I agree with the above post. First make sure you Mom even wants a dog, espeically a puppy. My Dad wanted a small dog also when he recently moved from FL to NJ. He is someone who has always had small dogs including several Yorkies--but it has been about 5 years since his last Yorkie left us. Also a factor that changed is my Dad now lives in a condo vs a house. To make a long story short-my Dad babsat for my Jazzy Girl who is 4 yo Shih Tzu that is very, very well trained and who my Dad LOVES. Well after 3 nights of babysitting Jazzy, out of a week--he called my adult daughter and asked her to take Jazzy until I got home. My Dad found it was much more difficult to have a dog in a condo--- where you must get up , take an elevator etc.,sometimes in the middle of the night, for them to go potty, get exercise etc. Compared to living in a house with a completely fenced in yard, a doggie door, etc. My Dad is now very content babysitting Jazzy for no more than a night or 2. Both of them seem happy with this arrangement, so all is good. Jazzy dearly loves her Pop Pop but after a night or 2 sleepovers at Pop-Pops--she is ready to come home to her backyard--that she loves dearly.
A puppy requires a lot more attention than an adult dog. I agree a rescue Yorkie is going to be your best bet. But they are not easy to come by either. A lot of the rescue organizations only allow adoption to a certain area. They all have a fairly long waiting list. Many of the dogs through rescue that are younger have health problems like blindness, liver shunt, etc.
If it was me, I would: first make sure your Mom wants and can care for a dog. Then I would contact all the Animal Shelters in your area. I will admit little dogs are very hard to come by, at the Shelters. But you can get on a waiting list. That is how I got my Jazzy Girl and she is full bred Shih Tzu, that belonged to a sr citizen that passed away. The family did not want the dog and turned her over to our local Animal Shelter along with her AKC registry/parents lineage, etc., papers. She was 3 years old, but has been definitely one of the greatest dogs, I have ever had. And we have had dogs, cats and birds my entire life.
Again good luck in finding the dog that was meant to be in your family. I have found over many years and many pets-- that when the right pet is meant for you-- if will come into your life. That is the way it has always worked for us, and we have gotten pets in everyway possible. From paying substanial amounts to breeders; to dogs/cats deciding our home was where they had to give birth--and then never left; to us rescuing them on the road after they had been hit and left like a piece of trash.
Good luck! |