Finally!! I've got my furbaby!! She's a rescue!!

[Fantastic49]

some of you may remember i've been trying to rescue for a while now, but because of some ongoing back issues, i have been waiting for a smaller furbaby. i finally picked her up last night!!


so, this was purely fate --- my godmom saw an ad for her on monday and promptly sent it to me and then called the number (she's not one to wait LOL). by the time i clicked on it (a couple of hours later), the ad had been pulled down. come to find out that she had received over 100 calls about this little one in less than 24 hours!! i would have never even seen the ad or known anything about it if my godmom hadn't been on the job!!

after quite a few missed attempts, i finally spoke to her foster mom on thursday and found out her story. until her rescue angels stepped in, the poor thing was practically starved and she was being kept outside in the yard!! she only weighs about 2lbs now!! i'm not sure how much she weighed when they found her.

they had her for less than 2 months and had been feeding her well, so she filled out a bit. but for some reason, they had not taken her to the vet. we talked about what they did know (which wasn't a great deal - that she was malnourished and about 18 months - 2 years old) and we arranged for me to meet her the following day. i don't know why, but i didn't even think to ask for pictures!!! somehow, i knew she would be cute!!

in the meantime, i made arrangements to take her to the vet and to bring her home. i got some great advice on everything from fellow YTers which i so appreciate i was hoping she wouldn't have extensive medical problems, but i was prepared for that as well. friday came quickly.

her foster mom called me in the early afternoon and told me she had already taken her to the vet and was taking her to get groomed as well!! she said she had her along when she took her cat and although she didn't have an appointment, the vet saw her anyway and also gave her a bunch of shots. i'm not so sure about all the shots (necessity, dosage, etc.), but it was already done. i was glad to hear she was healthy.

so a friend and i go to pick her up and her foster mom took her out of her kennel. she had a really long day and a lot going on, so she was knocked out and looked a little out of it, so we nicknamed her "typsy" -- they had been calling her "gypsy" so we thought it was cute. i still need a name for her, though.... but i digress....

so she pranced around a bit and, though i had been told she was skittish and wouldn't come too close until she trusted you, she warmed right up to me and my friend. she seemed to know that she was going with me. i got her home and settled in last night. she did great in the car and she rode in her car seat with no trouble at all. she seemed to enjoy looking out the window.

she's such a sweetheart. she's so smart (as all yorkies are) and she's a total cuddle bug ... when i first start to hold her, she just shakes and shakes. it's endearing, but i think the poor baby is cold. i'm going to have to get her some clothes just so she can stay at a base level of warmth.

she wouldn't eat or drink anything, but the vet had told her foster mom to expect that right after the shots. maybe b/c it's a new environment as well?!? i know sometimes i can't eat much when i travel.

i set up her ex-pen and put a nice comfy bed, treats and toys in it and a pee-pad in the back. i also put her foster mom's sweater in her bed so she could smell her scent. i left the door open. she explored all around when she arrived, but she did not set foot in the ex-pen. wouldn't even approach it.

finally, by 2am, i had to just put her in it b/c i didn't feel safe letting her wander around while i was sleeping. she curled up in the bed and went right to sleep, no complaining!! what a good girl!!! i slept on the couch nearby and she was fine. she never barked, only whined a little bit when i went to the bathroom once.

so i took her outside around 6:30 this morning b/c i want her to be housebroken. i put a t-shirt on her that was a gift from her auntie (the friend who went with me) and then i put her harness on. she clearly was not used to a leash of any kind and she acted a little strange, but she was cooperative in letting me get everything on her.

i encouraged her to go down the steps b/c she seemed hesitant, like she had never been on them before. it seems that she has never been walked before either (this is part of the reason the foster mom gave her up -- she wanted her to be safe, but she didn't have time to give her all the care and attention she needed and deserved). so she was resistant, but i kept encouraging her and she came along. every time she made it down one step, i praised her.

when we got to the bottom, there were a couple of squirrels playing in a tree nearby and she was mesmerized!!! i swear the squirrels were bigger than her , and i noticed that my protective instinct had totally kicked in b/c i was planning what i would do if they tried to attack her LOL!!! but of course, they didn't.

so i started by telling her what i wanted her to do ... "hurry up!" i told her. "hurry up!" she looked at me like "what are you talking about?!" then, at some point, it seemed to register. she sniffed around the patch of grass we were on and she squatted to pee. yay!! i praised her. i didn't think she was finished, so we stayed. she squatted again ... more pee!!! yay!! more praise!!

