Our Sweet Granny

Peanut

Casper

Tipsy aka Chili

Tilt-a-whirl

Tipsy is a 1year old, 7 lbs chihuahua that was rescued from the kill shelter. He is one of the most beautiful dogs I have ever seen. He has warm hazel eyes that makes your heart melt. Everyone who saw him loved him. He has a sweet, curious puppy expression at all times due to a permanent head tilt. When he was rescued he was infested with fleas and his ears were full of ticks but he cleaned up very well. Several people had expressed interest in adopting him but we had to be sure he was going to the best home. We was adopted by a women who had been wanting a dog for several years and could finally get a dog of her own. She renamed him Chili and has sent many updates and pics. He has found a wonderful forever home where he sleeps in bed and lounges on the couch with his Moms.

Missy

Missy the Mischievous

Missy is blond corgi/ chihuahua who is 2 years old and full of energy. She loved to run, play, wrestle and chase. She loved to play with anyone she could get to play with her. She loves the other dogs and was amused by our giant cats. She was feisty at the adoption event and barked at the other dogs and some of the men that got too close. An older gentleman stopped and immediately fell in love her. I was a little nervous since he was a man, but she loved him. He was amused with her energy and "big dog" attitude. He was looking for a companion to walk with sit with. He told his wife he was at the coffee shop with his friends. He was very excited but nervous as he bought all the supplies they needed. He later reported Missy was doing great and his wife, who was quite surprised, loved Missy too.

Missy

Tammy aka Ginger

Our Beautiful Redhead

Tammy is a sweet and gentle little red chihuahua. She was 5 years old and weighed in at 12 lbs. when she was rescued from animal control. She loved to to be held and would snuggle for hours. She was only with us a few weeks but she is one of the special fur babies that touches your heart very quickly. If there wasn't a lap to sit in she was connect curling up with the gaggle.

At the adoption event she didn't get much attention as she was plain to look at. As we were getting ready to take her home a young women stopped to see her. She said she already had 3 chi babies and had the professional pics to prove it. She wasn't able to adopt her, but she immediately called her mother who was looking for a chi baby of her own. The next day we did a home visit and met the entire family, including the in-laws and 3 very spoiled chi babies. Mom loved Tammy and even commented on the beauty mark on her head. They renamed her Ginger and were planning a big shopping spree as soon as the adoption was finalized. At last report she had gotten professional christmas pictures done and was running the house. The perfect life for a chihuauha.

Jasper AKA Jazzy

The Perfect Dog

Jasper was too perfect for his own good. He was handsome, healthy, had all his teeth and a great personality. Not at all what you expect from a rescue dog. Nope, not one pathetic trait or ailment. Nothing to get him the pity vote. Just plain perfect. The dogs with no teeth, ailments and skittish temperments seem to get adopted quickly, sometimes within a week; but not Jasper. He stayed with us for 6 weeks. Not that we minded; he was a great dog to have around . He was like the activity director; he could get everybody playing. At the adoption events he was a perfect gentleman and smiled and wagged at all the prospective adoptive families. Finally a family with 3 well behaved children looked at him and liked him but decided on another dog, a jack russell terrier. We were a little disappointed because Jasper seemed to love the kids. The next week they were back, (things didn't work out with the other dog,) to see if Jasper was still available. So at long last Jasper found his forever home with a nice family with a stay at home mom to hang out with all day while the kids were in school. They reported he was as "perfect" as we had described him.

Chalupa

Our Sweet Old Man

Chalupa was our sweet little old man he weighed a whopping 3.7 lbs and was at least 7 years old. He was a quiet, shy little guy who preferred to stay be himself in his crate. I think he was a little overwhelmed by the gaggle. He liked to to held and cuddled but he wasn't one to run around and play. He was quite thin and needed some good food and a lot of TLC. He had to have the remainder of his teeth pulled and his bottom jaw was atrophied so he required very soft food. Most people who saw him felt sorry for him but were afraid to adopt him because he was so frail. A young women who was going to be traveling for school and career was looking for a quiet older dog she could travel with as she did not want separate the chihuahuas she owned with her Fiance. Chalupa was the perfect fit and she was not intimidated of his need for a little extra care. He got a special travel crate and bed and at last report was doing well, had put on some weight and was getting along great with his new chi friends.

