I'm technically in DC, but I think the idea of get-togethers and/or watching each others' yorkies is a GREAT idea! Or ideas. :)

I met a woman here in DC with whom I was going to leave Violet for a week. Violet ended up getting sick so I cancelled my trip, but I liked this woman a lot. She boards dogs in her house, so they're not in cages, and she is a professional trainer so she can work with them while you are gone. She's a little pricey, though. Her website is K9 Home Page

Yay! Thank you. Well...no boarding here. Kikyo has a hall closet we turned into her bedroom with a huge comforter and doggie bed. I was just thinking it would be good and not a boarding environment.

Let me know and I can give you my info.

Watching the Furbabies
 

I recently relocation to the northern VA area (10 months) and have 2 babies (Ali & Hudson). I will say that it has been quite a nightmare trying to find a vet! Shortly, after we got to VA Hudson starting getting sick. Not knowing anyone in the area to ask... I took him to VCA Old Town. It didn't take long into our 1st visit for me to realize that this place was part of a corporation! Which was (a) not something I was used to. My vet in Los Angeles was private and (B) very clear to me it was that money was a big focus for them. After almost 6 months, thousands of dollar's and tests later there was still NO end in sight and NO answers. So, I took him to the Univ of Tenn to see Dr. Tobias... it was a liver shunt! I can't say enough good things about this place!! It starts at the front door. From the moment you walk in the front desk greets you with a smile and quickly get you taken care of. The Dr's are patient, kind and MOST importantly very Knowledgeable. They explained everything down to the very last detail, answered all of my millions of questions and didn't seem rushed or bothered by doing so! They kept me updated every few hours after surgery. We were there for 4 days. Hudson is now 10 days out of surgery and doing great!!!! Thank you UT for giving Hudson a second chance at a normal life and for being soooo great to his mom too!
The point to this story is... it would have been very helpful to have had a group of "yorkie friends" in the area to talk to and ask questions. I was not only very worried about Hudson, but I didn't know what to do with my female Ali while we were away! I think a group to "Babysit" would be a wonderful!!! You can count me in! It would also be nice to get together for "play dates".

How should we go about organizing an email list??

I guess we need to have 1 person as the point of contact. If no one else want's to do it... I will. Here is my email address boodarlene@yahoo.com. If everyone who is interested will email me with their contact info, I will put a list together & send to all.

Please include if you are willing to babysit, if you are just looking for play dates or are willing to do both.

To tell the truth I haven't found any vets in this area I am happy with. In an emergency I go to Centreville Animal Hospital, But for the most part I travel all the way down 95 to Milford (almost to Kings Dominion) to Caroline Animal Hospital, Dr. Deborah Grissom. She knows Yorkies very well and is the only vet I trust to operate on my Petey Boy.:aimeeyork

I find the vets in the Metro area are very very expensive and want to push unnecessary health care on your dogs.
They are in it for the $$$ and not the health of the pups...