Friend in Trouble

[MikaTallulah]

Okay. One of my friends lost their yorkie to long-term illness a few months ago. She looked on the internet and found a breeder in Lancaster, Pa who was selling their puppies for $800 full breeding rights and papers. My friend believed that this woman (dressed in full Amish garb) was not a puppy mill because and I quote "She only breeds her dogs twice a year so she can't be a puppymill). The breeders dogs live in rabbit huts!!!!. If this breeder is truly Amish than why would she advertise on the internet and take credit cards? I have always found the Amish to overall shy away from modern conviences esp. computers and credit cards.

Anyway her puppy is 6 weeks old and very tiny, less than 1 pound. I was always taught that puppies should not be removed until at least 10 weeks of age for a small breed puppy. She does not want to listen to reason. She has only had the puppy for a few days. She must feed her every 2-4 hours a mixture of Pediatyle, baby food, etc. She has already taken the puppy to the Pet ER for hypoglycemia a couple of times. Is there anything I can do to help her? My friend works full time and can't really take the puppy to work. I think she should either take the puppy back to the breeder or find someone that can care for the puppy until it gets bigger.

[CardsGrl]

I would definately say that puppy was taken from its mom too soon esp with its small size and weight, and someone should def be with it while ur firend is at work it not good to leave it all day it prob needs to be feed every 3-4 hours around the clock or even more.. gl to ur friend hope al goes well

[Sugar's Mom]

She does not need to take it back to the breeder. That is the hotbed for puppymills and they usually are from the Amish. As soon as I saw Lancaster, Pa in your post, I thought, oh no!!!!!!! Yes, they do advertise the puppies on the internet. Someone needs to babysit this puppy every day. Can you do that? That is what would help your friend the most. Just having someone there to see that the puppy eats every two to three hours and make sure it is okay.

[Yorkiekids]

She definetly needs to get someone in their to watch that pup, or she's going to come home to a dead baby.

[YorkieRose]

"She only breeds them twice a year, so she can't be a puppymill"...good grief, bitches only come into season and ready for breeding once or twice per year..so she is breeding every time she can. The reason they are treated as livestock, because that is how the Amish think..rabbits, chickens, cows, pigs, dogs, cats..all the same!!!...the Amish are not immune to a disease that afflicts many..and that is GREED...!

[LuvmyYorkies2]

Diva's puppy will be 6 weeks tomorrow and I can no way see her leaving already!!! I feel so sad for the puppy. It's probably sooo lonely & scared. If someone does get a puppy that early, they are usually very well experienced in dealing with such a young pup....and home to care for it. If she cannot be home to make sure the puppy is getting enough nutrients/supervision, I think she should find a friend/family member who is home..just until he/she is strong enough and a little older to be alone!
Good Luck

[tiggerr36792]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

"She only breeds them twice a year, so she can't be a puppymill"...good grief, bitches only come into season and ready for breeding once or twice per year..so she is breeding every time she can. The reason they are treated as livestock, because that is how the Amish think..rabbits, chickens, cows, pigs, dogs, cats..all the same!!!...the Amish are not immune to a disease that afflicts many..and that is GREED...!

Well said Pat!!!

[jackie739]

I am new to this site but would also like to add that a product called Puppy NutriCal is very good for puppies at a young age, especially if you don't know if they are eating or not. Puppies really like that taste of it. I have 2 puppies and give them just a little on my finger every night (eventhough they eat on a norm). It's like multivitamins for the puppies. Maybe you should also try that. You should find it at Petco or Petsmart but make sure that it is for puppies because they do have some for adults and that can be too much for a pup. Good luck! Also added a link to PetSolutions.

http://www.petsolutions.com/default....06785&SID=NXTG

[littlewhip]

Is there a way for you to have your friend visit here at yt, maybe she would see things in a different way, just a thought, can she take the puppy back? or is it she who wants the pup this young? I hope you can help her

[yorkiesmiles]

this woman may be a Mennonite - they are an off-shoot of the Amish - they embrace modern convinces like cars & telephones, but still often dress in more conservative garb - especially the women

but a 6 week old puppy is crazy. Does your friend feel that she made a mistake? Because if she is ok with her decision, there is probably so little you can do.

[chachi]

I would see if she can find someone to watch the pup while shes at work

[Ladymom]

I would advise your friend to return the puppy if at all possible no matter how painful that might be right now. This is definitely a puppy mill puppy and could be a loaded with genetic time bombs just waiting to go off. This puppy could cost her a fortune in vet bills over it's lifetime whatever that may be. Also, puppy mill puppies are notoriously hard to socialize and housetrain from being raised in cages with little human contact.

Show her this website if she doesn't believe you, especially the section about Pennsylvania puppy mills:

http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/

[MikaTallulah]

She has agreed to look at this site and does not know my user name. Right now she is sneaking the puppy into work with her. Luckily, the puppy for the most part stays quiet but I don't know if a puppy is worth risking a job for that you just got. I am also watching the puppy when off from work but am afraid that it will get hurt. Big dog Lucky (120), 2 (12 pound) cats, and 10 pound yorkie. It would be Cozy that could cause the damage the most easily. Lucky is afraid of the puppy and will leave the room. She want to know what the breeder could do for the puppy that she can't and I really can't give her an answer since I don't breed. I have no experience with tiny puppies. Cozy was 7 pounds when I got her and ate like a horse.

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by MikaTallulah

She has agreed to look at this site and does not know my user name. Right now she is sneaking the puppy into work with her. Luckily, the puppy for the most part stays quiet but I don't know if a puppy is worth risking a job for that you just got. I am also watching the puppy when off from work but am afraid that it will get hurt. Big dog Lucky (120), 2 (12 pound) cats, and 10 pound yorkie. It would be Cozy that could cause the damage the most easily. Lucky is afraid of the puppy and will leave the room. She want to know what the breeder could do for the puppy that she can't and I really can't give her an answer since I don't breed. I have no experience with tiny puppies. Cozy was 7 pounds when I got her and ate like a horse.

I would not give that puppy back to the breeder under any circumstances. she will only sell it again and maybe into a horrible home. think of it as a rescue.

[EmrldShdwQueen]

Originally Posted by jackie739

I am new to this site but would also like to add that a product called Puppy NutriCal is very good for puppies at a young age, especially if you don't know if they are eating or not. Puppies really like that taste of it. I have 2 puppies and give them just a little on my finger every night (eventhough they eat on a norm). It's like multivitamins for the puppies. Maybe you should also try that. You should find it at Petco or Petsmart but make sure that it is for puppies because they do have some for adults and that can be too much for a pup. Good luck! Also added a link to PetSolutions.

http://www.petsolutions.com/default....06785&SID=NXTG

Karo syrup works just as well as nutrical and sometimes FASTER...just a word of warning though...too much and you might have a little mess...which is of course, far better than the puppy dying...that puppy needs someone with it all day...no puppy that small (OR ANY puppy at ALL for that matter) needs to be taken from their mom at that age!!!