Puppies...

The puppymillers and backyard breeders geared up just in time for Christmas like they do every year... Puppies are arriving in the shelters faster than we can find them homes... Every weekend, people are walking out of petshops with little bundles of fur that will show up in the shelters a few months from now when the novelty has worn off and the responsibilities become too great...

We are NOT supporters of giving puppies as Christmas presents and feel it is the WORST time of the year to add a dog to your family... Between the craziness of the holiday season, the stress of trying to get everything done and the impulses that arise at this time of the season, we beg everyone to give SERIOUS consideration to adopting a puppy at this time of the year...

This is a great page to read through while you are considering the prospect of a Christmas puppy - The best present EVER... It has a 28-day countdown to get ready for adding a puppy to your life, home and lifestyle... At TLC we have quite a few young dogs that are no longer puppies, but are potty trained, healthy and homeless... We hope you will consider them also...

Having said all of this, we have six puppies from various litters and ages... All were dumped into our local shelters for various reasons... All are either spayed or neutered, or (will be) before Christmas...

From left to right is Rudy, Annette, Georgia, Frankie and Noel.  Nick is not in this photo... Georgia is a MinPin and not a Chihuahua.    Noel (the female brindle) has already been adopted and not available - Nick and Rudy (short for Rudolph) are Noel's brothers.

But we remind you ---  puppies are a LOT of work and should never be an impulse decision you regret later... And if a puppy is alone without another puppy or dog, you can expect to have many sleepless nights as it cries because it is lonely... It will takes months to potty train these little ones... The first year of any puppy's life is an expensive one if you are providing the proper nutrition... And there is a very large amount of personal time that needs to be invested if your puppy is to be properly socialized and grows into a responsible canine citizen and loved member of your family...

At TLC we do not place our puppies in homes with small children or large dog breeds - they're just too small and is a $3,000+ broken leg waiting to happen... Children should be allowed to be children - to run, holler and play - without worrying about accidentally falling on a small petite puppy...Adoption applications are taken either at adoptions or via fax... Home visits are scheduled and if passed, there is an adoption contract to be signed and an adoption donation (which will be the cheapest part of your investment in a new puppy!  Trust us!)...Chihuahuas live from 15 to 18 years, and this is a long term investment in so many ways...