Quote:
Originally Posted by KazzyK810  The chances of finding a healthy REAL YORKIE in a shelter near me, here in the States, are extremely slim. There are many listed as "yorkie" or "yorkie mix"...but take a look at the pictures and they either look nothing like a yorkie, or are very old and/or have serious health issues. I wouldn't deliberately choose a yorkie with health problems and I'm not at all interested in a mix of any kind... |
When Cassidy was with me, we learned a few things - she came out of the shelter, as I've said. She looked terrible, stripped with a 10-blade, her teeth were crusted over. Whoever adopted her first brought her back 'cause she was going to be "too expensive," per the free vet visit you get when you adopt a California shelter dog.
One thing we learned is that she had likely been a show dog - she stacked perfectly with a slight pull on the lead. Not the moment I got her, but several months later, when she had decided to live ... you didn't have to touch her, just stand with her on lead and gently tug the lead. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't lived it.
Her confirmation was excellent except for her cottony coat, and I was told by yorkie people that people show cotton coats; they just slick their coats before taking them into the ring. Not my area of expertise, but that's what I was told at the time.
Pretty much all I did was loved her, loved her more, had her teeth cleaned regularly, exposed her to a good life, spayed her, fed her good whole food, and kept her groomed. And there was that hefty $75 adoption fee.
)
I was in a dog show once (I'd snuck her in to watch the best in show ring with me) and someone near me was talking about rescues and I told her Cassidy was a rescue; her jaw dropped. Then she remarked, well - rescue, yes - but you'd never find a dog like her in the shelter. Not if you don't look, I answered. Not only was she in the shelter but she was scheduled to be destroyed.
To each their own, but having watched rescued dogs - Cassidy being the worst of the worst when she came along - reclaim their lives and spirits after being in shelters - it is a precious experience one will never know until they live it. And I'm so glad it isn't me who has missed out on that kind of great love.