Harley's Story..Yorkies & small children
 

I've had people ask me what happened to Harley's leg...here's his story.
Kind of a long story but a good warning story for people selling to homes with small children.
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When he was around 3 months old a woman bought him from a breeder in north Florida for her 3 yr old daughter (duh). Well, the way I understand it, the toddler was unsupervised and threw him on the floor like a toy and broke his right front leg. He was taken to the vet and I guess the vet pinned it. It was broken at the top by the shoulder. He was sent home with antibiotics.
Then I heard he was kept alone in a garage with feces and flies while the woman went to work. Mind you...this is a puppy.
Well the woman ended up taking him back to the vet (thank God) and abandoned him there. So he lived there and became their mascot for around 3 weeks until a client said she wanted him. He was too cute to resist, of course. She paid the balance of the vet bill and off they went. At this point he still had 4 legs but wasn't able to use the right front. He just carried it.
Next part is the woman lived alone in a fancy condo in Cocoa Beach and didn't have enough time for him either and couldn't get him potty trained. (another "duh") So she took him to visit my animal loving next door neighbor who called me and said "Vickie, come see what I got over here".
I walked over to see this little yorkie puppy running on 3 legs, around like a maniac, with an orange rubber squeaky dinosaur too big for his mouth, just asking for someone to chase him and play.
I was in love. Now I didn't have a dog and didn't want a dog....until then. When my husband saw him....he agreed and Cracker Jack Toy/Tripod became Harley Davis.
He was now almost 7 months old. And I paid the woman what it cost her at the vet.
I took him to the same vet who had been treating him and he started him on a new antibiotic with hopes the leg could be saved. He wasn't in any pain so we were of course hoping for the best. By the time he was 11 months old the vet advised amputation as the bone had deteriorated too far and was beyond repair. Carrying around a bum leg would only cause him to get injured. I can't tell you how hard I cried at making that kind of decision.
BUT....I brought him home that night. I couldn't bear to leave him overnight. So with pain meds and the vets phone number we went home. I walked the floor with him in my arms the whole night massaging his ears and comforting him through the initial pain.
That little rascal...by morning...hopped off the couch and ran to his water bowl for a drink and had a bite to eat. Like nothing ever happened.
He's been on 3 legs his whole life so he doesn't know any different. He can run every bit as fast as Angel and plays tug-o-war and even wins often.
He's a very happy little guy who just turned 5 years old Nov. 30th, 2008.
Oh yeah, my vet is so wonderful that he didn't charge for the surgery at all. Just for the meds.
He's quite the celebrity whenever we go in there.
And thats his story. Sorry it's long but there's not many ways to shorten it.
I have pictures of him before surgery with 4 legs, immediately after surgery still under anesthesia, as well as graphic photos of when the bandages came off and you can see the surgical staples and then him running around now on 3 legs for anyone interested.
Thanks for asking.
Vickie
Here they are playing tug-o-war
ClipShack - Yorkie tug-o-war
Listen to the TV in the background too. Its funny how it worked out.

Sad but sweet story....God Bless you for taking him in and giving him a wonderful home!! He is adorable playing in that video! They both are!!:D

Thank you. I feel blessed to have him. We were meant to be together.

you just brought tears to my eyes reading that. your a wonderful person for what you have done for that sweet little dog. God Bless you, your hubby and Harley!

GREAT STORY! :thumbup:

Like I said I feel blessed he came into my life. I try to pass his story on whenever I can to open the eyes of people who may not think ahead.
You just never know how things happen. Gosh I've known people who had a their yorkie puppy leap fromtheir arms, only to die as soon as they hit the ground. Can you imagine? OMG! I'd just die. You just cannot be too careful.
Coincidentally, shortly after I posted this story I saw the thread about he gal whose puppy was thrown off her deck by a 5 yr old. I hope she reads this post.
Hugs
Vickie

Thats a very sad story and I must say that he has gone through alot and is such a little trooper. God bless you for taking him and giving him a loving home!

