Tiny chihuahuas survive Hemet house fire — now they need a forever home

More than 60 dogs — many of them tiny Chihuahuas — survived a house fire in eastern Hemet this week. Now they’re looking for new homes as local shelters buckle under the sudden influx of pups.

The fire broke out around 1 p.m. Thursday at a home on the 43100 block of Merriwood Drive, Riverside County fire officials told Patch. The cause of the blaze is still unknown.

Firefighters rushed into the smoke-filled home and pulled dozens of animals — cats and dogs — from the structure, officials said.

Animal control crews later rounded up 60 surviving dogs and transported them to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, where they’re now waiting for someone to take them in.

But there’s a problem: The shelter is already packed.

Officials say the campus is now running at a staggering 300% overcapacity after the dogs arrived.

“This type of large-scale rescue requires all of our teams to jump into action,” said Animal Services Field Commander Lesley Huennekens. “Now we need the public’s help to give these dogs a home.”

Across the county system, more than 1,000 dogs are currently in shelters, and space is running out fast.

To move animals out quickly, officials have waived all adoption fees through March. The deal includes spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, a microchip and an engraved ID tag.

The shelter system is struggling to keep up with the steady flow of animals. In January alone, 1,694 dogs came in, while only 1,237 left through adoption, owner reunions, or rescue transfers.

Residents can walk into shelters without an appointment to adopt or foster.

Meanwhile, questions remain about the home where the fire broke out.

According to the Riverside County Planning Department, most properties in East Hemet are allowed just one to four dogs without a kennel permit — or up to 25 with a special permit.

It’s unclear whether the homeowner had one and authorities have not said whether any citations will be issued.

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