About New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue:

New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue ("NZCR") is a registered Charitable Trust (charity no. CC55119) founded in 2017, after a need for a rescue dedicated specifically to the re-homing of Chihuahuas and Chihuahua crosses was identified. Although we are based in Christchurch, New Zealand. NZCR operate throughout the entirety of New Zealand. We receive in dogs from local Pounds and other Rescues, private homes,  kennels and breeders. 

We are a privately run, breed-specific rescue that survives off of donations, sponsorship and fundraising efforts. All of our team members are volunteers and we receive no government funding. We are, however, paid in an abundance of doggy cuddles and love!

Before being adopted, we ensure that all of our dogs are de-sexed, vaccinated up to date, micro-chipped, registered with the New Zealand Companion Animal Register, registered with the local Council and flea and wormed treated. 

The dogs in our care also receive any other necessary veterinary care unique to their situation such as dentals, blood screening or specialist surgeries. We aim to ensure that any and all health issues are corrected prior to adoption, or disclosed to prospective Adopters.

As an organization, we also aim to educate the public on our breed, the importance of de-sexing and prevalence of irresponsible breeding of Chihuahuas. A couple of our recent adoption or re-homing success stories are found on this website under "success stories".

About Our Team:

We have a specialized, caring and dedicated team behind our Rescue to ensure that our dogs are given the best care from the moment they come to us. Our foster carers have experience with dogs and Chihuahuas especially. Many of our foster parents also have a background in veterinary nursing, animal behavior or psychology and training.  Once dogs are placed in care, our foster carers nurse them through any medical procedures and identify any unique issues. We then set about shaping them into happy, well-adjusted, social pets. 

The Rescue is managed our Trustees, currently: Casey, Katie and Alex. Each of our Trustees have a background in rescue, having privately rescued and re-homed numerous animals for a number of years before beginning work for the New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue Trust. Our team members regularly attend animal welfare, behavior and training courses and seminars. Our Trustees are very familiar with the breed and it's quirks, having owned and assisted many Chihuahuas and other small breeds in the past. Our Trustees are also very active in their local Chihuahua Community.

Our dogs are safe in the hands with a Vet that not only knows about chihuahuas, but specializes in them! Our Trust Veterinarian, Dr Tracey Tonkin, BVsc (Hons), is an expert in the breed. Dr Tonkin practices out of Tram Road Animal Care Services clinic in North Canterbury and fits her busy veterinary schedule around studying towards a Masters Degree, spending time with her own Chihuahua pack and assisting our Rescue dogs! 

New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue in the Media:

See below for some articles, television and radio interviews on our Trust. To contact NZCR about media inquiries please use the "contact us" form or email noted above.

The Aims of our Charity:

• To rescue Chihuahuas from situations of neglect and abuse and place them in suitable foster care arrangements and/or permanent homes. 

• To collect and re-home Chihuahuas which are unclaimed and due to be euthanized from Council Pounds in the areas in which the Trust is operating.
  
• To provide facilities and resources to assist in the control of the population of unwanted Chihuahuas by de-sexing those placed in the Trust’s care. 

•  To raise funds for to benefit of Chihuahuas in the care of the Trust, as required. 

• To prevent, by education or other means, irresponsible breeding and ownership of the breed and educate the public as to how the breed should be best cared for, so that there are less Chihuahuas surrendered to be re-homed. 

We also take in other small or toy breed dogs when we have the capacity to do so. Please contact us to discuss if you require assistance.

What Type of Dogs Do We Help?

Chihuahuas, Chihuahua-crosses and various other toy breeds (when we have the capacity to do so). We have assisted Papillons, Chinese-Crested, Maltese, Pekingese, Griffons and Pomeranians prior. 

There is no age limit to dogs that we take into our Rescue. We welcome dogs who need medical care or behavioral assistance. We are not afraid of a challenge and receive in all kinds of dogs. In our view, no situation is too hopeless. We have taken dogs into our Rescue who have had tremendously difficult lives and appear feral. It simply takes time, patience and training to rehabilitate them successfully. We do not euthanize any dogs for behavioral issues – in fact, we expect them! Any dogs that cannot be safely re-homed will become part of our "forever pack".  

We do not judge former owner's reasons for needing to re-home their dog, it is often out of genuine necessity and selflessness that owners or Breeders contact us for assistance. We pride ourselves on remaining non-judgmental, understanding and discreet for those concerned about their privacy.  We are happy to confidentially assist with finding new homes for dogs. They do not need to appear on our social media or website if this is your preference.

We also offer assistance to Breeders and Dog Exhibitors who wish to re-home their ex-breeding dogs, or retired show dogs into happy pet "retirement" homes. We offer friendly, confidential, assistance to anyone who requires it.

For more information about our organization see the following links:

Facebook Page      |      Facebook Discussion Group     |      Instagram  

To contact us please email: contact@nzchihuahuarescue.co.nz we do not have a physical center at present or a trust phone number to call. Our emails are consistently monitored and you will receive a response within two working days.