Madison and Macy, the Dynamic Duo

Madison and Macy were from the breeder confiscation with Marty, Moe and Mackenzie. They were both pregnant and had to to spayed and lose their babies or lose their own lives. We brought them to our home shortly after they had been spayed, their bellies hung low as if they had just delivered puppies. They were very scared and huddled close to each other. I cried the first time I held them. I cried for the lost puppies and for the terrible life these little angels had endured. There was something very precious about these two girls who clung to each other for safety and comfort. It was apparent early on that these girls would have to placed together. They never let the other out of their site and would howl and cry if they were separated. They slowly became more trusting and playful and learned to tolerate a harness and leash. They were cautious of people but never showed any signs of aggression. We thought we might have the girls with us for a while as they both had some health issues that would need to be addressed. Along came their Guardian Angels, a loving women from California and her husband, a gentle giant. They had seen the girls, briefly, at our weekly adoption event and couldn't stop thinking about them. They adopted them the next weekend. We had the privilege of fur baby sitting the girls recently and they looked great. They remain close to one another and are still a little skittish but are loved and accepted as they are by their new forever Mom and Dad.

Zeus the Magnificent

Zeus is a 2 y/o, 7 lbs. Chinese Crested Hairless that was rescued from a backyard breeder. He spent the first 2 years of his life living in a 4'x4' wooden box with a lid and carpet over the top on a back porch in hot, humid Florida. He was thin and his skin was in terrible condition; he was covered with blackheads and flea bites. Despite everything he had been through he was quite friendly with people and other dogs. My friend had always wanted to have a Chinese Crested dog and this was our opportunity to adopt one; there was 8 to choose from at animal control and we decided on Zeus, he was the smallest, cutest and most importantly the friendliest of the bunch. Not to fear; the others were adopted out to families by LAAR and Crested Rescue. It was very apparent that this dog was like no other we had experienced and we decided he was a mixture of Dog, Cat, Monkey and Alien. I immediately fell in love with this quirky, peculiar, naked little dog and he fell in love with me and is now my little Velcro baby. I have spent the last few months clearing up his skin, feeding him good quality food and even took him to basic obedience class. His confidence is growing every day, his skin is markedly improved and he's growing hair on his ears. He loves to chase balls and run around the house frantically squeaking his toys and occasionally tormenting the cats. We aspire to learn agility together and maybe even compete if we do well. He makes dog #8 in our home, but I can't imagine not having him with us.

Macenzie

Macenzie Aka: Baby Mac is a sweet fur angel; the kind that breaks your heart then steals your heart as soon as you lay hands on her. She was part of a puppy mill confiscation. She is approximately 2 years old and weighs a slight 5 lbs. Her ribs, spine and sternum are visible through her fur. Despite the terrible conditions she lived in she is playful, gentle and trusting. She loves to be snuggled and kissed but can run and play with the best of them in the yard. She found her forever home with a very nice family who has 2 large cats and a shy chi/min pin brother who has also seen his share of tough times. She bonded immediately with her new Dad and was not afraid to introduce herself the very large cat. She seemed content and comfortable in her new home which makes it easier to give her up. I know she has found a family that will love and nurture her forever.

Moe the Stud

Moe was a stud from the puppy mill confiscation. He was bright, alert and knew what a stud he was. He had a wonderful confidence about him, unlike most of the dogs from that group. He was skittish around people but was adjusting quickly. He found his forever home with a young lady who had confidence and energy to match his. She spent most of the day contemplating and planning for her new best friend. Even though she was young she was ready to make a life time commitment to Moe. At last report he was doing well. He was getting along great with his new pal a Yorkie. He got to go shopping for a new collar and leash that he was learning to use and a new bed. He is a lucky boy who will have a lifetime companion to spend lots of time and energy with him.

Marty

Marty was part of a large puppy mill confiscation. There were over 130 dogs kept in crates on a porch with only tarps for shade. Marty did not not have a single tooth in his head, but he was one of the few dogs who did not have heart worm. He was an old gentleman who was used for breeding. He was very frightened to be around people but tolerated being held for short periods. We only had him one night before he found his forever home with a spunky older women who had plenty of time to spend with Marty. He finally has a home where he will be loved and pampered for the first time in his life.

Chi the Italian Greyhound

Chi was not a chi he was an Italian Greyhound. He towered over to Gaggle. He was a 5 years old, shy but very sweet boy. He was dumped at Animal Control, probably because he was positive for heart worm. He was underweight and flea bitten. He took a liking to Agatha our 4lb chihuahua and often shared her bed when she allowed it. He was very playful and walked very well on a leash. He found his new home in Gainesville with, a new pal, a whippet named Diamond. He was very bashful when his new father came to meet him but slept peacefully on his long ride home. His new Dad reported that he was doing great and was the King of the dog park. He loves to run and play with any dog that is willing.

