[treasuremapper]

Hi, we are new here. We have paid for our yorkie, and had originally planned to pick it up and take it home when it got to be 12 weeks old. However, circumstances have changed in the breeder's life and we are now considering picking the yorkie puppy early. My husband met the breeder and bought the puppy a few weeks ago.

To make a long story short, the breeder has cancer and is having a hard time. She said the puppies are now staying outdoors with their mother, but that they were weaned at four weeks. She originally told us the pups would get their shots at six weeks, but she acknowledged today that she had not been able to do it due to complications with her cancer treatments.

She also said she is feeding the puppies Beneful instead of the usual food she feeds yorkie puppies.

This breeder is a good person who is going through a very difficult time right now. I do not fault her, I just wish I lived close by so that I could offer my help and support. But we are four hours away, and therefore day to day help is out of the question.

In this situation, we are considering picking up the puppy early. I am home all day and I have the time and financial resources that would allow me to be with the puppy almost constantly. Our veterinarian actually lives down the street from us and has a practice less than half a mile away.

I am especially concerned that the puppy did not have her shots last week. If we wait five more weeks, additional shots could be missed and that would put the puppy at risk. The puppy is left outside alone with its mother most of the day, instead of being inside with me. Of course, a yorkie mother probably has a lot more experience with yorkie pups than I do!

Please tell me what you would do in this situation. This is our first yorkie, and only our second puppy. However, we have had tons of experience with dogs.