JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A dachshund dash unfolded this morning at Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS) in Jacksonville, where a line of hopeful adopters waited outside the shelter hoping to adopt one of 19 available dogs.
These dogs are part of the latest group rescued from a breeding situation that got out of hand.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dachshund Delight: Wiener dog adoption surge at Jacksonville ACPS fueled by local TikTok creator
A dachshund rescue, Dachshund Adoption Rescue and Education (DARE), expected to take in all the dogs but ultimately received only a few dozen. Alicia Duval, president of DARE, said she was initially preparing to pick up 100 dachshunds.
She drove from Tampa to Jacksonville and was told some of the first batch was adopted out.
“In the three hours that they called me and told me they had 16, I got there and they had nine,” Duval said.
She explained that a viral announcement by TikToker Bethany Michel, one of the first adopters who posted about the influx of “weenie dogs,” created a surge of pre-adoptions that affected availability.
Duval expressed concerns about the shelter’s transparency and decision-making.
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“I don’t wanna disparage the shelter, but what I do want is what is in the best interest of these dogs and I’m not really sure that that’s coming across in a very transparent manner and I am not sure who is deciding what is the best interests of the dogs,” she said.
DARE now has 30 dachshunds from this breeding situation, but Duval and other volunteers remain worried about how the shelter is handling the adoptions.
The organization also provided a statement to News4JAX regarding the surge in dachshund adoptions.
DARE’s highest priority is the safety and well-being of every dachshund involved in this case. Dachshunds are a unique breed with specific behavioral and medical needs, and responsible placement is critical. We want the community to know that if anyone adopts one of these dogs and later realizes it isn’t the right fit, DARE will take that dog immediately and ensure it is placed in a home that understands the breed. Our mission is to protect these dogs, support the adopters, and make sure every dachshund ends up safe and loved.
Alicia Duval, President of DARE
Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services Division Chief Michael Bricker said the shelter took in close to 80 dogs from the household, with about half going to the rescue.
Bricker said he was unaware of any discrepancies in the numbers of dogs reported, adding that he isn’t “hiding any dachshunds.”
“Whatever dachshunds we got that they didn’t get, they got adopted today,” he said.
Bricker added that the shelter currently has three mother dachshunds with puppies and a list of people who didn’t get a dachshund from the recent group. They plan to contact those people first when puppies become available.
Despite the shelter’s assurances, Duval and other DARE volunteers continue to have concerns about the management and transparency of the dachshund adoption process.