Sparky aka Napoleon

Sparky is a Papillon. He was only 2 years old with no health problems. He was taken to animal control and left there. His prior owners claimed their child was allergic to the dog. When we rescued Sparky he was totally flea infested. The poor little guy had nests of nats buried in his fur. So the child probably wasn't allergic to the dog it was probably being bitten by the fleas. When we brought him home he got a nice warm bath and then met the Gaggle. He fit right in. He is a high energy little guy who loves to jump. He was a little shy at first but warmed up very quickly. We only had him a few days before he made his way to our weekly adoption event. As soon as we got him there several people were anxious to see him. He found himself a good home with a young lady who had great plans of spoiling him rotten. She reported that in his first week at his new home he went to the groomers for a bath, went shopping for treats and toy, met several new playmates and even went to the dog park a few times. I think he finally has the life he deserves. They renamed him Napoleon to reflect his french heritage. But to me he will always be my beautiful butterfly boy.

The Poodles

What can I say; poodles are crazy. Gabby and Isabella are 4 year old litter mates that were an owner surrender due to illness. Gabby weighed in at a whopping 3 1/2 lbs. while Isabelle was a tall and lanky 5 1/2 lbs. They were sweet lovable bundles of energy that never quit. They had separation anxiety and would bounce and squeal wildly for 1/2 hour every time we returned home. When we got them they were overgrown balls of curls, but after having them groomed they looked like different dogs; they actually looked like poodles. We only had them a few days when we got an inquiry from the "poodle people." They had formerly worked with a poodle rescue and had 2 older males from their rescue days. They were so excited when they found the girls on petfinder. We met them a few days later and knew instantly that this was a perfect match. I've never seen a grown adult so excited about getting a new dog(or two). Their new Mom sprang off the bench to see them the moment we arrived at the adoption center. At last report the girls have taken over the place and continue to bounce and squeal when they get excited. I guess it's a poodle thing. Let's hear it for the "poodle people" !

Izzy

Izzy is a 5 year old. 9 lbs mini dachshund. He is a red smooth coat boy that was found wandering the streets with no tag or chip. He is a very social boy who gets along well with everyone he meets, including dogs, cats and people. He spent the week with Grandma and Papa, where he played with their 2 chi dogs and met several neighbors. He found a good home quickly with 5 new playmates, 2 are Lost Angel alumni. His new parents are known for pampering their pooches so we are sure Izzy is enjoying his new life.

Kobi

Kobi is a 10 year old 6 lbs. chihuahua. He was left at the local kill shelter for no known reason.

He is a beautiful black and tan long hair chi boy with a white star on his chest. He was as sweet and docile as they come. He was missing most of his teeth and his tongue dangled from the side of his mouth but that didn't stop him giving kisses. He loved to be held and like a rag doll, he would stay in whatever position you put him in. He only stayed with us about a week before he found a permanent home with 3 other spoiled chi babies. His new mom is a very dedicated dog mom who lives for her fur babies, right down to upholstering the furniture in indoor- outdoor fabric for easy cleaning. At last report Kobi got a good bill of health from the vet except for poor vision. He went on to visit a doggy opthamologist who determined that Kobi has "old man eyes", but no cataracts. He is getting along very well with his new family as reported by his Mom. She is very good at keeping us updated on all his adventures.

Schultzy

What's not to love about a Pomeranian. Schultzy is a 3 year old pommy boy that had been dumped at Animal Control. He has the typical happy-go-lucky smile and attitude of a pommy. He wanted to please and was easily offended if he thought he wasn't the most loved dog ever. He got along well with the gaggle but was definitely the tallest kid in the crowd. He was the specimen of health, which is unusual for a rescue, except the fact he had no tail. No stub, nub or even a scar for that matter. He had been shaved down so he didn't look exactly like a typical pommy but that didn't stop him from being a real cutie pie. He stayed with us for almost 2 weeks before he found his permanent home. He was adopted by a couple that had just lost their older dog and wanted a companion for their lonely golden retriever named Casey. Schultzy was very nervous in the car and screeched and howled the entire 30 minute ride to his new home. Once we got there he ran around the house excitedly then dropped a little present for his new Mom. She wasn't one bit upset because she knew he was just nervous and excited. His new Mom and Dad renamed him Maximilian. He now has a beautiful yard and a large home with tile floors to call home. At last report he had taken over the place and he and Casey had become inseparable pals.

