Tickled Pink

Andy Warhol had the famous quote about everyone getting their 15 minutes of fame. This week, our pink Chihuahua puppy got that and then some. 

Most of the details surrounding the story were routine, sadly.  A Good Samaritan called to tell us she found a stray, Chihuahua puppy in East Palo Alto.  If you drive there now and hang out a bit, you would have a good chance of seeing a wandering Chihuahua.  We get many from that area and our shelter is filled with Chihuahuas – from all parts of San Mateo County – found stray or dumped by owners either no longer able or willing to care for them.

But, this stray had a few wrinkles.  The puppy was tiny, just two months old.  She was not using her back leg, which indicated some kind of injury. And, she was dyed pink! We named her Candy, as in cotton candy.

Of course, this meant she would be of interest to media, so I did my thing and issued a news release (Pink “Mystery” Puppy Found in East Palo Alto -- Peninsula Humane Society Seeking Foster Parent or Adopter).  Instant media darling. 

And, from the coverage, a deluge of calls from interested adopters. More than 100 by the end of the work day, before the news even aired on all stations or made the morning papers. As you might expect, we found a new permanent home for Candy in no time.  A fantastic home.

It never fails.  If we are involved in a high-profile cat hoarding case, people want those cats.  Not the many others awaiting adoption, but the bedraggled ones they read about or saw on tv.  I suppose it’s human nature; the public’s desire to do or be part of something special. I only wish we could make more people realize that every adoption is something special.  

As I type this, 26 Chihuahuas in our Center for Compassion on Rollins Road in Burlingame – each with his or her own story – are awaiting adoption and we’ve waived the fee.  Some are posted here. None are two months old, none have hairline fractures of tiny, still growing bones and none are dyed pink.  None need a line of potential adopters. Just one!  We’d be tickled pink if Candy’s story can help some of them find their forever homes.