Celebrity Disaster

A scene from "Beverly Hills Chihuahua"

I've never minded small dogs. You have people who don't care for small dogs, but I'm a lover of all animals. I like cats and dogs, I prefer ferrets, and I do help out with my son's humane mink farm. I sort of like birds. I can tolerate hogs and horses and cows, and chickens? I love me some yardbird. It was my idea to get back at the neighbors where we used to live in Manchester, New Hampshire by getting thirty hens and letting them wander around in the front yard for a few months--oh, the homeowner's association just had a field day with my yardbirds.

Anyway, dingbats in Hollywood, chihuahuas, no money, oh, damn!

California has more Chihuahuas than it can handle, and it has Hollywood to blame.

There are so many Chihuahuas at shelters in Oakland, they have started shipping the dogs out of state, said Megan Webb, director of Oakland Animal Services. They have sent about 100 to Washington, Oregon and Arizona, she said, "and as soon as they get them, they are ready for new ones."

Chihuahuas make up 30 percent or more of the dog populations at many California shelters. And experts say pop culture is to blame, with fans immitating Chihuahua-toting celebrities like Paris Hilton and Miley Cyrus, then abandoning the dogs.

The problem appears to be specific to California - shelters elsewhere would love to share the wealth, said Gail Buchwald, senior vice president overseeing the ASPCA adoption center in New York City.

"We never have enough supply for the huge consumer demand for small dogs," she said.

It's too bad that Gelbaum fellow in California is broke--he could have used a couple of million dollars to fly Chihuahas to places like Sioux City and Lexington and Shit Holler, West Virginny and wherever else. Oh well. I'm sure someone will start a charity to move them to places where they can be adopted. The trouble is, who has any money anymore? Chihuahuas are not cheap to care for.