Peanut

Peanut was taken to Animal Control when his elderly owner had to be placed in a Nursing Home. He was a gentle, well mannered 11 year old boy that preferred to be alone. He loved to be petted and was very people friendly but was a little overwhelmed with the gaggle. It was like making a little old man hang out with a bunch of noisy active teenagers. He was only with us a week when we found his perfect home. A retired single women who had recently lost her elderly chi dog. We drove to her home in a high rise apartment so they could meet. It was love at first sight for both of them. He sat quietly in her scooter basket as we made our way up the elevator to her apartment. Once inside, Peanut sniffed around a few minutes a found a perfect spot to lay. It was the small hearth rug where her previous dog had laid. It brought tears to his new Mom's eyes. We know we had found a perfect match. We frequently get reports of people spotting him riding around on his scooter at a local Pier and playing in the Park.

Max and Red Baron

Max and Red Baron were our first successful foster babies. They are long hair chihuahua brothers that had been living at Animal Control for about 8 months awaiting the outcome of the cruelty charges against there previous owner. They were about 3 years old and scared to death when we got them. They were both skittish and wouldn't come to us when we first brought them home. It took a few days to gain their trust, but they seemed comfortable with the Gaggle. We only had them a short week before they got adopted by a couple that had just lost their 18 year old chi dog which had left them with one lonely 14 year old chi baby. Besides their chi dog they had several Rescue birds. We met them at a local pet store along with our rescue coordinator, despite the fact Red Baron marked the coordinator's shoe several times, they loved our boys and took them home with them. At last report the 3 chi boys were getting along great and doing much better with the marking problem.

Our Sweet Betsy

Should she stay or should she go? Poor Betsy. Luck is definitely not on her side. She was found running the streets with a rope tied around her neck. The women who found her took her to Animal Control to see if they could locate her owner. While at Animal Control they discovered she was heart worm positive, and if that wasn't bad enough, she was exposed to distemper. She had to go to the vet to be quarantined for 3 weeks and was treated for heart worm. Her finder had expressed interest in keeping her but was wavering day to day. As it ended up the finder took Betsy home for 1 day then returned her, claiming she had bit her child. Which I find highly unlikely given Betsy's meek and mild demeanor. But the good new is the finder did pay for Betsy's heart worm treatment. We took Betsy in to our home, but had to take her back to the vet for her final treatment. We insisted on getting her home before Christmas. She is such a gentle loving soul. She always has a sad expression on her face but always greets us with a dance and a smile. When we take her to the adoption site on Saturday mornings she gets very nervous and shakes like a chi dog, it's quite sad. She almost got adopted once but the women thought she was too sad and called us to come get her after 1 hour. She gets along great with the gaggle, even though they ignore her most of the time. On cool nights you can catch her and Agatha curled up together on a blanket. She is the hostess of the welcoming committee and is always there to gently welcome new fosters into our home. She is truly an Angel with Fur. It will take a very special person to adopt our Betsy. She deserves nothing but the best. We will probably keep her................alright already we're gonna keep her! Welcome to the Gaggle.

Our Dearest Dobie

How is it that a dog can touch our hearts so dearly in such a short time? Dobie was rescued from a kill shelter with the disadvantage of being totally blind but what wasn't apparent was the fact he was also suffering from heart failure and kidney failure and some bladder control issues. We took Dobie in as a foster knowing he would probably never be adopted due to his multiple health problems. We loved him from the minute he set his furry toes in our home. He was thought to be a Dandi Dinmont terrier and had the hairdo to prove it, he had wavy reddish brown fur and the hair on his head stood straight up in spikes. He was very frightened and distant at first until he got more comfortable with us and his environment. It took about a week to get my first kiss and nuzzle. His favorite thing was,"rubba-rubba." He would flop on the cool terrazzo floor and grunt to get my attention, which meant he was ready to get a full body rub down, he would wiggle and grunt while I rubbed him all over saying,"rubba-rubba," and of course he would give me kisses when I was done. He also liked being outside in the yard, he would hold is head high and walk around freely since he didn't have to worry about running into so many things. He was a bit of a loner when it came to socializing with the gaggle but he liked to tease Agatha by getting on her bed even though she would snipe at him. He was really starting to seem relaxed and comfortable. Things seemed to be going well with him until one Sunday evening he seemed a little more tired than usual, he had eaten a good dinner then went to lay in the hallway where was cool and quiet. The next morning he was very lethargic, could barely stand and his breathing was shallow. He let me cradle him in my arms as he struggled to breathe, he didn't usually like to held tightly but that morning was different, he needed to be loved and held. We took him to the Vet's office knowing what the outcome would be. My brain knew that there wasn't much we could do to fix his failing body but my heart didn't want to let our sweet Dobie go. He continued to get weaker as we agonized over our decision. We had to let him go, go to a place where he wouldn't struggle to breathe and wouldn't struggle to find his way around in the darkness. He had found his way into our hearts and I hope we gave him as much joy and happiness as he has given us. May he frolic in lightness and know how much he is loved as he crosses over the Rainbow Bridge.

