I have no idea why people flock en masse to have one of these particular dogs - when any other day they could have taken in a dog who needed a home and has been in a cage for possibly months - if they wanted to.
 
AbbyScott
AbbyScott
1 year ago
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I think people want to point to a story and then their dog and say that they have one. Nothing wrong with that. It's just human nature.
 
TJ
TJ (trajina)
1 year ago
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i hope the people around the world who didnt get one of these dogs, will seek out their local shelter and give one of those dogs a good home.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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Cheryl L.
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Gosh, that many animals in a mobile home!?? That's horrid! I'm thrilled to hear they will be adopted.
 
linda w.
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I wish there were that many goodwill seekers wanting to adopt a mutt.
 
Gini D.
Gini D. (gldeweese)
1 year ago
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I have mixed feelings about this story. While the turn out to adopt the dogs is wonderful, it's sad that people would resort to shoving each other. There are far more dogs that need homes than people willing to adopt, so I wish these people would be open to seeing what dogs other than the Chihuahuas are in need of a loving home. It's like when a baby is abandoned in a grocery store, Social Services is flooded with people wanting to adopt that baby. There are children that didn't receive publicity that need homes all the time, but people are only interested in the one baby. I don't quite understand why highly publicized pets or babies seem to be so much more wanted than any others. Is it like some sort of bragging rights-- "I adopted one of those 800 dogs that every heard about- aren't I great?" Hmm.
But the bottom line is that at least these dogs will get homes, and that is great.
 
Michele
Michele (MicheleZ)
1 year ago
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I feel the same way about these highly-publicized cases and all the people suddenly willing to help. Help is needed everyday.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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Brenda
Brenda (BrendaM)
1 year ago
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You are correct. Plus doesn't it make you wonder what types of people these really are? I mean if they wanted to care for a dog - wouldn't they have adopted one already? These people seem to have a mob mentality and I am not sure if they will make the best "parents".
 
Bill G.
Bill G. (1OldGuy)
1 year ago
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You are so right. If people can't control themselves what is going to happen the first time the animal does something they don't like? I would just as soon see those people who were involved in that behavior sent away and told to not come back.
 
april8sue
april8sue
1 year ago
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How wonderful that all these dogs are finding homes...I hope this continues till we never have to put an animal down
 
marlyn p.
marlyn p. (skyyma2)
1 year ago
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With all the attention those pups were getting, i hope the 82 parrots were able to get good homes too.
 
AbbyScott
AbbyScott
1 year ago
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I would almost bet that they have found homes as well.
 
bushadvisor
bushadvisor
1 year ago
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I agree. The article doesn't say anything about what happened to those parrots. They're victims too!
 
Irina
Irina (irinkad83)
1 year ago
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The sad thing is that people dont realize that in other shelters there are so many dogs in need-small dogs too, in california its overwhelming and they have to put down little guys every day! so folks need to look around-they'll see there are alot more pets in need-they need to look at other shelters as well
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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bushadvisor
bushadvisor
1 year ago
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Wow! I'm so glad that there was such an interest in adopting these poor guys...but I'm sure there's more than enough needy non-Chihuahuas that could use homes too! The people where weren't lucky enough to get one of the rescued Chihuahuas should give one of those guys a chance too.
 
Christine
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My mouth dropped open when I saw how many animals were in one mobile home!!!!!! That is just sooo awesome that so many people want them though! Too bad that some had to argue over it, but wow, still a great story. Shame on the people who had them though, that amount is just baffling!
 
Melody
Melody (MelodyJ)
1 year ago
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OMG! 800 dogs and 82 birds! That's just unbelievable! I'm so glad that there are so many interested in those dogs, but what about all of the other wonderful dogs, and cats, who need homes. I hope that they will consider those dear babies when there are no more Chihuahuas left. I REALLY hate to hear that they had to cancel the Pit Bull spay & neuter event. I'm glad though that these babies are going to new homes or fosters until they are ready!
 
tinbush
tinbush
1 year ago
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I certainly hope they had these dogs spayed/neutered before they went to new homes or we will be reading about this again..we will anyway. Too bad they had to cancel badly needed spay and neuter events because of these people. Why don't people get their pets fixed instead of worrying about homes for the offspring. Most people have no business breeding..they are just greedy. It's worth every penny to have peace of mind that you won't have to worry about homes for puppies and kittens.
 
