No Chihuahua Left Behind

Virgin America (the airline on which you can watch Boing Boing Video on a dedicated in-flight TV channel) tomorrow launches "Operation Chihuahua." Mr. Maximus, shown here, is one of the spokesdogs. "With the massive overpopulation of Chihuahuas in California we have partnered with the SF ACC, ASPCA and SFO to fly some needy pups to loving new adoptive homes on the East Coast," says a human at the airline. Moar info, and full-size pic.

• [MrsBug]

  Am I reading a ChiaLOL with an Eddie Murphy as Buckwheat reference? Now there’s an internet mash-up!

• [Susan]

  This is a rlly good idea!!! All animals deserve a rlly good home!!! :)

• [danwarning]

  I suggest giving them jobs in NYC as messengers. Because watching them weave in and out of pedestrians with a little package on their backs and a look of determination on their darling little faces would be the cutest thing I can imagine right now. And imagine how they would look if they all leaf HQ at the same time…

• [Beverly Stayart]

  “Operation Chihuahua” will undoubtedly save many potentially homeless chihuahuas. Our neighbor had a chihuahua named Hercules. Chihuahuas are cute, intelligent and loyal dogs.

• [Anonymous]

  Chihuahuas can’t generate enough body heat to stay warm in California, how are they going to survive in Maine or upstate New York?

  • [Anonymous]

    My Chihuahuas are doing just fine, thankyouverymuch, in snowy, sub-freezing upstate New York. They’re even housetrained and go outside several times a day.

    And, to warreno, they’re not yappy, snappy or mean. They’re actually very even tempered, delightful small dogs. They walk on leashes, and unlike the Hollywood stereotype, do not get carried around or dressed up in silly clothes.

• [nanuq]

  Does Taco Bell know? I hear they’re hiring.

  http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20293002,00.html

• [Antijoe]

  I’m always surprised by how well Americans treat animals, and how poorly they treat each other.

  How’s that health care coming?

  • [phisrow]

    Hey, dogs are cuter. Plus, we have oppressed, underpaid, migrant slaughterhouse workers and professional athletes to handle the animal cruelty for us…

  • [Xeni Jardin]

    Yo quiero public option.

  • [GM]

    Hadn’t you heard? Congress just passed universal single-payer health care for iguanas and gerbils.

• [Anonymous]

  I actually emailed the shelter who’s coordinating this about 2 weeks ago about doing a back and forth run for them since I’m unemployed and they never got back to me. I might have better luck contacting Virgin directly.

  • [IamInnocent]

    @anon #3

    Keep yapping until your eyes almost fall off from your head: it will work. ;)

• [Ignatius]

  I help a few human oriented help organizations but donate more time and money to animal causes. I don’t see why wanting to assist non humans is seen as unfeeling or somehow treacherous.

  The same holds true with all species, you cannot save them all. As a misanthrope I prefer critters so they get more of my assistance.

• [celynnen]

  @Anon #3: I don’t know who you contacted, but I’m pretty sure they’re only allowing shelter volunteers to help with the back and forth runs for security and accountability reasons. IME, there’s only one over-worked person answering shelter emails and often requests to help from unofficial volunteers go unanswered. If you really want to help, go to your local shelter, sign up for orientation and go through the training – really even if you can only spare an hour a week, it’d make a huge difference in the life of an animal.

  @Anon #5: this was all funded by donations and non-profits associated with the shelters.

• [warreno]

  Chihuahuas are among the most worthless dogs in the universe. They’re hyper, yappy and can be quite mean. (They’re not as bad as dachshunds, but they’re still pretty bad.)

  The best use for the “surplus population” of chihuahuas is the crock-pot.

  • [Anonymous]

    You are an ignorant, useless idiot. I have 2 rescued Chihuahuas and they are the best dogs ever, sweet, well-behaved and loving. Jump in the post yourself, and for god’s sake, please don’t reproduce.

• [Shawn Wolfe]

  What’s the matter warreno? Are you not getting enough love?

• [Felton]

  Was WarrenO the villain in the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua? I haven’t seen it yet.

• [arkizzle / Moderator]

  We need to sort this out SOON!

  Or Else.

  (repost)

  • [Felton]

    Hahaha! As if an aggravated chihuahua needed to look any scarier.

    “When there’s no more room in the animal shelter, the chihuahuas will roam the earth.”