New Member Saying Hello

[Gillykat]

Hi everyone

I'm Gill, 45 years old and married to Neil who is even softer than I am about animals. We live in the UK in rural Northumberland and are approx. 200 yards from Harry Potter's castle.That's Alnwick Castle. It's a small market town with gorgeous countryside surrounding us and 60+ miles of long sandy beaches which are completely dog-friendly all year round.

I've always had animals in my life and had my first yorkie, Scamp, when I was 13 years old. He came to us when he was 6 months old and was SUCH a character Definitely thought he was a much bigger dog than he actually was! We had him until he was 17 years old and he went to Rainbow Bridge in 1995, a year before our other dog Lady.

I've always been working in full-time jobs so the time has never been right to get another dog. My last job was horrendous as my boss never replaced anybody who left and just expected me to work six or even seven days a week!!! I quit that job in December 2012 and am now working part-time in another shop. Just 21 hours per week over four days so we are now planning to get a couple of yorkies Neil is just as excited as I am and especially because of where he works as a security guard. One of the staff has a wee yorkie who comes to work with him so Neil has been chatting away to this guy, in his 60's, and turns out he's had yorkies all his life and he had nothing but praise for them so now Neil is adamant they are the breed for him
We both wanted a small breed as we holiday in cottages and caravans in the UK and want to bring our dog along with us - going for hikes just isn't the same without a dog to enjoy it with, is it!

For the past 4 years we've been long-term fostering old cats for a local small charity. We prefer the oldies as they are the ones that nobody else wants....or has dumped onto the charity because of their age or ill health Our current boy is George who is a tabby, approx. 4 years old and he has the Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV). Up until last Saturday, June 15th, we also had Suzi who had contracted FeLV after being used as a breeding machine. She suddenly, over a couple of days, developed kidney problems and the vet diagnosed tumours on both kidneys and despite treatment she wasn't responding so we had to let her go to The Bridge We take comfort in that she had almost 8 months of being spoilt rotten with us. George was moping for a few days but has picked up now...I think he's enjoying being the centre of attention - especially as we now spoil him even more after seeing how quickly Suzi went downhill. 90% of cats with FeLV develop cancer so we know we have to treasure every moment we have with George.....thankfully he's as fit as a flea at the moment *touch wood*

Hopefully we'll have our pups within the next four/five months or so.....just having a tidy-up and decorating at the moment and then once that's done we can start looking for a good breeder

I just cannot wait to have dogs in my life once more - I've missed them SO MUCH!!!!!!

Anyway...waffling on again....off to explore the site and get tp know you all more and drool (and go all broody!) over pics of your gorgeous dogs

[cindersellie]

Welcome to YT! Have fun looking around. It may take a few days since there's a ton of information here! Nice to meet you too!

[Magnus]

Welcome! And thank you for fostering...

[Harrysmum]

Welcome Gill and family from a fellow UK-er...I love your part of the Country!!

I'm sure you're going to love it here - everyone is so lovely and welcoming and helpful!

Look forward to getting to know you! Sally + Harry x

[The 4 M]

Welcome another UK-er and someone not too far from Me and my family of 4...looking forward to getting to know you and wishing you luck on your find for the perfect pups

[Alora]

Welcome to YorkieTalk!
Thank you for caring for the older cats, they need love just like the rest and you and your husband are wonderful people for taking them in
I hope you get your yorkie(s) soon!

[Gillykat]

Awww thank you everyone I've found a downside to Yorkie Talk.....all these pictures and reading about getting out on walks is making me positively ACHE inside...I want my pup NOW!!!!!! I am SO broody!!!!!

I'll be good though.....sure it won't be too long before I'm heading out to pick up my new baby I would be more than happy to take on an older yorkie but Neil is worried that an older dog might chase George or otherwise stress him out so, to keep hubby happy, I've agreed to a puppy so she can be raised with cats from the start (I'm sure even after darling George leaves us there will be many more foster cats to follow) and perhaps once I get Neil addicted to yorkies (my Cunning Plan ) older rescues will follow

When we were at the vets with Suzi the other week a couple came in with a Westie puppy and oh my....I just went gaga That gorgeous Puppy Smell and ickle kisses and waggly tail

[Alora]

Originally Posted by Gillykat

Awww thank you everyone I've found a downside to Yorkie Talk.....all these pictures and reading about getting out on walks is making me positively ACHE inside...I want my pup NOW!!!!!! I am SO broody!!!!!

