Originally Posted by DBlain (Post 4394759)

I am sorry that when searching for a purebred yorkie you did not find YT first, it might have saved you from this heartbreak. I assume you bought from this breeder due to her size promises and that makes me sad. A two pound yorkie is 3 lbs under the breed standard and $5,400.00 is highway robbery for a pet purebred Yorkie. By now I guess you know all this.

I do believe that her weight has contributed to this condition, but not in the way you are thinking. It's because you bought from a breeder who is trying to manipulate the breed into producing pups the size of small rats. When that happens all sorts of health issues arise. While it is true some show breeders will have a runt or two in a litter here or there they are still not trying to breed for them. While I am by no means an expert on AAI it does seem that many of the yorkies that suffer from this have been bred on purpose to be extra small.

One of the gals in a yorkie group I belong to has an AAI group, I think it is on yahoo, if you are not aware of it I will get you the info on how to join if you are interested. Best wishes for a good recovery for your gal.

Originally Posted by Nancy1999 (Post 4394962)

You are so right, these "one trait" breeders who breed for just size or color often overlook all the other things that go into making a yorkie, but the MAJOR thing they overlook is health, if your going to be a one trait breeder breed for health!

Originally Posted by makemepretty (Post 4411363)

I wanted to add that my little girl had AAI was $4500 and came from Natalie. She had to be put to sleep on the advice of the vet that she would not get better. I alerted her years ago that this was genetic and if you search you will find another customer that also lost a puppy from her with AAI so for her to say in 35 years this has never come up is deplorable. Who knows how many times she's been alerted because her first question to me was wanting to know the parents names...so she knows it's in her lines!

Originally Posted by capt_noonie (Post 4392861)

Awesome news Gina! Have you contacted your local BBB, put reviews up on her on Rip Off Report, and have you checked to see if your state has a puppy lemon law?

Massachusetts Pet Lemon Law

Wow MA puppy lemon laws are terrible. :(

Originally Posted by 107barney (Post 4411376)

Actually they are not. MA has some of the best consumer protection laws in the country.

Originally Posted by Nancy1999 (Post 4411590)

Did you read the link? I have no idea if it's true, but it says that:

While Massachusetts may have overall great consumer protection laws, this isn't good protection for buying a pup. Fourteen days to report a genetic defect? That's ridiculous.

Originally Posted by capt_noonie (Post 4410211)

So very glad to hear this!!

Originally Posted by makemepretty (Post 4468222)

I try to keep up with the complaints against Natalie Nelson of Natalie's Little Yorkies or Natalie's Wee Yorkies because I'm hoping to end her reign of heartbreak that she's doing to dogs and humans. I came across another review of her that not only mentioned a puppy with numerous health problems but a "retired" one also.

She tried to tell new or past customers that she doesn't know about all these problems but hopefully the more people that come forward the sooner she'll have to face what she's doing. I deeply believe more and more people will google her name before purchasing from her, if they do, they will find all this information and stop. Here is Annie's story.

Annie O.
Arlington, VA


5/2/2014
Here is my experience with Natalie's puppies and adult dogs:

Natalie will "retire" the adults and sometimes give them away or sell them. So, to make a very long story short, I am one of those who has had the unfortunate experience of 1. Purchasing a puppy that has numerous irreparable genetic defects and 2. Was "given" a retired dog who had numerous (I think it was around 20) rotted and abscessed teeth, seizures, 2 strokes and remained partially paralyzed after the first stroke. We eventually "laid her to rest" as I couldn't bear to watch her suffer anymore.

As for the puppy, well, he's still with me, but has seizures due to internal liver shunts and must be on medication. His liver is also pushed up in his chest cavity and is 1/3 of the size that it should be. This is not a reversible condition. Total cost to date including purchase: 35K and continuing as we must go to the vet every three months for blood work. Medication monthly runs about 100.

Should someone chose to purchase a puppy, from anyone, I was advised by a veterinarian (I now have 4 of them across the country because my little guy needs one wherever I go) to make sure the puppy is accompanied with a 2 year health guarantee.

Should someone chose to adopt or purchase a retired adult, first take them to the vet for a health check (prior to cutting a check). Ensure that the veterinarian thoroughly checks the dogs teeth, performs blood tests for liver anomalies and diseases and maybe even perform an x'ray or scan the liver.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of...

Well you know.

PS - When I told Natalie what was occurring with the puppy she did not offer to refund my money or replace the puppy. I was informed the health warranty was expired. Interesting that you normally can't tell genetic defects until after the first couple of years and her warranty covered how long again? No irony there.

Originally Posted by claudia1149 (Post 4411787)

I only found one report. And it was a bit questionable.

Originally Posted by Gina C (Post 4668951)

Hello and welcome back!!! Mila is doing absolutely wonderful it is so thoughtful of you to ask :) I am so blessed that after so much treatment and care , Mila lives as a full blown princess lol. She never had any further complications from her surgery. I have made many internet friends on this sight and through my personal email address which I have posted everywhere on Internet regarding other dogs that weren't as lucky as Mila all bought from the same bad breeder. My heart goes out to everyone that has got puppies from Natalie's yorkies. I wish everyone a wonderful fall :) enjoy every precious minute with your babies!