Originally Posted by lisaly (Post 3864739)

I am so glad that you and Lucy found each other. What a beautiful love story! I believe each of our babies touch us and help us to become more loving, better individuals. They are worth every second spent caring for them, every tear shed, every worry, and hour of lost sleep. Thank you for for the precious life you have given to Lucy. I'm glad she helped you discover how special Yorkies are. Your life will never be the same because of their amazing spirits and love.

Originally Posted by KimInMD (Post 3861501)

A year ago today, I found my senior girl, little Lucy, walking down a four lane road, 10pm on a snowy night. Despite searching, no one ever claimed her. Lucy's toenails were embedded in her footpads. She was starving, and carried a dry crust of bread in her mouth. She had ear infections, matting, dermatitis, multiple mammary tumors (we had surgery and the cancer came back). She's deaf, has canine dementia, LP's, collapsing trachea and kidney disease. We extracted a large tumor off her back, and removed eight rotten teeth.
I came here to YT for the first time on April 7th to ask for advice. I read for hours to learn about caring for a senior Yorkie. Lucy and I were warmly welcomed. We've made friends here who have shared their wisdom, prayers and encouragements.
Lucy is, without a doubt, one of the best things that ever happened in my life. I love that little girl more every day, and along the way, I fell head over heels in love with the Yorkie breed. In the year since Lucy came home, I have been blessed to foster a rescued Silky, two Chorkies, a Yorkie-Poo, and 2 Yorkies. Lucy is frail, but doing remarkably well for being so old and sick. She amazes me with her fighting spirit, determination to live and her capacity to still love people, even though they clearly didn't always do right by her. A year ago I could have never predicted that my life would take this sudden turn. All I know is that my world is a better place because my dear old gal is in it. I am thankful that we've had the precious gift of a whole year together. I'm thankful for new friends, and for the newest addition to the family, my little Mia. Thank you, Lucy for changing my life, and teaching me so many new things. Happy Got-Ya Day to my sweet little girl. :cake4: It's because of you that I'm now proud to say that I am a Yorkie mommy. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

Originally Posted by MommytoMiles (Post 3864877)

Sounds like a lifetime movie. Holding the little crust of bread in her mouth. How old is Lucy, do you know?? How does one little doggie have sooooo many health issues??

Originally Posted by KimInMD (Post 3864971)

All the vet said last year is that she was 10+. Although she is precious, beautiful and perfect to me, Lucy is a genetically poor quality Yorkie, which accounts for the collapsing trachea, bad teeth and LP's. My vet believes she was used as a breeder dog, (livestock, not a pet) never spayed, and developed very large cancerous mammary tumors which were not taken care of until her surgery this year. Sadly, the tumors and cancer have come back. The kidney disease started last summer/fall, and sometimes goes hand and hand with the cancer and old age. Infection from the rotten teeth also contributed to the kd and untreated ear infections left her deaf. The dementia (doggy Alzheimers) is age related, as are the limpomas. The dermatitis was from fleas, poor diet and a matted coat, as was the bacterial skin infection. Embedded nails were from neglect. When we scooped her up out of the road, yes, a dry, hard crust of bread fell out of her mouth. That's why she was running. She thought we were trying to take her food. Can you imagine the pain of having all those rotten teeth and trying to eat? No wonder she was so thin. Two teeth were actually embedded in her sinus cavity. That poor baby. I still cry when I think about how anyone could be so mean and cruel to such a sweet little girl like her, or any animal, for that matter. I do find solace in believing that what goes around, comes around, and that the people who hurt and abuse animals will someday meet their maker, and have to answer for their crimes against the weak and defenseless.