Benito

Update 1/15/10 What a happy little dog Benito, a 10 year old chihuahua, has become since arriving in Maine just before Christmas! He smiles every morning when he gets up and greets the dawn. He is a bouncy little guy and jumps knee high from a standing spot as if he is jumping with springs on his tiny feet. He is almost 100% accurate on housetraining now. He will let you know when he needs to go out and, though he still isn't too fond of snow and ice, he suffers through the cold to do what he has to. It is amazing just how quickly he zips out and then... back in. He is an absolute snuggle bunny, finding the warmest spots to rest. He will lay for the whole evening on a friendly lap especially if you are willing to pat and scratch him. He loves food, treats and attention so he is easy to train. This week he had his first Beggin Strips which seem to be his favorite treat for the time being. What treat might you have that he will love? It seems like he may have had his "barker" removed because his infrequent bark is more like someone clearing his throat. He is also good with other animals and warms up quickly to new people. Benito will make some lucky family complete. Is that your family yours?

Letter from Benito (more in bio below the letter)

Dear Diary,

Hola! What an exciting few weeks I have had! First some people came and rescued all my bunkmates and me from Mrs. Backyard Breeder in TN. Boy, am I glad because they kept asking for “The Stud” and each time I fathered more Chihuahua puppies. How irresponsible was that? I know I am an amazing purebred Chi, but I wish the breeder had thought about the consequences.

From there I went to a safe house where they cleaned me up. It was so nice to be out of my filthy cage where I had lived for all those years. I went to the Doctor and was given all my shots and was neutered. (What a relief!) Mrs. Foster was really nice and gave me plenty of food before I was put on the road north. Now I am in Maine waiting for my forever home.

El gato y el perro are my friends and I get along with all of them. I am a little tease to the big dogs at my foster home. I like to run and jump on the couch because ~ I can! But what I really want is a home I can call my own. I don’t like the snow very much because I am just a 9 pound little guy with thin hair and delicate feet. I need an extra coat when I go outside. My new foster mom says I look “muy atractivo” when I am dressed for the weather. I agree that I am pretty good looking at 10 years old.

I am used to being in a muddy, yucky cage so going outside on a leash is a new experience for me. My crate is like home and I don’t mind it a bit. I am smart so before long I will be fully housetrained and walking on leash like a pro.

Diary, I wish on a star every night that my Forever Home People will see me, take me home and love me like I deserve to be loved. I hope my wish comes true very soon. If you can fulfill my wish I promise to be your BDE (Best Dog Ever).

Adios. Amigo! Benito

Benito is a sweet little full blooded chihuahua rescued from a large backyard breeder that was using him to breed other chi's and chi mixes.

He is a tad on the chunky side. He is about 9 lbs (maybe a pound overweight), approx 10 years old, but FULL of life. He likes to tease the cats and dogs but is good with them (both are bigger than he is, but he doesn't know that). He craves attention and loves to snuggle!! He can walk on a leash but he doesn't like to go in a very straight line. Like most little dogs, he has lots of energy and goes full tilt, then crashes and sleeps. He sleeps in a crate at night. Unlike what I have heard about lots of small dogs he doesn't bark. A quiet chihuahua? Apparently they DO exist!

As he was kept outside for his entire life, his house training is a work in progress, he needs a family that is available to take him out every couple of hours, and train him just as if he were a puppy. He WILL learn.

He is looking for a home without children under 10, and one that will give Benito just the opposite of his previous life for the next 8-10 years. He is too good of a dog to have deserved the life he was given.