Not the picture I was expecting

[Stormyp]

I just bought myself a 12 week old Yorkie male for Christmas. I found the puppy in the newspaper. They are a rare breed here where I live. You can imagine my surprise when they only asked $500.00 for him. They are usually $800.00 to $1000.00 in this area. The breeder lived about 100 miles from me and the directions were down dirt roads so against my better judgement I did not drive out to her place to look at the puppy when she offered to bring him to me. He was the only male left. I know the importance of seeing both parents and the living conditions. I asked a lot of questions and she assured me she was not a puppy mill. I asked her to please send me pictures of his mother, father and any older siblings so I could see how he may look full grown. He is a beautiful puppy. I would post a picture of him but my digital camera is not working. I had to call her a couple of times before she finally sent me a picture of her mother. She did not send a picture of the father or siblings. I have no doubt that he is 100% Yorkie but what alarmed me was the picture she sent me of the mother. She told me she took it that day just for the purposes of sending it to me. The mother looks terrified all huddled up in the back of a cage on concrete. She looks so cold. I don't understand how people can treat animals like that. I am so glad I bought Romeo, I just wish I could save his mother. It sure looks like a puppy mill to me. before I got Romeo I was worried that my adult female Yorkie and female Maltese would be mean to him. When I sat him down in front of the food dish he began gobbling up the dog food and growled at the adult females when they came near the bowl. He does not appear thin at all and the vet has given him a through exam with no bad findings. I am going to attach the picture of the mother she sent me to get some feedback on if you think I should report her. I am not a trouble started and I know she could have been camera shy but I get sad everytime I see her picture. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[HarleyHOO]

Poor baby! She definitely looks scared and unsure to me. And the way she's huddled all the way in the back of the cage....like she's scared of the owner. Usually when you come to a cage, they're eager to to see you. This leads me to believe that she has been mistreated. I hate the thought of this. It angers me . I bet it is in fact a puppy mill....

If you're puppy is showing signs of aggression when eating at the food bowl, you need to stop this immediately as it will get worse as he gets older. If you haven't already, give him his own food and water bowl and feed them at separate times. Try sitting down with him when it's time to eat and tap your fingers in his bowl. After he's ate a little bit, take his food bowl back up, and then place it back down. He needs to realize that its OK to have someone near him while eating and that he'll still get it back. Since he's 12 weeks now, he probably had to compete with his littermates for food at the breeder's home. This is probably why he snaps at your other dogs when they get close. He feels threatened and is protecting his turn at the food bowl.

I'm by no means an expert. What works for some yorkies may not work for others... good luck and enjoy your new baby! They're a blast!

[Poohpie]

Awe poor girl It looks like they had just "cleaned" the cage too...the wood looks wet that she is standing on and her hair looks wet at the bottom. I personlly don't feel that a Yorkie is an "outside" type of dog. I feel like maybe I would call and have someone go out there and look at what is going on.

[JeanieK]

Awww the poor little thing looks like she has never been out of that cage and is not socilaized at all. She obviously hasno clue thtthis is bad, or she never would have sent a picture like that.

It sounds like your puppy has not been socialized either. You are going to have your handfull.

That is just WRONG, but according to the law, it's prefectly allright to keep dogs in cages.

[carmen in nj]

Originally Posted by JeanieK

Awww the poor little thing looks like she has never been out of that cage and is not socilaized at all. She obviously hasno clue thtthis is bad, or she never would have sent a picture like that.

It sounds like your puppy has not been socialized either. You are going to have your handfull.

That is just WRONG, but according to the law, it's prefectly allright to keep dogs in cages.

sad but very true..
hugs,
Carmen in nj

[Mom to Hot Rod]

poor momma. I agree, she must be frightened of the owner. I hope your Romeo settles down and becomes more open to his siblings.

Welcome to YT and congrats on you little one. Glad that he found you.

[RoscoesMommy42]

Oh she looks so pitiful! I just want to pick her up and love her. That is just so so sad. Keep us updated on how your new little boy is doing. I am glad that he is out of the situation, but it looks like she def. does not need to have those dogs!!

[Arzel36]

She looks so pitiful! So sad!

[Patti]

Congrats on your new baby. The mom does look like she is afraid and lives in an outside kennel. Whether a puppy mill or back yard breeder it looks like the breeder is in it for the money not the love of the breed and I am glad Romeo appears to be healthy and will have a great life now.

[spiritwings1202]

Breaks my heart! I know all too well about puppy mills as my Daisy
(Jack-a-poo) came from a horrible Puppy mill and she had many health problems. over 3,000 vet bills the first 2 years.
Thank God she is almost 6 and doing great!

[JenniferLeigh]

She looks so sad in that photo, but you can't report her based on a photo. Maybe you could make an excuse to go out there (with a friend) and see the conditions first hand. There may not be anything that will stick legally, but if your findings are poor conditions like the photo suggests - then you could atleast get the word out about her.

[Yorkiedaze]

That's definately either a major back yard breeder or mill. Look at the wire bottom to that cage. If I were you I would ask her if she would be willing to sell that mother to you and if she is, then maybe we could all pitch in with the money, you could have someone drive out there with you, and maybe you could take a small camera and while your friend distracts her, you could take pictures. I really hope someone helps those poor dogs.

[JeanieK]

The more I look at that picture, the more I realize how stupid that breeder must be.

She knew enough to clean up the cage, but is clueless to the fact that a good breeder's dogs are not petrified of them and are used to having their pictures taken.

It's such a pity that our laws not only tolerate this, but actually list this is acceptable.

[ourfirstyorkie]

Originally Posted by RoscoesMommy42

Oh she looks so pitiful! I just want to pick her up and love her. That is just so so sad. Keep us updated on how your new little boy is doing. I am glad that he is out of the situation, but it looks like she def. does not need to have those dogs!!

[ourfirstyorkie]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

That's definately either a major back yard breeder or mill. Look at the wire bottom to that cage. If I were you I would ask her if she would be willing to sell that mother to you and if she is, then maybe we could all pitch in with the money, you could have someone drive out there with you, and maybe you could take a small camera and while your friend distracts her, you could take pictures. I really hope someone helps those poor dogs.

I agree that the wire on the bottom of the CAGE is a red flag for a mill.
And that scared face is heart-wrenching.