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HomeHeroesSenior Chihuahuas Make Miraculous Recoveries After Adoptions

Senior Chihuahuas Make Miraculous Recoveries After Adoptions

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A nine-year-old dog with alopecia. A 16-year-old senior Chihuahua surrendered to a shelter. A senior Chihuahua found in an alleyway barely breathing. All three dogs are Chihuahuas. All three had a low chance of being rescued — or even saved.

Now, thanks to the kindness and love of their new pet parents, these three harrowing stories have become miraculous tales. 

These stories are a testament to the strength and resilience of senior Chihuahuas.

These miraculous recoveries highlight the resilience of senior Chihuahuas in need of loving homes. Chihuahuas like Hazel and Bam Bam show us the impact of love and care.

One Senior Chihuahua, 56 Pomeranians

Hazel the senior Chihuahua.
Hazel the senior Chihuahua has an amazing story. Source: lil.witch.hazel/Instagram

Hazel was a nine-year-old Chihuahua with severe skin issues and alopecia when she was brought to a Pomeranian rescue in California. Hazel’s rescue began when more than 50 Pomeranians and a senior Chihuahua were being saved from a hoarding situation.

During this operation by the California rescue, a neighbor of the hoarder chose to surrender her Chihuahua, as well. Thus, Hazel was brought to the Pomeranian rescue, one Chihuahua among 56 Pomeranians.

Hazel was in bad condition when she first met her future pet parent, Charisma. A college student and rescue volunteer, Charisma immediately fell in love with Hazel — even though the senior Chihuahua had missing fur, severe skin infections, and various bite marks.

Senior Chihuahuas like Hazel often struggle to find families willing to adopt them.

The senior dog was worse for wear. In many circumstances, Hazel would have had a hard time being adopted. She was a senior dog, with very serious health issues, and a Chihuahua. Unfortunately, Chihuahuas are often surrendered to rescues. They aren’t frequently adopted, especially when compared to other dog breeds.

But Charisma instantly knew that Hazel would come home with her. It wasn’t always easy for Charisma or Hazel. “She was very, very nervous to be touched,” Charisma told The Animal Rescue Site. “She would kind of cower away a little bit. She just was not very trusting at all. She was very overwhelmed by that point.”

Though the elderly Chihuahua was very scared of her new home at first, she’s since come around. 

Slowly, Hazel’s severe skin conditions also used to get better. However, as the pup has color-dilution alopecia (CDA), her body will never fully have fur. Regardless, Hazel’s health and skin have greatly improved now that she has found her forever home. Charisma explained that she has seen her senior dog do “a complete 180” since adopting her.

 “She’s seriously a little fighter, considering how she was when we brought her home versus now,” Charisma said. “She’s just awesome.”

Abandoned by a Family After 16 Years

a dog wearing a blue shirt. Bam Bam a senior Chihuahuas story.
Bam Bam’s amazing tale. Source: saraheliztrav/TikTok

In 2024, Bam Bam, a 16-year-old senior Chihuahua, was surrendered to an animal shelter. The senior Chihuahua had lived all of his life with his family. However, seemingly overnight, his entire world changed.

Bam Bam’s family allegedly gave him up because they didn’t have the time to take care of him anymore. The senior Chihuahua also had some health issues, including a small mass on his side. Heart issues and dental disease were also found. 

As a result of Bam Bam’s age and health condition, the animal shelter unfortunately thought that the poor senior Chihuahua wouldn’t be adopted anytime soon.

This is a common fate for many senior Chihuahuas, who often face uncertainty in shelters.

That’s when Sarah Travers came to the Chihuahua’s rescue. Travers has made it her mission to adopt senior dogs for the past five years. So, when her friend called her about Bam Bam, she instantly went down to meet the pup.

More people need to understand the value of adopting senior Chihuahuas like Bam Bam.

After posting about saving Bam Bam — who she now calls Louie Bam Bam — on TikTok, Travers’ story went viral. In one popular video, Travers wrote from the Chihuahua’s point of view, writing, “pov: you were left at the shelter by the only family you’ve ever known for 16 years and you get adopted by a girl in her 20s who is obsessed with senior dogs.”

Travers told Newsweek that she wants to continue to help senior dogs. By showering them with medical care and love, she hopes to give them a “peaceful final journey.”

Now, Bam Bam is living his best life. In Travers’ viral video, the Chihuahua is seen happily jumping up and down, chowing down on a pup cup in the car, and wagging his tail in his new home. 

A Chihuahua at Death’s Door

a dog in a blanket
Before & after of Mary Katherine. Source: handoverrover/Instagram

When Handover Rover founder Koco Garcia first saw the elderly Mary Katherine, the poor Chihuahua was barely breathing. It was clear she didn’t have long to live. However, Garcia refused to give up on the senior dog. This resilience ultimately led to a miracle.

In a post on Instagram, Garcia explained how she was in the lobby of a shelter when she first saw Mary Katherine. Kind people discovered the dog in an alleyway and quickly took her to the shelter. The dog was breathing erratically and clearly needed medical attention.

Garcia runs a rescue, so she happily stepped in to help the Chihuahua. After rushing Mary Katherine to the vet, she was shocked to learn that she had a severely collapsed trachea.

There were also many signs that the elderly dog had been neglected for years. Because of her severe condition, Garcia didn’t know what would happen to Mary Katherine. Things were so bad that Garcia stated she would help the Chihuahua pass peacefully, if there was no other option to save her.

Miraculously, Mary Katherine, another senior Chihuahua, slowly started to get better. Now, the Chihuahua is happier, healthier, and continuing to make a long recovery to full health.

In an Instagram post, Garcia wrote, “Mary Katherine has suffered years of neglect, and while I’m not going to try and undo everything she’s never had, we are certainly going to give her all we have for the time she has left. However long that may be.” 

Since her rescue at the end of 2024, Mary Katherine has continued to thrive. The little Chihuahua even has fashion shows for her many new fans on Instagram! 

Saving Senior Chihuahuas

When considering adoption, remember the importance of senior Chihuahuas and the joy they can bring.

All Chihuahua owners know that the little dogs get a bad rap. Unfortunately, a stigma around Chihuahuas remains throughout much of the country. This has led to Chihuahuas being surrendered to shelters and rescues often. 

This has also resulted in Chihuahuas not being adopted as quickly as other dog breeds. And senior Chihuahuas? Many people simply won’t take the chance on them.

However, senior Chihuahuas need love and a forever home just as much as puppies do. These three remarkable stories prove this.

To read more feel-good stories like these, all about Chihuahuas, make sure to subscribe to The Chi Society.

Julia Mehalko
Julia Mehalko
Julia is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Growing up, she had two Chihuahua/Daschund/Jack Russell mixes that she adored. Thanks to these two loyal yet sassy dogs, Julia has a soft spot in her heart for all Chihuahua pups!
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