Mateo

To my future family, I hope you like little dogs with big hearts. 

My name is Mateo, and I'm an 8-year-old Chihuahua with a handsome face, a gentle soul, and a whole lot of love waiting for the right people.

Now, before you make any assumptions about me, I know what you're thinking.

Chihuahua.

Small. Spicy. Opinionated. Possibly plotting world domination.

But I promise you, that's not me.

I'm actually a very good boy. At least, that's what my foster family keeps telling me, and I have absolutely no reason to question their judgement.

I hope you're the kind of people who understand that love doesn't always have to be loud.

Sometimes love is simply being in the same room as you. Knowing you're there. Feeling safe enough to close my eyes and have a little snooze.

Sometimes it's a cuddle, because I really am quite partial to those. And sometimes it's me deciding that I've had enough affection for now and would quite like to go and do my own thing.

You see, I might be little, but I'm also quite independent. I don't need to be carried everywhere or held every waking moment. I have four perfectly good legs, a mind of my own, and a lovely little crate that I absolutely adore.

I hope you'll love that about me.

When we first meet, I might need a little moment to figure you out. It's not that I don't want to love you. I just like to make sure you're someone I can trust first.

But don't worry, I usually come around pretty quickly. And once I decide you're one of my people? Oh, you're going to be very loved. 

I hope my future home is somewhere I can enjoy the company of other little dogs. I quite like them, you see.

Big dogs? Well, I don't mind them in small doses, but I'd really appreciate it if they weren't too bouncy, nosy, or determined to get right up in my face. I'm a gentleman, and I do appreciate a little personal space.

As for cats, my foster family thinks I might be okay with a confident one who knows their way around dogs. We haven't quite confirmed that yet, though.

Mostly, I just hope to find people who love me for exactly who I am. Not because I'm tiny. Not because I'm a Chihuahua. And certainly not because they expect me to spend my entire life being carried. But because I'm Mateo.

A handsome little 8-year-old gentleman who loves his people, enjoys a good cuddle, appreciates his independence, and really doesn't ask for an awful lot.

And can I tell you a little secret? My foster family weren't even Chihuahua people before they met me. I know. Shocking. But somehow, just by being myself, I've managed to change their minds. They tell me they're Chihuahua people now.

I don't know who you are yet.

I don't know what your house looks like, where my favourite sleeping spot will be, or whose lap I'll occasionally decide belongs to me. But I do know that somewhere out there, there's a family who will look at me and see everything my foster family already sees. A really, really good boy.

And when we finally find each other, I promise I'll do my very best to make you wonder how you ever lived without a Chihuahua in your life.

Love, Mateo. 

P.S. If you've never considered yourself a Chihuahua person, don't worry. Apparently, I can fix that.