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-- Dog Experts Say "Put Your Pet in a Leading Role:"
Research Breeds and Find a Responsible Breeder --
With the release of "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" the
American Kennel Club® (AKC®) reminds moviegoers about the importance
of making careful, educated decisions when considering adding a dog
to their home.
Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures "Beverly Hills Chihuahua,"
follows the story of "Chloe," a pampered Chihuahua from Beverly
Hills who finds herself accidentally lost in Mexico. Alone for the
first time, Chloe must rely on new friends to lend her a paw and
help her to find her way back home.
Like Chole’s friends, the AKC (www.puppybuyerinfo.org)
and the Chihuahua Club of America (www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com)
would like to lend moviegoers a paw in finding their way to a breed
that best fits their lifestyle. Both groups urge potential dog
owners to carefully research a breed when buying a puppy and to only
buy from reputable breeders.
"Chihuahuas are very delicate as puppies, and can be
inadvertently injured by being dropped, stepped on, or having a
small item fall on them," said Bruce Shirky, president, Chihuahua
Club of America. "For this reason, we recommend that families with
very small children perhaps consider a larger breed. The Chihuahua
Club of America hopes that anyone who becomes interested in owning a
Chihuahua as a result of seeing this movie will educate themselves
on responsible dog ownership and all that it entails."
People who see "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" may think about
owning a dog like "Chloe," said Lisa Peterson, AKC spokesperson.
"Chihuahuas are also known for longevity - so remember, before you
add a new member to your family, dog ownership can be a
15-to-20-year commitment for the life of your dog."
Regardless of breed, all dogs need to be properly identified.
While Chloe received assistance from her fury friends to get home,
most dogs are not so lucky. Make sure your dog can be permanently
identified with a microchip. Keep contact information current with
your recovery service provider, and enroll your pet in AKC’s
Companion Animal Recovery ID System www.akccar.org/microchip.
All animals are eligible for enrollment in AKC CAR regardless of
identification brand or type, microchip, tattoo or AKC CAR collar
tag. The AKC CAR database stores over 3.9 million enrollment records
and has been used to perform more than 340,000 recoveries.
People can help ensure that all Chihuahuas - and all dogs -- find
themselves in loving, life-long homes by consulting resources such
as The Chihuahua Club of America and the American Kennel Club.
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