The Big Dogs

Larry and Rocky

We have 2 "big" dogs. Larry is 10 years old, the old man of our gang. He is a extra large standard long hair dachshund. He has the nickname of, "Lazy Larry," because he does everything in,"Larry time," which is slow, slower or stop. He is red w/ black ticking and weighs a little more than he should. He is currently on a green bean diet which seems to be helping. He's a bit of a loner and seems to be indifferent to the gaggle. He loves a good belly rub and loves his microfiber bed.

The other big boy is Rocky. He is a Pit bull/ dachshund mix, which means he's a pit bull with short man syndrome. We call him our,"Pit/Weeny,". His goal is world domination of all dogs. He is an alpha male who gets along great with other dogs as long as they are shorter than he, so he does pretty well with the gaggle; especially Chico who is his best buddy. He also loves Tia, because their personalities are just alike. He loves people and want to give hugs and kisses which can seem intimidating if you don't know what he's doing. He stands in your lap with his paws on your shoulders and presses his head against your face. He's very sweet and takes very good care of his gaggle, but he can get a little bossy at times.

We love our big boys and are lucky they tolerate our foster babies pretty well.

The Gaggle

The Gaggle

What's not to love about a gaggle of chihuahuas? I once read that chihuahuas are, " clannish". It is so true; they prefer to hang around with other chi dogs and tend to take their good ole time welcoming the non- chi dogs. They are also nesting creatures so you have to hold on to your blanket so it does not become a giant nest of chi dogs. But nothing is better than relaxing in a recliner covered with chi babies; so who needs a blanket. I currently own 3 full chihuahuas and 1 schipperke/chi mix and I love them all.

My 1st chi is Chico, who is 31/2 years old and weighs 7 1/2 lbs, I got him from a BYB ( I know now the error of my ways), he is a blue and fawn with beautiful silver eyes and giant Yoda ears that rotate on his head like a sugarglider. He is a clingy boy who loves other dogs but is extremely nervous around people. He is a heat seeking chi that can usually be found tucked against one of his people or his best friend Rocky, his Pit/Weeny brother, whom he wants to be like when he grows up. He enjoys going on outings as long as he can stay in is bag or wear his, "super hero," doggles so no one can see him. He love to wear t-shirts and sweatshirts to keep him warm and fashionable but pants and shoes are out of the question. He will aways be special to me since he was my first chi baby.

My 2nd chi is my schipperke/ chihuahua mix, she is around 2 1/2 and also weighs 7 1/2 lbs. Her name is Tia which means princess, but she is not very girlie. She is small like a chi but her personality is all schipperke. She is my little watchdog. She barks and grumbles at everyone and everything. She loves her toys and will challenge anyone who tries to take them. She is a perfect match for Rocky, They are both bossy and want to be in charge. She is not physically aggressive and backs down quickly if anyone challenges back; she's just loud. She loves her people and can be a very lovey, snuggley girl when she isn't trying to conquer the world. She is my 1st rescue dog. We were looking to get a Chinese crested and ended up with the hairiest chi dog we could find. Sometimes the heart overrides the mind.

My 3rd chi baby is a 3 1/2 year old, 7 1/2 lb(was10 lb) girl named Rollie. The first thing we did was rename her Sophie. She is definitely a girlie girl. She very a plain chi with short red hair and a stocky build but she has the most beautiful, expressive brown eyes. She loves to get primped and dressed up. When she has dress on she prances around like a super model. She is also a rescue that no one wanted to adopt. She is a little neurotic and tends to spin in circles when she get excited or nervous. She just wants to be loved and doted on, is that too much to ask?

Last but not least is my Agatha. She was my first attempt to foster but I failed miserably. I fell totally in love with her from the first day I had her. She is a very old little lady, weighing in at a whopping 4 lbs. She has cataracts, arthritis, age spots, thinning coat, 4 teeth left and is hard of hearing. What's not to love? She is a spunky old girl who lets all the other chi dogs know she is the Matriarch of the gaggle.