But I must say I am a little bit offended. I have an ALMOST 3 year old daughter and I have a under 5 lb yorkie. I understand the concern some people have about small dogs and small children. But there is people out there like myself who have RESPECTUL children that are young and just because I have a small child doesn't mean someone shouldn't sell me their dog! It bugs me terribly when people won't sell a dog to a family with a small child. I understand the concern but if your going to be placing your dog and you care for them so much then you should take the time to come visit the home and possibly spend time with the family to see how the children truly act! I am not trying to be rude but my child has never thrown my dog or been rude towards her, my yorkie and my daughter are BEST FRIENDS, you would be surprised! :)

I certainly didnt mean to offend anyone but I think you're one of the exceptions to the rule. I'd rather see my puppy go to safe home rather than take the chance. Now...you have raised your children to be kind and respectful...not everyone does that. I agree about visiting the home. I know several reputable breeders who go to great extremes when placing their dogs and puppies for that very reason.
I'm so glad they're best friends. I was that way as a child too and didnt have to be taught. Its just my nature, like its probably just your daughters nature. I'm glad she has a yorkie for her best friend. I wish I'd had one when I was little.

It's alright I just feel a little offended for that reason, I know people don't see it often but my daughter is so kind and gentle when it comes to ALL animals. I loved animals growing up, dogs being my most favorite. Your right it does come very natural to her I believe. We got our first dog when she was 7 months old and she would play so well with the pup, it was a yorki-poo! They were great friends as well unfortunately that pup was not the best match for us as she was VERY jealous of me being a mom to my daughter too. But with this yorkie, it is so sweet to watch them both together. My yorkie chooses to sleep in my daughters bed RIGHT next to her head, she lets my daughter hold the leash and walk her and she barely pulls. When we wake up in the morning or come home from some place my Stormy will lick my WHOLE daughters face. When I get another yorkie and the person doesn't trust my home I will have them come over every day if they wish to see there is nothing to worry about here, I completely trust my daughter around my dog, of course I am always supervising unless they are sleeping!!

Heres a few pictures to prove it! :p:p The last picture is my current yorkie

That's a beautiful story (well the ending is!!!!) You are a wonderful person!!!!

No offense taken on my part. I completely understand. Children do not have cognitive abilities at early stages. They do not understand there own strength and the consequences of that. While some parents have gentle children who are great with little dogs, they should still be supervised, because lets face it, they are just that, children. My problem is with the parents of said kids who do not supervise, and believe that their kids can do no wrong!
I think what you did was a wonderful act of compassion and that is what should be recognized!:thumbup:

i'd be interested in seeing the pics!

What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing!

I have a four year old granddaughter who has two dogs and three cats at home, so she is very good around animals. I still would never ever leave her unsupervised around Lady. I've just heard too many stories like yours of toy breed dogs being injured by young children.

You are just wonderful for giving Harley his forever home and making
his life good and full of love and fun.
Bless his little heart.

Heres a little album of before surgery and after surgery. I hope this link works
Kodakgallery.com: Slideshow End

You are a very special person...I'm so glad Harley found you!:p

You are a wonderful person to take this little boy and make him healthy again. And if you just look at his face in your avitar, he is telling the world what he thinks of his life with you.
God Bless you

My yorkie blesings
 

Thanks but he's been my joy!!! Not to mention the little girl I found after him. My Angel. She truly is an Angel. Here she is saying her special yorkie prayers for all the injured and sick pup friends.

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Awe how precious! What a good mommy you are!!!

you can tell by both of our faces it had been one LONG night.
LOL
I never thought I could love a dog (oops did i say dog?) as much as I do these two heartbeats at my feet. Harley :love: Angel:love:

I love hearing things like that! :D

Life always amazes me how angels just appear in your life when you least expect it. Giving us all a hard lesson to learn. God Bless You and Your Angel

You are so right as breeders it is our responsibility to make sure our puppies are going to be going to loving safe environments not to the first call to get the $$. I love to tell people horror stories so they are really aware of the responsibility and the fact that they are taking home a BABY! And they need to be treated as such or bring them back. HOLLA! You have to sit down and teach people the proper way to take care of a delicate baby and that surely can not be done through the internet or a pet store where millions of animals are winding up in unsafe homes.

