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Since December a total of seven Chihuahuas – all older females – have turned up abandoned, neglected and in some cases near death at a Lafourche Parish dump site.
Rescuers suspect that the dogs, of a breed that has gained popularity over the past few years, were used by “backyard breeders” to produce puppies for profit, then discarded when no longer profitable.
“Somebody is breeding and dumping and when they can’t make money off them, they are being dumped,” said Mary Morvant, a Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter advisory board member and animal rescuer. “Until we pass laws about breeding in our parish, they can breed all they want. There are no laws on the books yet requiring licenses.”
Hilary Knight, the shelter’s manager, said she is intends to reach out to Sheriff Craig Webre and the Lafourche Parish Council to determine if regulations on breeding can be established.
“The dogs are not in good condition, that is how I noticed it,” Knight said. “They are mostly females and in poor conditions. Now that we have noticed the pattern, we are going to be on the lookout. We are going to take a look and try to stop these things.”
Popularity of breeds can have a double-edged sword. When high demand for a breed develops, advocates say, there is more of an incentive for irresponsible breeders to provide a supply. These dogs, they say, are not American Kennel Club registered and rarely, if ever, have papers associated with them. Chihuahuas’ popularity rose over time with a series of nationally-broadcast Taco Bell commercials.
Jeff Dorson, director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, says the Chihuahua problem in Lafourche is similar to patterns he has observed over the years, although not with Chihuahuas. Dumping by irresponsible breeders, he said, is nothing new.
“It is a common phenomenon, they turn them over to shelters, discard them, abandon them once they reach their breeding capacities,” said Dorson, noting that the problem is widespread with pit bull terriers and mixes. “Typically, they have medical issues that have gone untreated for a long time.”
Public shelters that become the last stop for such animals cannot afford to meet their sometimes complex and expensive medical needs. As in the case of the Lafourche Chihuahuas, rescuers step up to the plate. But not always.
Rescuer Angie Hebert said patterns of abandoned breeds are evident on Facebook page operated by rescuers, such as Lost Pets of Lafourche.
“We see certain breeds in the lost and found, and there are Chihuahuas from what we are seeing,” she said. “Look at the pages and you will see a trend.” •
