[Yorkieville200]

First, I would like to thank everyone who replied to my original review of Oakgate Yorkshire Terriers, and congratulated me on the upcoming arrival of my new puppy, and asked me to post pictures when I got her.



Second, I would like to state, emphatically, this is NOT a "Breeder Bashing".



I just wanted to update, and say that I am not getting the tiny female from Kathy, and explain, why.



When my husband and I were at her house last Saturday, Kathy showed me that the puppy I wanted, has two inguinal hernias.



You may wonder, why, I didn't question her then about her paying for the cost of the repair surgery that day, but, it was a very emotional day for me. As many of you may remember, I lost my "Heart & Soul" Yorkie, my sweet Sydney, to chronic renal failure, on 2/28/11. She was with me every step of the way towards my diagnosis of MS. She was nearly 15 years old, on the day that she died in my arms, as we helped her to Cross the Rainbow Bridge.



I felt I would never want another dog. And my tiny Kia, in my Avatar, was diagnosed in very early renal failure in mid-July.



So, I was focused more on what I was feeling. I hadn't slept the night before, feeling nervous, that I might not "feel" anything, but to my surprise and joy, when I saw the 5 puppies and the Sire and Dam, all playing, my heart, did indeed feel a desire for another Yorkie.



There will never be another "Sydney", but my heart has enough love, to truly love another Yorkie.



As a matter-of-fact, I was so taken with the puppy's Dam, that when Kathy said she was going to retire her, after one more litter, I told her that I would really love to have her, and she told me, "Constantly remind me".



Kathy and I had spoken on the phone, last week, Thursday, specifically about the tinier female, and she never told me that she had hernias. I had been very upfront in my contact e-mail to her, that I have MS, and it has attacked the nerves in my spine, and lifting is an issue for me, and I was looking for another tiny Yorkie like my little Kia.



While we were at her house. She told me to have the hernias repaired, when I had the puppy spayed, and I asked her what age she wanted her spayed. She replied, "6 months".



We had planned to pick up the puppy on Nov. 5th, and she would have been 15 weeks and 2 days.

I assumed, that Kathy would cover the cost of the hernia repairs, because they are a congenital defect.



(My younger sister always tells me, "Never assume, because u {make} an a** {out of} u {&} me".)



So, I put a call in to my Vet, and my husband spoke with him and our Vet felt comfortable spaying the puppy at 6 months, and said the cost of the surgery to repair the hernias would be approx. $250.00.



Believe me, our Vet was giving us a good price, because he is a friend, as well as our Vet, and he took excellent care of Sydney for her nearly 15 years of life, and he continues to take excellent care of our Kia.

And prior to developing MS, I spent 35 years, raising Orphaned Wildlife, and I donated a lot of my time to my Vet's Veterinary Hospital. Often, I would walk in with two Yorkies and walk out with two Yorkies and 4-6 Wildlife Babies.



So, on Tuesday evening, I e-mailed Kathy and asked her if she was going to reduce the price of the puppy to $1,550.00 to cover the cost, and she replied, no, she was not going to reduce the price.



I am sincerely posting this information, so, that if anyone that read my first review, decides to contact her, they have the information, upfront, that they will be responsible to pay for hernia repairs.



I thought, long and hard before posting, but I feel a responsibility to post this information, since I posted a glowing review of Kathy Weems.



I still stand on my original review, she truly does have beautiful Yorkies.



I do not bear a grudge against her, I accepted her choice not to cover the cost of the hernia repair surgery.



My husband and I chose not to go through with purchasing the puppy, because we believe it is the breeders responsibility to pay for the surgery, since hernias in puppies are a congenital defect.



If the puppy had developed hernias after we brought her home, of course, we would feel it was our responsibility to pay for the surgery.



I have a very dear friend, I will not post her name, but I think, that when I say her Yorkies name, many people will know to whom I am referring. Her Yorkie, Melody, had a hernia as a puppy, and because she is tiny like my 4# Kia, they waited until she was 10 months old, to have her spayed. The hernia did not go away. So, their Vet repaired it during her spay.



The hernia has reoccurred THREE times. Melody had two surgeries to repair it in the last month and a half, and it has returned.



Sometimes hernias do go away, but I had no idea that they can reoccur.



I am asking, please, do not bash me for posting. And please don't interpret my post, as bashing a breeder.



I will be out-of-town Friday and Saturday, all day, both days, so if anyone replies to my post, please do not feel that I am ignoring you, when I don't reply immediately.