First off, I do agree with Vickie that her story is a good warning for breeders to be careful when placing dogs in homes with small children. And I cannot believe those people put that poor puppy in the garage after it was injured!!:(:mad:

With that being said, I have two little boys, 3 & 2 and an 8 month old daughter and we have a yorkie. I agree with lil fu fu girl 100% in that children are children and no matter how gentle they are they should never be left unattended with a small dog, or any dog for that matter! The problem here falls completely on the adults who are not being responsible and supervising the interactions between child/dog. I again agree with Vickie that the households that make it work between small dog/child are exceptions to the rule - and my household is one of them.

I don't think it should be a blanket rule that breeders should not give their puppies to households with children. It should depend on the family. I know for a fact that my breeder (who I met here on YT) is VERY picky/careful about who gets to take her babies home. I had to fill out a puppy interview and we talked a lot before I even went to see her puppies. I also think that had she gotten a bad feeling upon our meeting, she would not have had a problem turning me down. After meeting my husband and I, and seeing how my 3 yr. old behaved, I think she knew we were responsible parents and felt comfortable with us taking one of her puppies.

We are very strict about when/how the children and puppy interact because we do realize yorkies are small, fragile dogs and that children are not to be trusted at such a young age. The children are never aloud to carry the puppy. They have to sit on the floor if they want to play, and my husband and I are always sitting there with them. Our yorkie loves our kids and vise versa. They will all grow up together and that's special to me because I grew up with a yorkie and those memories are some of the strongest that I have from being a small child.

I'm sorry this is so long, I just feel strongly that there are exceptions and some households can make it work. It all depends on the ADULTS in the house, not so much the children.

PS Vickie - your babies are both adorable! :)

What a horrible life he had before he met you and what a great thing you did. The video and photos say it all. Your beautiful babies have a very loving home and family. God bless you.

Thanks eberypuppy!!
 

Thank you all for your kind words. I share this story because I want more people to be aware of the "what if's". My dogs are my life. I'm going through my own personal crisis right now which means I need to find a new and safe place to live. If I have to sleep in my car....(well, truck) then so be it, if I can't find a home to take all 3 of us. We're the 3 musketeers. One for all and all for one. LOL
(I think I may have a found the "almost" perfect place and they'll be welcomed too. )
Blessings do come from yorkie prayers. I can prove it.:)
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Absolutely agree with you LunaBelle. Lack of parenting is the problem.
That seems to have a running theme in our society today, does it not?:(

I agree with yorkie mama I have a son that is 3 and he is wonderful with Alex. I have taught him to sit on the floor with him, how to pet him soft, and to never pick him up or hit him. They love each other -- when we go to bed at night Alex loves to lay down by my son with his head on Aden's shoulder. People with young kids aren't all bad -- there are some that really and truely care about their fur babies. Aden even watches where he walks and never runs around the house when Alex is on the floor.

Hugs,

You are so sweet giving this little guy such a wonderful life. I LOVE the tug video. You can't even tell that he's missing a leg!

:goodpost:

Too Young
 

A small child is just too much of a risk to have around a very small dog. Little kids can't reason; a little animal is like a wiggly toy. Is it really fair to your child even, to have a small delicate animal around? Their fascination with a tiny animal is natural. Who would get the blame if your little dog got nippy with your baby? Is it not enough to have a precious child, that one also needs a precious animal? Why not wait a little.

What an angel you are for giving him such a wonderful forever home!!!
You are a wonderful person!!!! Harley is lucky - and so are you :) :) :)
What a beautiful ending!!! :D :D :D :D