They Found a Chihuahua So Weak He Could Barely Stand — He’d Been Chained Outside for Months

From Chains to Cuddles: Chico the Chihuahua Finally Gets His Second Chance

Chico the Chihuahua’s story is one of pain — and redemption.

In 2024, Jake Roos and his team at PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) discovered the 3-year-old dog chained outside with a bungee cord around his neck, his tiny body covered in ticks. The team provided him with food, water, and medication, hoping to persuade his owners to bring him inside or surrender him. Sadly, they refused — and soon moved away, leaving Chico’s fate uncertain.

Months later, in a rural trailer park in North Carolina, Roos came across a heartbreaking sight: Chico again — this time chained to an old trampoline, tangled in a short tether, and painfully thin. Surrounded by other neglected dogs, Chico was severely malnourished, with ribs and hipbones visible beneath his fur.

“All he could do was curl up and sleep,” Roos recalled. “He was just exhausted and broken.”

After convincing the owner to surrender him, the PETA team rushed Chico to safety. Once vaccinated and placed in a foster home, the little Chihuahua was timid and scared, often trembling in fear. But slowly, with gentle care, he began to trust again — and even grew attached to a squeaky donut toy that became his favorite comfort.

In September, Chico’s journey finally came full circle. He was adopted by a kind retired woman who had lost her previous dog years earlier. Today, Chico spends his days wrapped in warm sweaters, playing with his toys, and enjoying cozy meals and bedtime snuggles.

“He’s treated like a true family member now,” Roos said. “His life couldn’t be more different than before.”

From the cold ground to a warm home — Chico’s story is proof that love and compassion can change everything.