DENVER -- About three dozen more rescued Chihuahuas made the trip from California to Colorado on Thursday, and they're hoping to find a new family to live with here.

Chances are good the Chihuahuas will find homes. A lot of rescued pets come to Colorado for good reason. Residents here love adopting pets.

Take Treg Pedrett. It only took moments for him to fall head over heels with a black and white dog.

"It hits me every once in awhile to adopt. I just have a thing for dogs," Pedrett said.

He is not alone in his love for animals.

"Denver is a very pet-friendly city," said Michelle Ray, of the Denver Dumb Friends League. "They obviously love dogs and cats."

That may be why Colorado is so often welcoming cats and dogs from other states. In 2008, Denver was officially proclaimed to be a cat-friendly city. For animal lovers everywhere, this is impressive.

"As long as people keep coming out and adopting pets, we'll be able to have the space to take in more animals," Ray said.

The Denver Dumb Friends League has a near-perfect adoption rate of 98 percent. It also is accepting the majority of Chihuahua's from Los Angeles.

Chelsea Maschot, of the MaxFund Animal Adoption Center, said Chihuahua's are a popular breed and won't stay in shelters for long. Dogs and cats usually live at MaxFund for a maximum of about two weeks.

"In general, we have a lot of space available," Maschot said. "We are more than happy to accommodate any animal that comes in the building."

It doesn't matter where they come from.

"It's about finding them a loving home whether it is here or there," Maschot said. "When you save a life of an animal and you take them home, their spirits erupt. It's such a joy."

The Chihuahuas that just arrived from California will be going to shelters in the Denver Metro area. Some of the dogs should be available for adoption on Sunday.