Chihuahua crisis in Cali blamed on Hollywood

California has so many Chihuahuas, shelters have taken to shipping the dogs out of state! And experts pointing the finger at pop culture, with fans imitating Chihuahua-toting celebrities like Paris Hilton and Miley Cyrus, then abandoning the dogs.

Chihuahuas make up 30% of the dog populations at many California shelters – that means more than one in three pups is a Chihuahua!

Reasons for the excess include the breed's popularity in movies like "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and as celebrity pets, but many following Hollywood copycats don’t know that a cute puppy can grow up to have adult health problems, which bring high vet bills. Adult Chihuahuas can also become protective and aggressive. All these factors have let to record rates of abandonment. In Oakland, some days, they get 10 of the 5-pound dogs a day!