Could this sweet face be ferocious?

Are You Scared of Chihuahuas?

Maybe you should be

When you think of chihuahuas, min pins, or other small dogs, what is the first thing that comes to mind? I think of my sweet little Nano (left), and I’m sure that other small dog owners think of their dogs in the same way. My brother makes fun of them and calls them “Fifi.” No one I know has ever been scared of one.

However, this is not the case in Detroit, according to an article in Bloomberg reported Aug. 21, 2013. Detroit is currently being overrun by stray dogs, including “swarms of tiny, ferocious [stray] dogs,” according one mail carrier, Catherine Guzik, as reported by Bloomberg . “It’s like Chihuahuaville,” said Guzik. Vicious chihuahuas, you say? Although it sounds absurd, deliveries are being stopped in some areas of Detroit for this reason.

How Much Could a Chihuahua Bite Hurt?

More than you might think

You may laugh. At the very least, you probably snickered or smirked, but a pack of chihuahuas in attack mode is no laughing matter. Besides punctures and bruising from the actual bites, stray and feral dogs can carry human pathogens, which could easily enter the body from one of these wounds. Furthermore, it is unlikely that these dogs have current vaccinations. Any dog bite is potentially serious, and a city full of feral and stray dogs is no laughing matter. Besides, who wants to be bitten everyday?

Detroit is Going to the Dogs

And not in a good way

Detroit is going to the dogs, and this time, not in a good way. Too many dogs and not enough animal control workers are creating a crisis in Detroit.

Detroit Dominated by Pitbulls as 50K Dogs Roam Free

Video credit: Embedded in “Abandoned Dogs Roam Detroit in Packs as Humans Dwindle” By Chris Christoff on Bloomberg– Aug 20, 2013 11:01 PM CT

The situation is so dire that dogs are being euthanized only a few days after they are put in the pound. This stems from the lack of an animal shelter that will accept dogs. “In July, the pound stopped accepting more animals for a month because the city hadn’t paid a service that hauls away euthanized animals for cremation … The freezers were packed with carcasses, and pens were full of live animals until the bill was paid. Detroit no longer has an animal shelter that accepts dogs. Thus, most stray dogs that are caught are euthanized,” according to the Bloomberg report. Animals are certainly suffering in Detroit, but, according to Amanda Arrington of the Humane Society of the United States, they aren’t the only ones:

The suffering of animals goes hand in hand with the suffering of people.

—Amanda Arrington of the Humane Society of the United States

Source: Bloomberg

Rolling Stone wrote about Detroit’s epidemic in 2012, and, also last year, a Detroit based non-profit rescue, All About Animals Rescue, received a $50,000 grant from the Humane Society to feed, vaccinate, and sterilize pets. However, these measures don’t seem to be enough.

Awareness is the key

According to a Rolling Stone report (City of Strays, 2012), the Discovery Channel applied for a permit to film a reality show about the stray dog problem in Detroit, but the city’s film office would not allow it. Did the city did reject the filming permit application because of negative publicity it would generate? If so, it is sad that the city put public relations ahead of their citizens, both canine and human. The attention could have brought donations to non-profit groups trying to deal with the situation and adoptive homes to the dogs.

Although the city wouldn’t allow the show to be filmed, thwarted creators of the show filmed a YouTube video, and that video went viral. I will warn you that the video has some graphic portions. In fact, I couldn’t watch the whole thing. However, it is real life for these dogs, and I want to share their story.

Video credit: “Abandoned Dogs Roam Detroit in Packs as Humans Dwindle” By Chris Christoff on Bloomberg– Aug 20, 2013 11:01 PM CT

Visit Detroit Dog Rescue (DDR) for more information about rescue efforts in Detroit.

How Can You Help?

Be aware. Donate. Adopt.

You can help by getting involved at any level or location. In all areas of the United States, there are dogs that need good homes. Use the links below to read about the problem in Detroit, donate time or money to help the dogs, and the most fun part of all–adopt!