Sixteen Chihuahuas rescued Tuesday from Chicago Animal Care & Control by PAWS Chicago are looking for a home after a fire left their owner homeless.
The pups, named after cheeses and dubbed the "Cheese Family dogs" by PAWS, range in age from 8 weeks old to seniors. Five of them are puppies.
“We encourage fosters to take them in groups of two or three, as they are very scared and do better when they are together,” said Stacy Price, director of Animal Operations for PAWS. “It’s like they are bringing their security blanket with them.”
PAWS said the dogs were "trembling in fear" when they were picked up at Animal Control, but they have since shown to be social.
Many of the dogs suffer from hair loss due to Demodex mange, luxating patellas and heart murmurs, according to PAWS, and a few of the adult dogs were diagnosed with a birth defect that results in soft gaps in the skull.
They need foster care until they recover and find forever homes. They may have been exposed to canine flu at Animal Control, so PAWS suggests potential foster homes not house other dogs.
Those looking to foster any of the 16 pups, should go to PAWS Chicago's website to fill out a foster registration form.
For reference, the dogs were named Chevre, Limburger, Roquefort, Emmental, Havarti, Danish Blue, Mascarpone, Gorgonzola, Gruyere, Wensleydale, Gloucester, Gouda, Stilton, Celtic Gold, Cheshire and Edam.
A 9-month-old brown tabby cat named Figaro also was rescued by PAWS and is being treated at the Medical Center from some hair loss.
