Most animal shelters are all about giving it the big sell: "Look at this dog's big sad eyes." They're all about the subliminal "Adopt me, Adopt me!" Not so for the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, which is working reverse psychology when it comes to a two year-old Chihuahua named Eddie. Or Eddie the Terrible, as he is affectionately known.
In order to stave off adoptees who blindly and blithely adopt pets they are not equipped to handle, the California shelter is big on honestly. Brutally honest.
In a blog post entitled “A Full Disclosure Blog: Three Reasons You DON’T Want To Adopt Eddie The Terrible,” staff give a detailed list of the pooch's flaws. And there are many: from being scared around kids and goes "from zero to Cujo in .05 seconds" around other dogs.
The shelter has even made hilarious videos, one of which features 'Bad to the Bone' as its soundtrack. But rather than an attempt to dissuade prospective adoptees, the shelter is doing the public a service, by telling it like it is.
At least whoever wants Eddie and brings him home won't be under any illusions or charmed under false pretenses. His future owner—ideally childless and otherwise pet-less—will be getting exactly what's advertised:
"Actually, he's kind of a jerk. But he's a jerk we believe in."
“If you love a challenge, are looking for the dog of a lifetime and think you can handle the thirteen pounds of terror that is Eddie, we won’t stop you," writes Finnegan Dowling on the hysterical HSSV blog. "You just go ahead and call 1.408.262.2133 ext 150. But don’t say we didn’t warn you.”
I can only imagine the write-up my bulldog, aka Rosey the Rascal, would get. Favourite snacks: Crocs and furniture. Loves sound of her own bark. 70lbs of lap dog, some issues with flatulence...
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