Chiquita Chihuahua Rescue

04/06/2026

Hoping everyone enjoyed their spring holidays, whether they celebrated Passover or Easter and were able to spend time with family and friends.

The precious souls in this photo have all crossed the Rainbow Bridge over the past 18 months—Apollo, Harley, and tiny Munchkin.
To help honor their memories, would you please consider providing assistance to pay off the Chiquita Chihuahua Rescue veterinary balances? Through a previous adopter's work-sponsored donation, I was able to reduce the Daisy Mountain Vet account balance by an additional $200 today.

The current outstanding balances are:

Daisy Mountain Vet: $1,790.00 (This is after today's payment of $200; DMV has been very gracious, as this balance is from care that was provided last year during 2024).

Desert Rose Animal Hospital: This balance is on my personal Care Credit and includes charges for the exams, labs, dental surgeries, and vaccinations for both Pips and Clover (Who was adopted in January; her adopters paid for her spay surgery and microchipping at Dr. Kelly's in lieu of an adoption fee since Yuma did not have any vet available at the shelter the week she was rescued):
$1,709.00 is on care credit.

*The total outstanding balance is $3,499.00. *

Donations can be sent via PayPal: [email protected].
Note that you can also sign up via PayPal to send recurring monthly donations.

Via telephone using debit or credit card for Daisy Mountain Vet: 623-551-8387.

Using Zelle: cell phone number (480-299-4349) or Zelle through Midfirst Bank where the CCR account is located (I can send a link).

I only have one surviving personal dog, Tika, who had urgent bladder surgery in February, and be assured that none of her medical or surgical fees are included in these balances.

Donations of any amount—nothing is too small—will be graciously appreciated and a donation receipt will be provided.

03/16/2026

Pips getting in on the fun during a work break !

03/16/2026

Playtime joy during one of my scheduled breaks from my remote hospice triage job!

02/12/2026

Please check out our Valentine’s Day fundraiser and share with your friends and family!!!

https://www.givinggrid.com/SeniorChwawa n

Click here for more information!

01/28/2026

Clover and Pips underwent dental surgeries on Monday, with Clover requiring the extraction of 6 baby teeth and 2 additional teeth with abnormally formed roots; Teeny tiny Pips had 19 extractions. Fortunately, both animals are recuperating well.

Having joined her new family just over a week ago, Clover, (Who came back for a bonus sleepover with the gang for transportation purposes prior to surgery), is doing great! Clover’s new sister, the uber-senior Queenie, is tolerating the exuberance exhibited by Clover as she plays with her new brother Hemi. It has been revealed that Clover has been hiding some of her sibling’s toys in her new Dad’s laundry basket . LOL

Due to the complexity of some of Pips' extractions, which required sutures, her recovery period will be slightly longer; However, it is a considerable relief that she experienced no complications from the surgery or anesthesia, particularly given her weight of less than 3.5 pounds and mild hydrocephalus.
Both Clover and Pips received meticulous monitoring during their procedures and exceptional care from the staff at Desert Rose Animal Hospital, a practice I highly recommend, especially considering their affordable monthly care plans that include unlimited visits and surgery discounts. Ashley Casida DVM owns the practice and is awesome. Her reputation for skillful and empathic care has spread so much thoughout our community and beyond, that after being open only 6 months, the demand for care has required a 2nd vet to join the practice. The addition is a very experienced vet, who was a previous colleague of Ashley’s, and has similar philosophy of practice.

As I move forward, my immediate financial priority is addressing the outstanding balance at Daisy Mountain Vet, which currently stands at $2800; Any donation toward reducing this amount would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be made by phoning 623-551-8387 on weekdays, ensuring that the staff is informed that the donation is specifically for Chiquita Chihuahua Rescue.

I have personally covered the $1,700 for the dental surgeries via Care Credit, with an 18-month, interest free payment plan. while I continue to work, I am confident in my ability to settle this balance over time. Additionally, I have been absorbing most of the costs for supplies and food; a small group of regular donors provide support through monthly PayPal donations, which has been helping with daily needs for the dogs.

For those wishing to contribute, one-time or monthly donations can be made via PayPal using the link [email protected]. At this time, all of the PayPal donations will be directed to the Daisy Mountain Vet account balance, with the goal of closing that account.

Thanks in advance for following CCR and your support!

01/08/2026

Clover arrived on the Yuma transport van on January 2nd. She is super sweet, calm and has displayed a playful disposition. Her appetite has improved and she has gained 1/2 pound in the past 5 days. The humane society estimated she was 4-5 years old, however she is most likely 2 years old, and appears to be a chiweenie. The shelter did not have a vet last week, so she got her rabies vaccine at Daisy Mountain Vet on her way home from the van, and was spayed and microchipped today at a Dr. Kelly’s Surgical location. She has multiple baby teeth that have erupted, but have remained in situ. These have piggy backed over her adult teeth. Who would have thought that a young little lady would need a big dental surgery?! CCR will be obtaining additional dental estimates but Dr. Kelly’s was $600-$800.
Lucky little Clover has a previous CCR x 2 family waiting to meet her after she recovers. Their precious uber-senior, Mister Smalls, passed away recently. Senior Queenie, also a Yuma alumni, lives in their home. We are all hoping that Queenie will approve of getting a new sister!
Welcome to your new life and many years of love and happiness Clover!

Donations can be sent via Zelle, PayPal ([email protected]), or to help pay off the balance at Daisy Mountain Vet that is now just under $3000 by calling: 623-551-8387 and specify you are donating to the Chiquita Chihuahua Rescue Account. (The office is open Monday- Friday).

