Many people choose to get small dogs because they think they are really cute and often use them for breeding and selling.
But even though these tiny pups are really charming, they can be quite fragile and not very healthy.
The hero of today’s story, a woman named Claire Stock, was also very aware of the problems these tiny dogs often face, especially those that are bred for profit.
When she saw a picture of a puppy named Brie online, she immediately sensed something was wrong. The photo showed Brie as a scared and undernourished little dog, and Claire felt a strong urge to help her.
What she didn’t know at that moment was how serious Brie’s situation really was. This tiny chihuahua had been bred many times, and she seemed like she was living her last days. She was very thin, her fur was tangled, and her eyes were filled with fear.
Luckily, the little dog was available for adoption, and Claire quickly decided to reach out to the rescue group that had shared the picture.
Not long after, Claire embarked on a 600-mile journey to pick up Brie. When she got there, Brie was shaking and holding onto her dear life. As Claire shared in an interview:
“When I saw her, I was shocked. She was emaciated and shivering badly. I wondered for a second: could I really help her? She looked so miserable, and it was very heartbreaking.”
The shelter staff informed Claire that Brie had scars on her legs and her ears were covered in scabs.
She had been constantly used for breeding tiny chow-chows and she actually had two litters. Her small body had gone through way more than it should have.
It was clear she was underfed and probably didn’t get enough food while living with her previous owners.
Plus, she had spent most of her life in the dark, which made it hard for her eyes to adjust to bright light. But when Claire finally rescued her, Brie refused to let go of her. Claire added:
“When I opened the carrier door, she immediately jumped out and climbed into my arms, burying her head in my neck. I was stunned and just sat there, enjoying the feeling of her small breaths on my neck. She fell asleep, and we all soon dozed off in the back seat of the car.”
When Brie arrived at her new home, she met Claire’s other dogs: Boo, Wilde, Dexter, and Whisper.
They quickly became best friends, and Whisper took Brie under her wing like she was her own puppy. Brie followed Whisper everywhere, and Whisper even let her eat from her bowl.
However, just a month after Brie got there, Whisper went through a phantom pregnancy, probably because of some hormonal changes.
She even tried to nurse Brie, which was such a sweet moment that showed how close they had become.
As time went on, the love and care Brie received helped her personality shine. She became a playful and loving companion, often doing silly things like grabbing her ears with her paws and making funny noises like a chimpanzee.
Although Brie still had some health issues from her tough past, she was so happy in her new home that they didn’t bother her much anymore, as Claire mentioned:
“She acts like a young puppy, walks around the house, plays with toys, runs and scatters socks. How she survived two pregnancies, cold, hunger and fear, I have no idea. She’s much stronger than me, that’s for sure, and that’s inspiring.”
Luckily, Brie was one of the luckiest chihuahuas who escaped these terrible conditions, and she became stronger because of the love and care from Claire and her new dog siblings.
I just love that for her, and I can’t express how grateful I am for people like Claire!