Harley's Story..Yorkies & small children

[VickieDavis]

I've had people ask me what happened to Harley's leg...here's his story.
Kind of a long story but a good warning story for people selling to homes with small children.
************************************************** *******************
When he was around 3 months old a woman bought him from a breeder in north Florida for her 3 yr old daughter (duh). Well, the way I understand it, the toddler was unsupervised and threw him on the floor like a toy and broke his right front leg. He was taken to the vet and I guess the vet pinned it. It was broken at the top by the shoulder. He was sent home with antibiotics.
Then I heard he was kept alone in a garage with feces and flies while the woman went to work. Mind you...this is a puppy.
Well the woman ended up taking him back to the vet (thank God) and abandoned him there. So he lived there and became their mascot for around 3 weeks until a client said she wanted him. He was too cute to resist, of course. She paid the balance of the vet bill and off they went. At this point he still had 4 legs but wasn't able to use the right front. He just carried it.
Next part is the woman lived alone in a fancy condo in Cocoa Beach and didn't have enough time for him either and couldn't get him potty trained. (another "duh") So she took him to visit my animal loving next door neighbor who called me and said "Vickie, come see what I got over here".
I walked over to see this little yorkie puppy running on 3 legs, around like a maniac, with an orange rubber squeaky dinosaur too big for his mouth, just asking for someone to chase him and play.
I was in love. Now I didn't have a dog and didn't want a dog....until then. When my husband saw him....he agreed and Cracker Jack Toy/Tripod became Harley Davis.
He was now almost 7 months old. And I paid the woman what it cost her at the vet.
I took him to the same vet who had been treating him and he started him on a new antibiotic with hopes the leg could be saved. He wasn't in any pain so we were of course hoping for the best. By the time he was 11 months old the vet advised amputation as the bone had deteriorated too far and was beyond repair. Carrying around a bum leg would only cause him to get injured. I can't tell you how hard I cried at making that kind of decision.
BUT....I brought him home that night. I couldn't bear to leave him overnight. So with pain meds and the vets phone number we went home. I walked the floor with him in my arms the whole night massaging his ears and comforting him through the initial pain.
That little rascal...by morning...hopped off the couch and ran to his water bowl for a drink and had a bite to eat. Like nothing ever happened.
He's been on 3 legs his whole life so he doesn't know any different. He can run every bit as fast as Angel and plays tug-o-war and even wins often.
He's a very happy little guy who just turned 5 years old Nov. 30th, 2008.
Oh yeah, my vet is so wonderful that he didn't charge for the surgery at all. Just for the meds.
He's quite the celebrity whenever we go in there.
And thats his story. Sorry it's long but there's not many ways to shorten it.
I have pictures of him before surgery with 4 legs, immediately after surgery still under anesthesia, as well as graphic photos of when the bandages came off and you can see the surgical staples and then him running around now on 3 legs for anyone interested.
Thanks for asking.
Vickie
Here they are playing tug-o-war
ClipShack - Yorkie tug-o-war
Listen to the TV in the background too. Its funny how it worked out.

[jfalz73]

Sad but sweet story....God Bless you for taking him in and giving him a wonderful home!! He is adorable playing in that video! They both are!!

[VickieDavis]

Thank you. I feel blessed to have him. We were meant to be together.

[roxies_mom]

you just brought tears to my eyes reading that. your a wonderful person for what you have done for that sweet little dog. God Bless you, your hubby and Harley!

[TLC]

GREAT STORY!

[VickieDavis]

Like I said I feel blessed he came into my life. I try to pass his story on whenever I can to open the eyes of people who may not think ahead.
You just never know how things happen. Gosh I've known people who had a their yorkie puppy leap fromtheir arms, only to die as soon as they hit the ground. Can you imagine? OMG! I'd just die. You just cannot be too careful.
Coincidentally, shortly after I posted this story I saw the thread about he gal whose puppy was thrown off her deck by a 5 yr old. I hope she reads this post.
Hugs
Vickie

Originally Posted by roxies_mom

you just brought tears to my eyes reading that. your a wonderful person for what you have done for that sweet little dog. God Bless you, your hubby and Harley!

