A family from Fontana has adopted the two so-named "crevice" Chihuahuas after they were rescued last month out of a small, cave-like hole at a Riverside park.
The Chacon family visited an animal shelter Saturday looking for a companion for their Chihuahua named Nacho, but decided to adopt the pair after learning they were a package deal, according to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.
They named one Chihuahua "Pinto" because of his coloring, and the other one "Chance" since he is getting a second chance.
On Aug. 20, a passerby discovered the two frightened Chihuahuas stuck in a tight spot at the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park in Riverside.
Animal control officer Jennifer Selter was able to rescue one of the dogs, but officer John Hergenreder had to remove his outer uniform, belt and other gear so he could squeeze into the hole to rescue the second pooch.
"He stripped down to his T-shirt and crawled in, then looped the dog," said Mike Giardina, a regular parkgoer who helped rescue the Chihuahuas. "We thought for sure he was going to get stuck in there. We told him if he got stuck, we were going to leave him."
Giardina believes the pair had to have been abandoned.
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"They had to have been dropped there," he said. "I was very surprised that they even survived one night, due to all the coyotes out there."
Vicki Chacon, her husband Larry and their 9-year-old son Vincent are now happy to have two new additions to their family.
"Nacho now doesn’t just have one companion – but two," Vicki Chacon said. "That’s going to be great."
