I hate to say it but....
 

After reading YorkieTalk daily (sometimes multi-daily) & talking to breeders that I've been meeting, I am forced to accept the very strong possibility (I'm almost certain) that my beloved Saffron originated from a puppy mill. I really didn't know much of anything about puppy mills when I was researching yorkies & since I was unable to find a local breeder & I was very friendly with the owner of the pet shop I go to & she is so careful & wonderful to her puppies, the most natural thing (I thought) was to get a puppy from her. I had asked about Saffie's origin & could it be a puppy mill but she said (& I think she sincerely believes it) she talks to the breeder frequently & he's very nice. Since Saffron's parents were both directly decended from champions (although they weren't champions themselves) and had long champion blood lines, I figured they couldn't possibly come from a puppy mill cause those kind of people wouldn't bother to show their dogs....just breed them)At the time, my desire for a yorkie was so strong (and I knew she had a little female coming in in a couple of weeks) that the answer was good enough for me. I'm very fortunate that my baby is very healthy, smart, beautiful & has a great disposition but I feel so badly about how she began life. And I feel even worse for her poor mother.

I'm now looking for another dog...a "sibling" for Saffie, & lets face it, these little furbabies are adictive...and have been actively checking the rescue sites & looking for local breeders. Although I can't wait to get another pup (preferably yorkie but I would like a Shih Tzu or Maltese, also) under NO circumstances will I buy one from a pet shop! Not even from my friend.

I appreciate all the info I get on YT. I'm constantly learning!
Thank you everyone! :rose:

Good for you! Many of us don't (or didn't I should say) realize what exactly a puppy mill is. I didn't know that most puppies in stores come from puppy mills. You learn so much here. GLAD I found YT!