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! The CCR crew had a very quiet New Years Eve, compared to this party crew. However, thanks to the idiots that set off huge fireworks all over our Anthem neighborhood, it was nerve wracking for several of the dogs. Tell me again why aren’t they illegal?!?!
Regardless, wishing all of our friends and supporters a healthy, stress free and exciting year ahead for 2026.

12/22/2025

With Christmas around the corner, CCR is asking our fans to help clear the balance on the Daisy Mountain Vet Hospital account. Brother Bear is there today for some routine care. The balance is just under $2,400. Any assistance would be appreciated.
Current updates:
Pips is having a consult Wednesday with Arizona Veterinary Dental Specialists, due to her tiny size, unusual anatomy and history of aspiration pneumonia. They were highly recommended from another rescue (Mini Mighty Mutts) and they will recommend the necessary precautions so she can safely have her much delayed dental in January. (She had pneumonia when it was previously scheduled in September that required 3 courses of treatment).
Meredith, who had the sudden onset of severe weakness in her hind leg is continuing to improve and has become much happier as her mobility has progressed.
Everyone else is healthy and happy. (Well, honestly, Zazu has become a grumpy old man!)

Donations can be phoned directly to Daisy Mountain Veterinary Hospital @
623-551-8387. They assist a couple of other rescues, so be sure to specify your donation is directed to the Chiquita Chihuahua Rescue account.
Another option is to use PayPal:
[email protected]
If you would like to use Zelle, please PM me.

Thanks in advance for any support each of you can provide, with the goal to have a $0 balance by next week. Donation receipts for your tax returns will be provided.

Pips, myself and the remainder of the CCR crew wish you and your friends and family the very best for the holiday season and beyond through 2026!

11/18/2025

One year ago today, Munchkin, one of the sweetest rescue dogs ever, took flight to the Rainbow Bridge. She was found as a stray in Glendale and was malnourished. With TLC and great nutrition, she bloomed into a little bundle of personality. She flew to California with me a few times and frequently went for car rides. She was everyone’s favorite when visiting the dogs here at CCR.
Her loss was sudden and unexpected, and she is still greatly missed each and every day- Especially by my personal dog Tika, who treated Munchkie like her little baby.
The first couple of photos were taken during her ride to CCR from the kindhearted women’s home who found her and kept her safe while trying to find her owners. (She was found late at night, and was likely dumped in the locked and fenced in pool area of the apartment complex).

11/15/2025

***UPDATE in comments***
Meredith began to exhibit severe pain overnight, with the slightest touch, even on her torso. Previous to this she was still dragging and intermittently putting a little weight on her right rear leg, but was completely pain free. This morning, Meredith was huddled against the wall under the TV credenza. Daisy Mountain Vet is closed on the weekends, and the Pet Urgent Care on Cave Creek Road that is great, has no vet in the office until Monday. So here we are at Blue Pearl Emergency Hospital in North Scottsdale. It’s worth the extra drive to get here because I have always had a better experience here than other valley Vet ERs. Now that she is nervous, (Beyond her baseline standard), and has tons of adrenaline coursing through her veins, Meredith was not screaming in pain when initially assessed by the vet tech. I had to call out for my regular shift today for work, and also lost 4 extra hours of work with an abundant hourly bonus. AND because today’s call out is in the same pay period as last week, when I also worked extra hours, I will lose THAT big hourly bonus as well. Yikes. Regardless, this visit could not be avoided so here we are and I will post an update later when we get home.
Donations to help cover this ER visit can be sent to The rescue’s PayPal account:
[email protected]
Or
To help cover the $3000 balance due at Daisy Mountain Vet: Monday - Friday, donations can be phoned in:
623-551-8387
Thanks

11/11/2025

Meredith’s physical exam and X-rays revealed no bony deformities, spine intact and no masses. No sign of insect or other type of bite that could cause lameness. So, the next presumptive diagnosis would be valley fever, which I guess can be present and then just have a sudden onset of unilateral musculoskeletal symptoms. So we sent VF labs and are starting treatment presumptively with Fluconazole pending results.
On the way home, Meredith enjoyed her first Starbucks pup cup and is slowly figuring out how to get around with her (Hopefully temporary) gimpy leg. I will put an image of one of her XRays in the comments. Unless some spontaneous /miraculous recovery happens in the next day or so, I will post again when we get the lab results.
The CCR balance at Daisy Mountain Vet after today’s’ visit is likely in the neighborhood of $3000, so donations of any size would be greatly appreciated. Their phone number is:
623-551-8387;
Open Mon-Fri 7:30 AM - 6:00PM.

11/10/2025

Meredith had a sudden onset last night of being lame in her right rear leg. During one of my scheduled breaks from work, I noticed she was dragging her right rear leg behind her. Her paw was turned downward as well. I examined her entire leg, and all of the joints felt normal, nothing displaced, no clicking and no pain elicited with movement. Thought maybe I could be lucky and something was stuck in her paw- Nope. She’s also had a couple of urine accidents, but that could be her nervous disposition in light of these events. (She kept her bed dry all night so I don’t think the incontinence is neurological). She ate dinner last night and although she showed no outward signs of pain, I did give her a dose of an antiinflammatory last night.
Meredith is the super shy dog that came from the Humane Society of Yuma about 3 years ago- Her previous owner was going on hospice and her dogs needed placement. Meredith was also pregnant when she arrived at the shelter. She loves to play fetch and squeak plush toys. She had 2 failed adoption attempts since coming into rescue, by just being her quirky self- And after a few days in both trial homes- she was returned. Sounds like a CCR lifer.
We were able to get into a cancelled appointment at Daisy Mountain Vet, to avoid a huge emergency vet bill. Her exam was done and X-rays are being completed now. Stay tuned for updates.