I'll be good though.....sure it won't be too long before I'm heading out to pick up my new baby I would be more than happy to take on an older yorkie but Neil is worried that an older dog might chase George or otherwise stress him out so, to keep hubby happy, I've agreed to a puppy so she can be raised with cats from the start (I'm sure even after darling George leaves us there will be many more foster cats to follow) and perhaps once I get Neil addicted to yorkies (my Cunning Plan ) older rescues will follow

When we were at the vets with Suzi the other week a couple came in with a Westie puppy and oh my....I just went gaga That gorgeous Puppy Smell and ickle kisses and waggly tail

You have it bad! I think everyone on here can agree when I say that we all get a little puppy fever when we see pics of cute little yorkie puppies on here!

[Fritz n Sophie]

Welcome to YT I know you will love it here. Just be careful. You will become addicted to this site just like the rest of us. LOL

[Gillykat]

Poor Neil will tell you I've had it bad for the past five years after losing our previous dog Tina Whippet in August 2008 in a tragic drowning accident. At first I tried to fight it and vow to never have another dog but after a nervous breakdown and therapy I realised No Dogs was never going to be an option But, as I said earlier, it was around then that my boss started dumping all the extra work on me so I just didn't have the time or energy to give a dog a decent fulfilling life so that's how we started fostering....or running an Old Cats' Home But this past couple of years has been unbearable for me....I love my cats so much but I NEED dogs in my life! Thankfully Neil is just the best and has realised this and promised me I'll be a Doggy Mom by the end of this year

Human babies just don't have this effect on me....I'll coo over them as expected but I never get the urge to kiss them or hold them and give them cuddles It's always been animals for me....ever since I was 10 years old Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike kids.....just never felt 'grown up' enough to do something as responsible as bring a child into the world and raise them to be a nice human being. Heck, I worry myself sick that I might fail my puppy and she'll grow up to be a little yobbo!!!!

So.....expect LOTS of photos and questions once my Puppy Due Date grows closer

[Fritz n Sophie]

I know exactly how you felt when you lost your Tina. When I lost my Max (yorkie-mama's boy) it almost killed me. I never wanted to hurt like that again. It took me 5 years to realize how much I needed another sweet yorkie in my life. I got Fritz and then 3 years later I got Sophie. They are both such little love bugs (Fritz when he feels like it, and Sophie 24/7). I don't think I'll ever be without a yorkie again.

[Gillykat]

(((HUGS))) It truly does rip you apart when you lose them, doesn't it It's bad enough when it's old age but in Tina's case she was playing with another dog and was knocked into the river which was a raging torrent after days of rain I managed to drag her out further downriver but it was too late to save her and, like I said earlier, I blamed myself entirely for not jumping in to save her (even though I haven't swam since I was a nipper) and ended up having a breakdown nine months later Prozac and a wonderful counsellor helped me crawl out of that dark tunnel and now I'm really looking forward to getting a dog again.

I've learnt one thing though.....NEVER let your dog offlead near full rivers or iced over lakes....I'll never lose another dog through my own stupidity ever again If I'm ever outdoors and see someone letting their dog be free near such dangers I'll politely have a word with them and tell them about Tina. Most folks genuinely haven't realised the dangers and are lovely about my mentioning it but others have sworn at me and told me to go away (or words to that effect!). Perhaps I shouldn't 'interfere' but I couldn't bear for another dog to lose it's life or any loving owner to go through the agony I did

I won't be wrapping my yorkies in cotton wool and carrying them everywhere like they're made of delicate blown glass but I'll certainly have them ON the lead whenever we are somewhere that might not be 200% safe

[chachi]

Welcome! I think you are wise to get a pup with adult cats. I have cats but they were born here with adult yorkies. They all get along fine but every now and then the yorkies let the cats know they are in charge especially jewels she is smaller than the cats but is the cat enforcer

[Gillykat]

I'm sure George will soon tell the pup to behave He's a BIG gentle boy and ok with dogs. We looked after a friend's 11-week-old Border Collie in February and after the first day of huge saucepan eyes (WHAT is THAT!!!! ) he soon relaxed and would sleep in his bed right next to the puppy. My yorkie will sleep in her crate for the first few weeks until she's housetrained so at least George will have some escape from a feisty puppy attaching herself to his tail

[jessica30]

Hi, and welcome to YT from a fellow UK member , I love this site and have found it so informative