1cakelady
1cakelady
1 year ago
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Barbara  S.
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What a shame that they aren't in line at other shelters across this nation to adopt a small dog.
 
Tic T.
Tic T. (TicTac)
1 year ago
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This is one of the worst hoarding cases I've ever heard of. I can't even begin to comprehend 800 dogs (even if they are little chihuahuas) in one place! I hope they are all placed in new loving homes.... it doesn't seem like that will be too much trouble!
 
Barbara H.
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Glad that people want to give these dogs homes.I just hope they keep and love them forever.
 
katrina
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well atleast there are lots of people out there looking for little dogs and there are lots of them...well i hope coming from a home like this that they are healthy and going to make it a long happy life.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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katrina
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wow that is crazy 800 dogs and 82 parrots that is just nuts!! There must of been lots of inbreading going on.
 
WOW.......I'm glad that people are interested in little dogs like these to adopt. They need special care.
 
Michele
Michele (MicheleZ)
1 year ago
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Unfortunately, this could be a very short-lived craze and the Humane Society or local shelter will be dealing with an unprecedented number of returns over the next few months (despite their belief that the dogs got "forever homes").

I don't want to criticize the people who were truly interested in helping and will be providing forever homes, but I do believe there are an unknown number of people within the "rescuer mob" who passed themselves off as sincere. This story hasn't ended....yet.
 
Sheila
Sheila (HayleysMom)
1 year ago
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I agree with you - my first thought on reading this is that apparently there is no policy in place to screen adopters (?) and though I realize they had an overabundance of these little bundles of energy to place, with all they have been through a screening process of potential adopters would have been in order to ensure permanent and loving homes. I don't believe we have heard the end of this either...........
 
Nancy  L.
Nancy L. (Nslogan)
1 year ago
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I'm amazed that so many people came out to adopt these dogs so quickly. I can't understand how a person could have so many dogs and not know they were hurting the dogs by not getting them proper medical care, food, walks etc....
 
Julie
Julie (TTFifi)
1 year ago
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this is amazing that an elderly couple had all those dogs. Their intentions were good, but I can't imagine all those dogs and how do you care for them properly? Well, at least they will have good home now.
 
toni
toni (toniangel77)
1 year ago
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Wow..I am thrilled to see such interest. Hopefully, this will get some people into the shelter and they will adopt other shelter dogs too (since there is such a high demand for the chichuahuas). That would be awesome
 
Tanya b.
Tanya b. (tanya5)
1 year ago
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It seems like they will be able to eventually find homes for these dogs. I am glad people are showing such an interest in adopting them. They all deserve good homes.
 
Janie P.
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Maybe the shelter can interest the people that wanted the chihuahuas in another dog that they have to offer. I am sure that there are plenty of dogs to go around. Imagine if all of these people gave an orphaned dog a good forever home!!!
 
Rachel G.
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Hey if I were a shelter worker with all these dogs in my shelter I totally wouldn't mind someone calling me on a Saturday. Shelters usually can't find enough people wanting to adopt. Hopefully some of the interested people who wanted to help these dogs will look at some of the other dogs there. It does seem interesting that when something like this happens everyone wants to help but what about the other animals not in the news that have been sitting in shelters. I'm glad they're finding homes though
 
Lyn (Madelyn) H.
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these are not the greatest looking dogs. Glad to see such interest.
 
judy b.
judy b. (jbonz)
1 year ago
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I'm trying to get a mental image of 800 dogs living in a mobile home with an elderly couple and it's not pretty Wow. When's the last time any of you shelter folks heard that they didn't have enough dogs for everyone that wanted one??!!
 
brycec
brycec
1 year ago
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that is crazy!
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