[yorkie_mama22]

Thats a very sad story and I must say that he has gone through alot and is such a little trooper. God bless you for taking him and giving him a loving home!

But I must say I am a little bit offended. I have an ALMOST 3 year old daughter and I have a under 5 lb yorkie. I understand the concern some people have about small dogs and small children. But there is people out there like myself who have RESPECTUL children that are young and just because I have a small child doesn't mean someone shouldn't sell me their dog! It bugs me terribly when people won't sell a dog to a family with a small child. I understand the concern but if your going to be placing your dog and you care for them so much then you should take the time to come visit the home and possibly spend time with the family to see how the children truly act! I am not trying to be rude but my child has never thrown my dog or been rude towards her, my yorkie and my daughter are BEST FRIENDS, you would be surprised!

[VickieDavis]

Originally Posted by yorkie_mama22

Thats a very sad story and I must say that he has gone through alot and is such a little trooper. God bless you for taking him and giving him a loving home!

But I must say I am a little bit offended. I have an ALMOST 3 year old daughter and I have a under 5 lb yorkie. I understand the concern some people have about small dogs and small children. But there is people out there like myself who have RESPECTUL children that are young and just because I have a small child doesn't mean someone shouldn't sell me their dog! It bugs me terribly when people won't sell a dog to a family with a small child. I understand the concern but if your going to be placing your dog and you care for them so much then you should take the time to come visit the home and possibly spend time with the family to see how the children truly act! I am not trying to be rude but my child has never thrown my dog or been rude towards her, my yorkie and my daughter are BEST FRIENDS, you would be surprised!

I certainly didnt mean to offend anyone but I think you're one of the exceptions to the rule. I'd rather see my puppy go to safe home rather than take the chance. Now...you have raised your children to be kind and respectful...not everyone does that. I agree about visiting the home. I know several reputable breeders who go to great extremes when placing their dogs and puppies for that very reason.
I'm so glad they're best friends. I was that way as a child too and didnt have to be taught. Its just my nature, like its probably just your daughters nature. I'm glad she has a yorkie for her best friend. I wish I'd had one when I was little.

[yorkie_mama22]

Originally Posted by VickieDavis

I certainly didnt mean to offend anyone but I think you're one of the exceptions to the rule. I'd rather see my puppy go to safe home rather than take the chance. Now...you have raised your children to be kind and respectful...not everyone does that. I agree about visiting the home. I know several reputable breeders who go to great extremes when placing their dogs and puppies for that very reason.
I'm so glad they're best friends. I was that way as a child too and didnt have to be taught. Its just my nature, like its probably just your daughters nature. I'm glad she has a yorkie for her best friend. I wish I'd had one when I was little.

It's alright I just feel a little offended for that reason, I know people don't see it often but my daughter is so kind and gentle when it comes to ALL animals. I loved animals growing up, dogs being my most favorite. Your right it does come very natural to her I believe. We got our first dog when she was 7 months old and she would play so well with the pup, it was a yorki-poo! They were great friends as well unfortunately that pup was not the best match for us as she was VERY jealous of me being a mom to my daughter too. But with this yorkie, it is so sweet to watch them both together. My yorkie chooses to sleep in my daughters bed RIGHT next to her head, she lets my daughter hold the leash and walk her and she barely pulls. When we wake up in the morning or come home from some place my Stormy will lick my WHOLE daughters face. When I get another yorkie and the person doesn't trust my home I will have them come over every day if they wish to see there is nothing to worry about here, I completely trust my daughter around my dog, of course I am always supervising unless they are sleeping!!