i repeated the command and then she squatted for her #2 ... just as she was squatting, a man across the street got out of his car and scared her. i could see the #2 starting to come out, but as soon as she was frightened, it went back up. and i noticed that she looked like she was trying to "walk it off".

i knew she wasn't done, but she was too nervous. finally, he went away. i was patient, but i kept repeating the command "hurry up" ... she stood there for a few minutes looking like she didn't know what to do. she finally squatted again ... success!!! she made her #2!! omg, i was so glad she didn't turn around and try to eat it LOL !!! i praised her, picked up her poop, then lead her back up the stairs ... she's already getting the hang of it. she resisted when i was walking her back in the door, but i don't know why. she acts really strange with the leash, if you ask me.

so here's the thing --- she won't eat treats!! i gave her a treat for the first time and she took it after a few minutes, but all she did was go hide it in one of her beds. she wouldn't touch her food (currently cesar, but i plan to change that REAL soon, i was thinking of switching her to blue buffalo) nor have i seen her drink anything. i put the water in her ex-pen just in case she wanted it. she just looked at most of the treats i offered and turned away from them. i've tried 2 different kinds.

now she's sleeping next to me on her little blanket. she was on my lap, but all this typing was getting on her nerves

i'm exhausted. i'm going to take her for a longer walk later. i'll post pics as soon as i can figure it out.... i'll finally have an avatar!!!

i'm so glad i found her and and i feel certain we'll make a fine "pack" ... i'm also grateful we have our YT family here too!! thanks to all of you that have offered me advice since i joined, this is just the beginning!!

[BellaMoon]

What a great story!! and congrats on the new little one

[ArmaniMan]

YAY! So excited for you.

I know you want her on a better food but try to wait at least a week before you switch to let her settle in.

When do we get pics?

[megansmomma]

Iam so happy that you were able to bring her home and all is well. Sounds like she is settling in very quickly and making a transition to her new home.

Just a quick note about the treats......if she is only 2 lbs and you give her only a few treats she is not going to eat for you. If she is hiding them in her bed you are not going to know if she is eating or just storing them. If she is on Caesar food (wet) she is getting some water from that so don't worry too much about her drinking a lot of water. Good play to change foods too~the sooner the better. Just do it slowly.

[2Morkies]

Yea!!!!!! I'm so glad you finally found your baby!! I can't wait to see pictures.

[Fantastic49]

thanks you guys!! for the congrats and the advice!! i need all the help i can get

i'm going to take some pics with my camera today and try to post them ... don't know what i'm doing, but i'll figure it out....

poor baby had a #2 accident on the floor, i just picked it up and sprayed nature's miracle on the area ... i didn't reprimand her or anything, though....

she's still not eating....

[livingdustmops]

I am so jumping up and down for you...just take it slow...she might not be feeling well from the shots...how does her nose feel to you?

Can't wait for the pictures.

Do you have neutrical on hand...do you have chicken broth (no salt) and chicken breast in the refig...she might eat a little cooked chicken..

[TwoforFun]

I'm soooooo happy for both of you. I knew you would find your perfect baby soon.

[ladyjane]

How exciting!! Congratulations! Looking forward to pics!

[miabellaamoure]

Whoo-hoo! This was sure good news to read about & I'll just get in line with anticipation to see pic's of your cutiepie!

[littlewhip]

Awww, what a wonderful story ! Congrats to you both

[patty58]

I'm so excited for you. I can hear the excitement in your "voice". I like the name Typsy!!!!! I think you should leave it. My Murfee doesn't like treats either. There are some he goes and just "buries" too. Good luck on the feeding and drinking. She sounds like a keeper to me.

[BellaDonna]

Congratulations on finding your baby! I can't wait to see the pictures too.
What kind of name are you thinking about?

I might have missed it but do you know how old she is?

[mzw00dy]

Originally Posted by patty58

I'm so excited for you. I can hear the excitement in your "voice". I like the name Typsy!!!!! I think you should leave it. My Murfee doesn't like treats either. There are some he goes and just "buries" too. Good luck on the feeding and drinking. She sounds like a keeper to me.

I agree Typsy is a cute name to me.

[loveshay]

WOOT!!! WOOOT!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a wonderful story...ENJOY YOUR NEW BABY!!!!

On the treats, my lil ones are really small too I have to watch the treats, there tummies are so small...I usually break up, even the smallest of lil treats....

GOOD LUCK!!! you seem to be doing an awesome job, I can hear the happiness in your words...