I may be adopting my second rescued little lady!

[jamiesaari]

Thanks for the kind words. We've had a few bits of correspondence back and forth and she has told me that there are lots of people waiting for Yorkshire Terriers and they need their adoption fee.

The situation is that the Winnipeg Rescue is picking up some small dogs (including the 13-year-old Yorkie) from Grand Forks that were scheduled to be put down.

I offered to take care of the mammory cancer through my vet - who is the only vet in our city to offer laser treatments (which are less painful and more effective). If I'm going to adopt a 13-year-old dog sick with mammary cancer, I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure I have her for as many years as possible.

The woman's response was that she could get the vet services cheaper through a country vet and they need their adoption fee.

My experience with inexpensive country vets has not been very good so far:

a) An inexpensive vet in Thief River Falls gave Tika a 100% clean bill of health less than a month ago. I took Tika to my vet yesterday only to learn she has dental disease (which makes sense because of the bad breath) and Patellar Luxation (knee caps that pop out of their sockets). I am confident my veterinarian isn't making this up because Tika has many signs of this condition that I didn't notice until now. If we are outside and walking to my car, Tika's back legs seize up quickly from the cold and she can only get around by pulling herself on her bum with her front legs. I thought it was from not being accustomed to the cold, but this is the Patellar Luxation acting up from the cold.

b) For those who followed my story with "Orphan Annie", the woman who seized her from the abusive home took her to a cheap country vet who told her Annie was fine and that we just needed to watch the blue patches on her stomach. The country vet said a good diet would get rid of her bloated stomach. Whereas my vet did an x-ray and ultrasound finding two enormous tumours in her stomach. He also diagnosed the blue patches as mammary cancer (whereas the country vet called them blue patches) and looked at her teeth with complete and utter shock - saying every single tooth needed to be extracted from her mouth. The country vet mentioned that one or two should be removed, but that it wasn't urgent. Please see video below to see how bad her ailments were.

I am in tears as I write this as my hopes were so high in giving this little girl the best possible last few years of her life. My feelings toward rescue organizations seem to get more negative as each day passes. From being rejected for having a child - to this situation - I'm not sure I want to deal with a rescue organization in the future.

The amount of money they want from me in addition to the thousands of dollars I would be spending on vet fees is ridiculous.

YouTube - Updated Annie Video

[jamiesaari]

I forgot to mention that the country vet didn't even realize she had a severe uterine infection. I remember Annie screaming at the top of her lungs when the vet touched her vaginal area and put a thermometer in her bum to take her temperature. I was expecting the same from Tika yesterday and Tika just stood there like it was no big deal.

[TLC]

How much is the adoption fee?

[bettyeanne]

Jamie, God love you for being so compassionate! He surely has a very special place for those like yourself. I pray everything works out for this little one.

Please, please don't give up on rescue. We aren't all like the one you are trying to deal with! When we have a little one surrendered, the first thing we do is get it to our vet ASAP. We have them checked inside out and if there is any problem, we take care of it. We have been faced with illness that we don't see how in the world we can afford but God always makes a way. It still amazes me that people can be so abusive and neglectful to these little innocent babies! We have had "angels" adopt them, illness and all and we couldn't ask for better homes. It always surprises me that they are able to see them as we do ... just look beyond what the years of abuse & neglect have done to the outside and see the beauty inside these sad little fellas. We are very small and we treat these little ones just the same as we treat our own. I wish you were closer to us .... your's sounds like a wonderful forever home and we would be so happy to rehome one of our little ones with you!

Please keep us updated. God bless you!

[jamiesaari]

Thanks for your kind words. They really mean alot.

[YorkieShadow]

If they was going to put the little one down any ways , you think they would have a heart and hand her over to someone who was going to care for all her vet bills and health. I dont see why they want a fee if they planned to put her down in the first place, they should be very thankful they had run into you , someone willing to take her with all her health problems.

[jamiesaari]

The words you express are exactly what I thought ... it doesn't make sense.

[ladyj]

Originally Posted by jamiesaari

Nothing is set in stone yet, but I might soon be able to complete my Yorkie family by adopting a 13-year-old female Yorkie who was scheduled to be put to sleep in North Dakota (a three hour drive from Winnipeg).

I want to extend a HUGE thanks to LadyJ for her advice on how to connect with rescue groups to find the right dog for my family. LadyJ's advice led me to the possibility of adopting this little old lady who is scheduled to be put to sleep because she has mammory cancer (like my former beloved Annie). I am thrilled I might be able to save her life and give her a loving home.

To be honest, I was feeling a little disheartened as I kept getting rejected from many of the well-known Yorkie rescue groups out there. The reason is because I have a six-year-old daughter (which seems unfair to me and also the dogs needing permanent homes).

The great advice LadyJ gave me was to be proactive and touch base with local animal rescue groups to have my name put on a waiting list for a particular breed. I had previously just reviewed the websites of Yorkie rescue groups and applied for dogs that available for adoption. Constant rejection after rejection almost made me give up on bringing another Yorkie into my family. After receiving LadyJ's advice, here is a simple letter I wrote to local animal shelters:

Hi,

This is a message to let you know that I am looking to adopt a Yorkshire Terrier (a mixed breed is okay) of any age with any health conditions. I am passionately in love with the Yorkshire Terrier breed and have experience in rescuing two Yorkshire Terriers (both seized from abusive and neglectful situations). Please keep my name in mind should you receive any Yorkies in your shelter in the future.