Heres a few pictures to prove it! The last picture is my current yorkie

[chandracz]

Originally Posted by VickieDavis

I've had people ask me what happened to Harley's leg...here's his story.
Kind of a long story but a good warning story for people selling to homes with small children.
************************************************** *******************
When he was around 3 months old a woman bought him from a breeder in north Florida for her 3 yr old daughter (duh). Well, the way I understand it, the toddler was unsupervised and threw him on the floor like a toy and broke his right front leg. He was taken to the vet and I guess the vet pinned it. It was broken at the top by the shoulder. He was sent home with antibiotics.
Then I heard he was kept alone in a garage with feces and flies while the woman went to work. Mind you...this is a puppy.
Well the woman ended up taking him back to the vet (thank God) and abandoned him there. So he lived there and became their mascot for around 3 weeks until a client said she wanted him. He was too cute to resist, of course. She paid the balance of the vet bill and off they went. At this point he still had 4 legs but wasn't able to use the right front. He just carried it.
Next part is the woman lived alone in a fancy condo in Cocoa Beach and didn't have enough time for him either and couldn't get him potty trained. (another "duh") So she took him to visit my animal loving next door neighbor who called me and said "Vickie, come see what I got over here".
I walked over to see this little yorkie puppy running on 3 legs, around like a maniac, with an orange rubber squeaky dinosaur too big for his mouth, just asking for someone to chase him and play.
I was in love. Now I didn't have a dog and didn't want a dog....until then. When my husband saw him....he agreed and Cracker Jack Toy/Tripod became Harley Davis.
He was now almost 7 months old. And I paid the woman what it cost her at the vet.
I took him to the same vet who had been treating him and he started him on a new antibiotic with hopes the leg could be saved. He wasn't in any pain so we were of course hoping for the best. By the time he was 11 months old the vet advised amputation as the bone had deteriorated too far and was beyond repair. Carrying around a bum leg would only cause him to get injured. I can't tell you how hard I cried at making that kind of decision.
BUT....I brought him home that night. I couldn't bear to leave him overnight. So with pain meds and the vets phone number we went home. I walked the floor with him in my arms the whole night massaging his ears and comforting him through the initial pain.
That little rascal...by morning...hopped off the couch and ran to his water bowl for a drink and had a bite to eat. Like nothing ever happened.
He's been on 3 legs his whole life so he doesn't know any different. He can run every bit as fast as Angel and plays tug-o-war and even wins often.
He's a very happy little guy who just turned 5 years old Nov. 30th, 2008.
Oh yeah, my vet is so wonderful that he didn't charge for the surgery at all. Just for the meds.
He's quite the celebrity whenever we go in there.
And thats his story. Sorry it's long but there's not many ways to shorten it.
I have pictures of him before surgery with 4 legs, immediately after surgery still under anesthesia, as well as graphic photos of when the bandages came off and you can see the surgical staples and then him running around now on 3 legs for anyone interested.
Thanks for asking.
Vickie
Here they are playing tug-o-war
ClipShack - Yorkie tug-o-war
Listen to the TV in the background too. Its funny how it worked out.

That's a beautiful story (well the ending is!!!!) You are a wonderful person!!!!

[lil fu fu girl]

Originally Posted by VickieDavis

I certainly didnt mean to offend anyone but I think you're one of the exceptions to the rule. I'd rather see my puppy go to safe home rather than take the chance. Now...you have raised your children to be kind and respectful...not everyone does that. I agree about visiting the home. I know several reputable breeders who go to great extremes when placing their dogs and puppies for that very reason.
I'm so glad they're best friends. I was that way as a child too and didnt have to be taught. Its just my nature, like its probably just your daughters nature. I'm glad she has a yorkie for her best friend. I wish I'd had one when I was little.

No offense taken on my part. I completely understand. Children do not have cognitive abilities at early stages. They do not understand there own strength and the consequences of that. While some parents have gentle children who are great with little dogs, they should still be supervised, because lets face it, they are just that, children. My problem is with the parents of said kids who do not supervise, and believe that their kids can do no wrong!
I think what you did was a wonderful act of compassion and that is what should be recognized!

[chandracz]

i'd be interested in seeing the pics!

[Ladymom]

What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing!

I have a four year old granddaughter who has two dogs and three cats at home, so she is very good around animals. I still would never ever leave her unsupervised around Lady. I've just heard too many stories like yours of toy breed dogs being injured by young children.

[ARCHIE]

You are just wonderful for giving Harley his forever home and making
his life good and full of love and fun.
Bless his little heart.

[VickieDavis]

Originally Posted by chandracz

i'd be interested in seeing the pics!

Heres a little album of before surgery and after surgery. I hope this link works
Kodakgallery.com: Slideshow End