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Don't Panic, But the Chihuahuas Are Coming!
By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 6, 2010
Modified Jan 6, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 6, 2010
Modified Jan 6, 2010
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[UPDATE BELOW] On New Year's Eve a Chihuahua was rescued by NYPD Harbor Patrol after jumping off a Brooklyn pier and diving into the frigid East River, in an attempted suicide or escape attempt. Today, over two dozen Chihuahuas arrived from San Francisco. Coincidence? Or did that despondent Bay Ridge Chihuahua decide to end it all after hearing about the glamorous, tan, West Coast betters coming to steal our hearts?
The dogs are being sent here by Californian animal shelters as part of a mission dubbed "Operation Chichuahua Airlift." About 30 percent of California shelter dogs are Chihuahuas, a breed that's become popular because of the groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece Beverly Hills Chihuahua, or so the AP theorizes. Are Americans really that stupid that they take responsibility for an animal (and a typically irritatingcuuuute one at that!) all because of an insipid Hollywood spectacle? And then when Danny DeVito's voice or whatever doesn't come out of the pet's mouth, they kick the poor thing to the curb?
Anyway, the unwanted dogs are expected to arrive any moment now, at which point The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will process them and then offer them for adoption. You can grab yours by calling the hotline 212-876-7700, ext. 3210. Act now; as you no doubt know, these adorable dogs are "50% warrior, 50% lover, 100% chihuahua."
UPDATE: Virgin America sent us these photos; the airline arranged for the "Operation Chichuahua Airlift" and the dogs were sent off in high-style with a red carpet departure from a San Francisco International Airport gate, complete with champagne cocktail "Chi-mosas" and cupcakes for flight guests and doggie treats and toys for the Chihuahuas! Virgin America "teammates" volunteered to escort the little dogs on the flights, and you check out more photos from the flight on Virgin's Facebook page, if that's what you're into.
Also, we'd like to retract our earlier characterization of Chihuahuas as "irritating"—they are clearly ADORABLE (at least when seen and not heard) and we're calling the hotline now!
Tagged
adopt
california
Chihuahua
dogs
nyc
operation airlift
san francisco
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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