Yorkie adoption...what would you think of these circumstances?
 

I made a rather large mistake and left the comfort and love of my local rescue, who are FANTASTIC, and adopted through a rescue from another province that I wasn't familiar with. I love the end result, which is my newest addition, Astro, but I'm rather cautious to try and dig deeper for fear that something illegal or unethical may have happened.

From the background I have received from this rescue, he was one of two pups that were breeder surrenders out of the US. His original foster mom, who was quit/fired during my adoption process, seemed to allude to some sort of exchange of money for vet costs to the breeder in exchange for the puppies. I should have ran away then.

During the process, I enlisted help from another rescue to help with the transportation as he was many hours away from me. Two people volunteered; one offered to fly him to me, and one would arrange for transportation by road. The lady who wanted to help by road also stated that she did not like my rescue and refused to help them, but since I was a forever home, she'd make an exception. I opted to do the flying route, but at the road route lady's caution, I should have ran away then, too.

I found out a few things upon receiving his paper work. The breeder neutered him on January 4th and he was at this rescue by January 6th. I received his neuter papers and after being examined by my vet, I was told this breeder would be considered a great breeder up here since she spent about $200 extra on extra tests during that very few owners do. I was also sent AKC papers (which no real rescue would have EVER sent me), covered in the breeders name and kennel (as were many of the papers I received)..which is all very strange and the whole transaction between breeder-rescue-adopter is very fishy.

I do not know what he was kept back for, as the breeder has a steady stream of yorkies and shih tzu's on her website that seem to leave around 10 weeks and he was kept until 6 months and then promptly shipped off. I'm guessing the rescue paid for the two pups, which is hugely unethical and makes me angry all over.

After the adoption was complete, I started receiving emails. There was a change of power within the rescue, and many had broken off to start a new rescue, and a legal power struggle over ownership of the rescues current dogs ensued. I, along with everyone who had adopted from this rescue, received many emails back and forth between the founder and the broken off group and lets just say they were not very pleasant. Their facebook group and website promptly disappeared.

Fast forward a couple weeks and I received two missed phone calls and a voice mail from said founder of the rescue. She wanted to let me know that she had Astro's brother and she wanted to discuss the adoption and just Astro in general. She stated she would phone again and would also email. This was nearly a month ago, and I have not gotten a call back or the email, and I am not about to return her phone call.

I googled her name and found a complaint on a website stating that she was a crook and her method of "rescuing dogs" was completely unethical. She charges different rates for every dog (not the usual standard rate for puppy, dog, and senior), and at one point was asking $800 for a rescue Biewer.

What have I gotten myself into? Should I be worried if the dog was acquired legally? I mean, the rescue had all his paperwork of which they wouldn't have if he had been stolen or something (you'd think), but I've been staring at his AKC papers for weeks wondering if I should file them for fear the breeder might come a runnin'. I have legal adoption papers from the rescue, but I guess that doesn't work if the rescue never got him legally in the first place...

Is there anything I should do to protect myself legally? And do I even bother filing AKC? It's not important to me, especially as he is a parti yorkie, and even if he wasn't, I'd never show or do any sanctioned events, anyways.

You rescued a dog from a rescue that you don't think was really a rescue and think that the breeder and Owner of Rescue organization were "trafficing dogs" and may have obtained them illegally?

If so, this happens all the time, its another scam. You are an innocent victim of a scam correct? What are you afraid of?

What is the name of the breeder?

I'm sorry your going through this, but I don't think YOU have anything to worry about at this point, YOU did nothing wrong.

What is your fear?

They were a rescue in the sense that they've been around for nearly 10 years and did partake in helping the local humane society with puppy mill seizures many a time and the sort. They had a large foster group, community support, and had beaming reviews from past adopters. They were also (apparently) well regarded to the average passer by. I'm not supporting them, but I definitely did my homework and tried to ensure they weren't total crooks, although I had my suspicions they weren't being run entirely ethically. But when the curtain fell, many people came out screaming.

My greatest concern is always for the dog, specifically the breeder taking the dog.

How much did you pay for the dog, that's a good indication if it's a scam or not. There are some rescues that have been known for paying breeder money for the dogs. This is really controversial, and not something that I believe in, but perhaps there are exceptions. A few years back a well know group like the Humane Society or the ASPCA, (I can't remember) bought the entire land and kennels of a large puppy miller. People were really upset about this, the guy was old, and he would probably have retired, but they didn't want him selling it to someone else. I just think this sets a bad example, and it teaches the miller that there’s money to be made from the pet owner as well as the rescuer. I've have read that one of the fastest growing scams is breeder "rescue".

