If you're thinking about adding a dog to your family, you won't want to miss the biggest little festival in Southern California. Bring your friends, fringe and flower crowns to the Helen Woodward Animal Center's Big Festival of Little Dogs this Friday, April 10 through Sunday in North San Diego County.

Rancho Santa Fe, CA (Apr. 07, 2015) – Southern California music-lovers wait all year for this weekend’s Coachella Music Festival – an annual celebration of some of the coolest and most trend-setting new artists and a Woodstock-style crowd partying and dancing for days in the sunshine. Even Hollywood celebrities head out to enjoy the festivities, drawing the paparazzi in droves.

With this in mind, the Helen Woodward Animal Center adoptable Chihuahuas have decided to throw a jam session of their very own – CHIchella kicks off this Friday at the Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoption Department, giving local animal-lovers an opportunity to experience one of the hippest and hottest canine-breeds in their element.

The fun festival includes 26 orphan Chihuahua blends meeting, greeting and catching rays in an outdoor X-Pen Pavilion while the PUParazzi capture the fun. The first 15 Chihuahua adopters receive framed photos of their CHIchella-styled pup, a $10 Amazon ITunes Gift Card and other groovy SWAG!

Though expected to draw Chihuahua celebrity A-listers like ‘CHIyonce’ and musical headliners like ‘AChi/DChi’ the party is far from small-breed exclusive. People attending the event can expect to hob-nob with adoptable Terriers, Pugs, Shepherds, and Cattle Dogs too.. CHIchella is Helen Woodward Animal Center’s fun, festival-event created to celebrate the quirky, off-beat, adorable and often misunderstood Chihuahua breed.

“No Chihuahua is exactly alike,” stated Adoptions Animal Care Supervisor Mollee Sullivan. “In fact, most of our Chihuahuas are blended with other breeds like Terriers, Pugs, and Beagles which gives them really cute, unique looks and quirky, fun personalities. There seems to be a tendency to group them all in one category, but once you meet them you realize that each one has such a special way of expressing themselves.”

The large number of Chihuahuas currently available at the Center includes a wide variety of personality types suitable for any potential adopter. From super-sporty athletes to couch-potato cuddle-bugs, these loving companions are compact and portable and great for the young, on-the-go, apartment-dwelling crowd – proving “once you go small, you’ll want them all!”

WHEN: Kicks off on Friday, April 10th (first day of Coachella!) at NOON and runs through Sunday, April 12th!

WEEKEND ADOPTION HOURS: Friday – 12:00 NOON to 6:00 PM Saturday – 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sunday – 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

WHERE: Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoptions Department – 6461 El Apajo Road, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

WHAT: Come meet and greet a wild and wonderful variety of one of America’s favorite little dogs (26 CHIHUAHUAS ready to party!!!) · Enjoy great music while the Chi’s romp and party in the X-Pen Pavilion. · Adopters will take home great framed photos of their new Chihuahua fashioned in CHIchella style & other festival swag · First 15 Chihuahua adopters will receive a $10 Amazon ITunes Gift Card

To adopt one of our adorable pets, or if you would like to make a donation, or would like more information, please contact Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoption Department at: 858-756-4117 ext. 313, visit www.animalcenter.org or stop by at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe.

About Helen Woodward Animal Center Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 57,000 people and thousands of animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the international Blue Buffalo Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday™ campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world. For more information go to: www.animalcenter.org.