I am in a unique situation in that I can receive unlimited veterinary care, medicine and supplies because my business belongs to a barter exchange where businesses trade services with each other (without spending cash). So as an example, I build websites for $5,000 each in barter currency - which gives me $5,000 in barter credit to spend with other business that belong to the exchange. There is a veterinarian (Dr. Zheng of the Animal Hospital of Manitoba) and a pet store (Pets 101) that belong to my the barter exchange. If you are interested in learning more, please go to www.winnipegbarter.com for a better understanding of how barter works.

Currently, I have a beautiful, four-year-old, spayed Yorkshire/Chihuahua female and am looking to add one more dog to our family. I own a house with a fenced in backyard and can provide a loving, attentive home since I am self employed and work from the comfort of home during the day.

I can provide references and answer any other questions you may have. I have attached some photographs of my current Yorkie mix, Tika.

Warm Regards,

Jamie Saari

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

- Anne Frank

Jamie, thank you so much for getting actively involved in rescue. As I said, there are good times and bad with rescue. You can't save them all and that just breaks my heart. I saw in a later post that you apparently cannot adopt this little dog, but are still corresponding with them. I hope they change their minds and let you have her. You sould like an ideal home for her. Rescue groups have rules, of course, but sometimes I think they are a little unrelenting. Some require fenced yards, which I am not allowed to have where I live, but I would provide a very good home for any small dog. We go for walks and rides in the stroller and play out in the yard on leash. We also play fetch inside and play with toys and run around and have fun. But I can't even apply for some dogs because I don't have a fenced yard. My little rescue Chihuahua, Kozanna, who doesn't weigh quite four pounds, will get plenty of exercise running around with my Bichons. Please don't get discouraged and God bless you richly for caring about his creatures.
LadyJ

[Deenie]

I'm so excited for you and for your new little lady

[jamiesaari]

Hi Everyone,

My heart has been truly warmed by someone coming forward to see if there was any way to help me financially with coming up with an adoption fee so I can take in the 13 year old girl.

I wrote back to tell this person that I am very thankful, but my "spidey senses" tell me something is not right. I think this particular rescue is looking to make money and not putting the best interests of this dog first.

It makes no sense that they are being given a dog that was scheduled to be put to sleep because of mammary cancer - and won't give her to me without asking me to pay a large adoption fee.

Her voice over the phone was like a dead person's - as she told me she needed the adoption fee as well as me to take over the cost of the dog's surgery. When I told her about all the cash the medical services would cost in taxes and commission, her only response was that she could get the work done cheaply by a country vet (to help save money).

The fact is that if I'm going to adopt a sick, 13-year-old little girl I am going to do everything in my power to make sure she has at least a few good years with my family. I would insist on getting her the best veterinarian possible - including laser surgery which is less painful and offers quicker healing time.

This woman only cares about the money and cut me short in our conversation by telling me how many people want Yorkies and that if I didn't pay the adoption fee, somebody else would.

This is not the kind of person I want to give money to. I hope this little girl ends up in a good home because it seems to me that this rescue will give her to the first person who hands them some money.

[TLC]

I meant what I said, there are a few of us that would love to help you get this girl, as we feel she would be in the BEST home with you. I respect what you say and how you feel about this rescue/lady....but....I can't help but cry for that poor dog.

...maybe you could send them one more e-mail, stating again that you would take her in a heartbeat and get her the medical attention that she needs, and that for them to contact you if that are unable to place her with someone else....

I know that LOTS of people would love to have a Yorkie, but the reality is, this girl is very sick and she is 13 years old, so I highly doubt they have a 'long line' of perspective families. I don't mean that in a 'mean' way, b/c believe me, I'd much RATHER have a senior as well, but for most folks, that just isn't so.

All I ask is that you 'don't close the book' on her yet

If you don't mind telling us, what fee are they looking for?

-Nicole

[jamiesaari]

Hi Nicole,

They want an extra $180 for her adoption fee in addition to taking care of the costs for her mammary cancer. This doesn't make sense because I believe they must be getting her for free from a Humane Society in North Dakota who was about to put her down.

So $180 plus $550 (to get her surgery and just give her a thorough check up) brings my total to $730 cash - and thousands in barter.

Since this rescue operation uses a "cheap country vet" I am almost certain there will be more health ailments for this little girl because of her age.

I adopted my current little four-year-old girl, Tika, for $60 from the Pennington County Humane Society.

It doesn't make sense that they are trying to make money off an older, sick dog like this.

Jamie

[Judy in Waco]

I have to agree with the OP on this one. It just doesn't pass the smell test for me either. Has anyone else adopted from this rescue? I'm concerned after reading about some rescue "scams" going on around the country. Does this organization have tax-exempt status? How can anyone be sure there's even a yorkie here?

I am not trying to offend anyone or start anything. If this IS a legitimate organization someone has worked with, please speak up.

[bettyeanne]

Jamie, I am so sorry that you encountered a problem with getting this little one! While I believe your feeling about these people just wanting to make money on this sick baby is absolutely right, I just find it heartbreaking that she will have to miss living out her years in a loving home like yours. I wish something could be worked out. I, like Nicole, hope that they will contact you if noone else comes forward ... even if someone else wants to adopt her, I pray that it will be a good, loving home. Please let us know what happens. God bless you.

[jamiesaari]

The link to their website is here: http://causeforpaws.cjb.net. They are called "Cause for Paws" and it doesn't appear they are a registered charity.

With the website you almost immediately have a pop up jump out of the page and must re-enter the website for a second time.

Since my business does website design, I offered to design her a new website or volunteer to do any of the services my company, www.pizazcreative.com, offers in lieu of an adoption fee and she turned me down.

Another aspect that got me feeling suspicious is that I asked about several of the photographs of dogs listed on the website (some appear to be Yorkies) and they were unavailable and she claimed they just haven't updated the website in a while.