I see and I understand. Just remember when you are "in" something it always seems so much worse versus looking in from the outside (usually). I say go with your gut as long as your conscience is clear; however, I wouldn't return the dog regardless...at this point. Infact I will even help you re-pay for it if it comes to that...but if this is infact an unethical organization you need to expose it, for your pup and all the others so that these types of "rescuers" are held accountable.

I am sorry you in this position. Not all Rescue Groups are ethical. I can't believe that the group gave you his AKC papers, to me that is a no, no for rescue group.
I don't see any reason at all for you to file these papers, this dog is an adopted/rescue.

You do have an adoption contract right? That spells out and does identify the dog you adopted?

I'm still in awe at the AKC papers, too. I am still actually shocked as to why they didn't white out the breeder's name on every paper they sent me! No one said they were smart, I guess.

I have the adoption papers that identify him as a biewer yorkie (which is incorrect, as he's "technically" a parti) and his birthdate, which does match the AKC papers I have. I also have a screen shot of their website (before it went down) of his page, picture and his write up, as well as the Petfinder ad. I have email correspondence with his two separate foster moms, and the word of the other rescue group who picked him up from the first rescue and flew him to me. I'm hoping I've covered my tracks enough to not have to worry if something were to come up.

Can I ask why sending you AKC papers and letting you know the breeder's name is considered a very unethical thing for a rescue to do? I don't understand why that's bad.

In short, confidentiality.

At a good rescue with a good board of directors, the names of the people who surrendered a dog are never given out because of confidentiality issues, which differ from rescue to rescue because of different contracts. There are stories about new owners stalking old owners, old owners stalking new owners, etc. Most rescues, when it is known, will explain to you why the dog was surrendered (owners moved, housing didn't accept pets, too much to handle, etc). In a case where dogs are surrendered, they usually sign off on something that release themselves of ownership of the dog, thus removing their name from said dog. Rescues usually have no problem stating that a dog was transferred in from another rescue and what not.

I can't honestly speak on the CKC/AKC papers. None of the dogs my rescue has dealt with has ever come with papers (knowledge of registration has existed, but papers never materialized). It does give someone the ability to track down the breeder, and sometimes breeders have clauses that rescues are unaware of...like that the dog cannot be given away and must be returned to the breeder. Then the breeder can get in the way of an adoption that has occurred if they are contacted...and they should absolutely always be contacted prior to adoption if a rescue has such papers...

In my case, finding out he was a breeder surrender, this made his last owner the breeder, so it would fall into the first category. Except, in my case, I think that the rescue may have purchased the pups rather than have them surrendered, which makes this a whole new ball game. I'm sure the breeder would rather not be known for having puppies end up in rescues as breeder surrenders.

I don't know what you gain from knowing the name of a breeder or someone who surrendered a rescue dog. It would solve curiosity, but you take a risk with the unknown with every rescue. Confidentiality wise, I know if I were ever in those shoes, I'd want to be an unknown.

I am so sorry that you are going thru this ordeal. It was
so wonderful of you to give Astro a forever home.

Took the words right out of my mouth so to speak. If we have papers on a pup we never turn them over when the pup is adopted. I don't know of any reputable group that would.

As for registering him...why not? If you have proof of payment and a contract, he is yours.

As for the rest that you posted about that "rescue" or "rescues" ... they all sound highly unprofessional airing their dirty laundry like that.

Can you explain why not? I'm not trying to start trouble, I just don't understand why a new forever home can't have a dog's AKC papers.

I understand why you ask this. I honestly cannot give a perfect answer for it...it is just something that most rescues don't do. Probably because the focus is not on breeding or conformation but on other traits of the pup.
It is rare for a rescue pup to have papers anyway.

I agree, & with a rescue they don't care about any registration nor should they as they are a RESCUE & not in it for the profit but the wellbeing of the dog. So really who cares about AKC, CKC or any other club registry as these rescue pups will never be bred. I have never heard of a rescue giving any club registry papers. Something deff sounds fishy with this rescue IMO.

I think it is VERY important to post the breeder as NO reputable breeder would turn their pups into a rescue. Same thing goes with breeders who sell pups through pet stores, these are unethical breeders & people from all over the world come to YT when they are in the market to purchase or rescue a yorkie & have the rite to know who to stay away from. So no it's not a matter of curiosity, it IS a matter of ethics. I personally would not want to purchase a pup from a breeder who cares so little about their pups as to give/sell them to a rescue. Kind of bass akwards if you ask me.