“Chihuahuas de Mayo” a Huge Success

The promotion this year resulted in the alteration of 383 Chihuahuas in Santa Barbara County. In May 2012 and May 2013, the targeted “Chihuahuas de Mayo” program resulted in 750 altered animals.

Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes currently represent 30 percent of dogs living in area shelters. The “Chihuahuas de Mayo” program is directed at increasing the numbers of dogs that are spayed and neutered in the county and in turn help eliminate hundreds of unwanted dogs coming into our shelters each year.

The achievements are impressive and the result of the ongoing partnerships of the Responsible Pet Ownership Alliance which includes: Santa Barbara County Animal Services, Santa Maria Valley Humane Society, Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society, Santa Barbara Humane Society, C.A.R.E.4Paws, DAWG, VIVA, and the Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation. These animal welfare agencies, shelters and non-profit organizations work collaboratively to promote responsible pet ownership and ensure that affordable spay/neuter services are available countywide. Chihuahuas de Mayo 2013 was funded in part by a generous grant from the Petco Foundation.

Successful programs such as this one are the result of true collaboration and partnerships where each organization contributes to achieve the goal. Animal Services is pleased to have strong partners in our local community and the Responsible Pet Ownership Alliance plans on a similar program next year.