I can easily blame Paris Hilton for three or four dozen major problems. Everything from bad extensions to global warming – if I try hard enough, I can find some way to link it all back to Paris. But it turns out there is something Paris is legitimately responsible for – the wave of neglect of Chihuahuas. According to California animal rescue workers, Paris popularized the dogs as trendy accessories. And vapid, stupid girls tried to copy her – and eventually dumped the dogs when they got sick of them.

Paris Hilton has been blamed for an epidemic of abandoned Chihuahuas in California animal shelters, because she’s made toting around the pups in tiny handbags a major trend.

The hotel heiress was investigated last year after admitting she owned 17 dogs, allegedly breaking U.S. laws that ban non-breeders from having more than three per address.

Animal shelter bosses in Santa Barbara have now prohibited anyone under age 21 from adopting a miniature pup, after seeing a growing trend of young women dumping their full-grown dogs when they’re sick of caring for them.

And activists are blaming Hilton’s menagerie of tiny animals for the problem.

Chihuahua Club of America head Lynnie Bunten tells the National Enquirer, “Chihuahuas are not a toy or a fashion accessory. But because some people think they are — then realize they’re wrong — there’s a growing problem of abandoned Chihuahuas.”

[From the San Francisco Gate]

Paris is really horrible when it comes to animals. She collects them like they’re accessories instead of living creatures that require food, shelter, care, and attention. She’s so empty and useless, of course she doesn’t realize there’s an important element of responsibility involved. I don’t really care for Chihuahuas – or any purse dogs. But I’m damn sure her infamous little Tinkerbell has a lot more going on upstairs than Paris does on her best day.

People need to think carefully before they buy pets. Cute little animals grow up into something bigger and slightly less adorable. If you just like them when they’re tiny and new, it’s a bad decision. Every Easter there’s always a rash of baby chicks and bunnies that flood animal shelters after people impulsively decide to buy the cute little fuzzballs, forgetting that they require long-term care.

I used to live near Microsoft’s Redmond campus, and in the early nineties they gave their employees baby bunnies as Easter presents. A lot of people dropped them off on a grassy hill next to a nearby Azteca restaurant. Those critters multiplied at astronomical rates – even for rabbits. For years you could see them from the highway when you drove by. It’s a great example of why you need to think long and hard about buying pets, and always make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.

Here’s Paris trying on a few outfits (and a dog?) while shopping at Harmony Lane with a West Highland Terrier sharing her changing room today in Los Angeles. Header is an older picture of Paris trying to nom what I think is a sleeping chihuahua. Images thanks to WENN.