Arrived in NZCR care: 17th July 2024
Date of Birth: 1st April 2019
Gender: Male
Breed: Chihuahua - Long Coat
De-Sexed: Yes.
Micro-chipped: Yes.
Registered with NZCAR: Yes.
Vaccinated: Yes.
DogsNZ (NZKC): No.
Council Registered: Yes - Christchurch City Council.
Cat Friendly: Has lived with dog-confident cats prior..
Child Friendly: 8 years and older.
Human Sociable: Can be shy.
Dog Sociable: Yes - small breeds.
* TBC = "To be confirmed"
Personality:
Louis is a lovable, 3kg, 5-year-old, long coat Chihuahua joining us all the way from the North Island as his former owner is going overseas. He is described by his former owner as s a sweet boy who loves tummy rubs and enjoys his food. Louis was living with dogs and confident cats at his former home. We understand Louis is social with small dogs but can be shy initially.
After being with us a little over a month, Louis' foster mum feels that Louis would, “suit a quiet home with daily walks as he loves those. He doesn't play with toys or my other dog and prefers to just chill in his bed or anywhere else that's comfy. He doesn't mind other animals though. He is fine left alone for a part of the day but must be let out regularly for toileting.”
Louis is currently being fostered in a home with both cats and another small dog. He would do well with another dog, as long as they are not overly demanding or too intrusive in his space. He hasnt chosen to play with toys or the other dog in the home, but co-exists peacefully.
Louis would be great for an owner who has some prior dog experience and knowledge, enjoys walking and would like a companion to spend their weekdays with.
Louis is toilet-trained, but during the transition to a new home, his adopter will need to be attentive to his toileting needs. It’s important to let him outside regularly to reinforce the expectations in his new environment. Initially, like many dogs, Louis may need to be shown the designated outdoor area at regular intervals to establish the habit. Additionally, Louis can be prone to possessive marking in a new setting (completely seperate to toilet-training). He has been discouraged from this in foster care and his adopter will need to continue discouraging this behavior also.
Louis needs an owner who is knowledgeable about dog training, so not suitable for a first time dog owner or anyone who isn't able to commit to ensuring he continues to make progress and build confidence in the outside world. His foster mum notes, “He walks well on a leash, doesn't pull but can try to chase and bark at occasional cyclists, skateboards, people, dogs. He is getting better at ignoring them.”
Health:
Louis had his vet check on 1st August 2024, he was vaccinated up to date and medically checked off as fit to be adopted. Louis' heart and general health is great. His teeth are good too as he only has some minor tartar present that doesn’t require a dental. Louis is lightly heavier than he should be at 3.4kg (his goal is 2.7kg) so he is on a diet while in foster care.
Like many toy breeds, Louis has luxating patellas - please see our blog for information on this condition if not familiar. The right knee is a grade 3 and the left a grade 1-2 only. They don’t appear to cause pain or any issues with movement, hence he is not a candidate for surgery. Ensuring Louis reaches and remains an ideal weight will greatly assist with his knees. His adopter may also wish to consider animal physiotherapy as this would be of benefit to him.
Note: all dogs from NZCR are only adopted out once they have been medically signed off by our vet, de-sexed, vaccinated, micro-chipped (with the chip registered with the NZ Companion Animal Register and the local Council) and flea/wormed.
How do the dogs receive the care needed to ready them for adoption?
New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue is a registered New Zealand charity run by a small team of passionate volunteers. The funds raised go towards the dogs in our care (and any community dogs we may support). Our modest income is a result of your kind donations, sponsorship, and our fundraising projects. The dogs in care each require medical or behavioral assistance so we're often short on funds - sadly this limits how many dogs we can help!
If you can, please consider donating to our cause either as a one-off or on an ongoing basis. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference! As we are a registered charity, please contact us for a receipt to claim back 33.33% of your donation from the IRD.
The New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue Westpac Trust Account:
03-0823-0074502-000
Ref: "LOUIS"
By credit or debit card by:
GiveALittle: www.givealittle.co.nz/org/nz-chihuahua-rescue-trust
Paypal: www.nzchihuahuarescue.co.nz/donate-via-paypal
For other ideas on how you can support the charity and rescue dogs, please see here: www.nzchihuahuarescue.co.nz/donate
Adopter Requirements:
Adoption Fee: $600.00 to be paid to the NZCR trust account no. 03-0823-0074502-000
Our adoption fees consider the dog's age, health, and any ongoing care costs. These fees cover microchipping (including NZCAR registration), vaccinations, de-sexing, council registration (current year) and any other treatments required. This includes flea and worm treatments, medications, additional surgeries such as a dental, and food. We do not accept payment plans as adopters must demonstrate financial readiness for a pet. Please read more about our adoption process by clicking below.
Note: Before applying to adopt, please ensure you meet the adopter requirements listed above. These guidelines are set with the dogs' needs in mind, based on input from foster carers. If you do not meet these requirements, your application will be declined as there are no exceptions. Please review the criteria carefully. Thank you!
A "little" goes a long way. If you can spare $5 to donate, every little bit helps - your generosity is both needed and greatly appreciated!
NZCR are a volunteer-run charity that survives only off of donations and our fundraising projects to be able to continue our good work! But this has been our hardest year yet and we need your help to be able to continue...