It’s one tiny problem.
California shelters are so crowded with Chihuahuas that they’re shipping the pint-sized pups to the New York area — but we already have too many to handle.
Chihuahuas rank second among all breeds — behind pit bulls — to be abandoned or surrendered to the Animal Care & Control of NYC rescue group, according to data obtained by The Post.
“There’s always been loads of Chihuahuas coming in,” said Linda Vetrano of Posh Pets Rescue on the Upper East Side. “People want a little 4-pound Chihuahua thinking it’s going to be so cute. Then they’re not too happy and dump it in the shelter.”
Earlier this month, hearts melted when Virgin America flew nine of the pooches from San Francisco to New York as part of its “Operation Chihuahua Airlift.” The project aims to relieve the surplus of Chihuahuas in California shelters.
West Coast advocates say the pocket pooches are in demand in New York, where apartments often require smaller pets. But city rescuers are already struggling to find homes for Chihuahuas dumped here.
From 2010 to 2012, more than 800 Chihuahuas were left at AC&C shelters by their owners. Another 363 people brought their dogs to be put down, and 1,060 of the canines were picked up as strays.
Of the total 2,276 Chihuahuas who ended up in AC&C shelters, only 1,549 were adopted, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. The dogs are listed by primary and secondary breeds since many of them are mutts.
Pit-bull breeds, including the American pit bull terrier and American Staffordshire terrier, top the number of surrenders and adoptions at AC&C shelters. At least 15,546 pit bulls entered the system from 2010 to 2012 — nearly half of the 37,758 dogs at AC&C.
After pit bulls and Chihuahuas, German shepherds were the most common breed to be abandoned or seized — with 2,101 entering the shelter system in that time period. They’re followed by Shih Tzus (1,741 were dumped into AC&C) and Labrador retrievers (1,700).
AC&C collected 1,224 Rottweiler shelter dogs in the two-year period, but only 526 were adopted.
Strays — more than 60 percent of which found homes — also included 807 miniature poodles, 789 Maltese mixes and 662 cocker spaniels.