Great topic. I just adopted a baby boy about 2 weeks ago from a shelter. My cat is from a shelter as well. After everything I have read about on this website, I just didn't feel right buying a dog from a breeder when so many are in shelters, being pts. And although some people may not realize it..the fact is- there are yorkies in shelters, even puppies. (Some very cute ones at that! Hey, maybe I am just biased but I think Marshall is just as cute as some of the other yorkies I see on here. ;))

It is hard though.. It is a long-time commitment. I know almost nothing about his past so he could have a great deal of health problems in the future. In fact, Marshall has an upper respiratory infection and gave it to my other dog, Jimi when I brought him home. :rolleyes:

In the long run though, I think it is worth it. Every time I look at Marshall I just have to smile because I feel like I saved him. I gave him a great home.. Who knows what could have happened to him?

I know every time Marshall looks at you, he is very aware you saved him too, and he will be forever the most loyal dog.

I think it is a personal decision, but me personally, I will always adopt! :aimeeyork

ya - it's DEF a personal decision - My original feeling/point was conveyed badly - I don't see anything wrong with going out to choose a yorkie ..many have their heart set on these little guys (like me)

as I said earlier - I never even knew I could go the 'shelter' way because back then small breeds weren't as popular - but now that I have my 2 - I decided if I ever were to add another pet to my life - I'd adopt.

The shelter problem has always been huge - I guess knowing it's worse rather then better caused me to really think about all this.

One thing that burns me up is seeing the sites selling puppies for thousands and thousands of dollars. People actually FALL for that hard sell tactic and it sucks to know how much is spent on just ONE puppy while so many dogs die each and every day.:(

edited to add - Yorkies /small breeds ARE filling up shelters now - When they became one of the top selling breeds the shelters are now filling up with them way more than in the past.

ALL dogs deserve better than this.

I really, really, really want to adopt my next dog, if that ever happens. I think it just takes patience and finding the *right* one. There is TONS of yorkie puppies I see as well on petfinder.com so it's not like you can only get older dogs on petfinder.

I often feel guilty about where I got Jackson too. I saw him listed on kijiji.com from a home "breeder" if you call her that (aka BYB) but I thought I was doing good by not going to a pet store or puppy mill at the time. I have not ONE complaint about Jackson, he's honestly almost the perfect dog so I don't have regrets in that sense. But it's clear to me he was not socialized properly with humans as a young pup because he is just sooo shy with strangers. He's wonderful with every dog, but I often wonder if I had gone to a reputable breeder if I would have a more people loving dog, but that's honestly his only fault so I can't compain too much. Also, I prefer his size at 12lbs and it seems hard to come by those from reputable breeders.

Size is another reason I want to go through rescue because you often find the dogs that are 8+ pounds, floppy eared, mixes, etc, and those are my favorites. I'm also not entirely sure I'd wanna go through the whole puppy stage again after Jackson is finally mellowing out, sleeping a lot more, well behaved, etc. But I also really enjoyed the fact that I got to raise and mold Jackson into the dog I wanted him to be, without any other influences before me.

As for the cons on rescue, I'd be afraid to get a dog that winds up having behavioral issues that I'm not able to handle. Jackson has no behavioral issues and I'd be scared to add to our non-issue pack, LOL. My dad has 2 dogs, one they got too young (6 weeks old, Jack Russell/shihtzu mix) and another they rescued at 1 year old (Doxy mix). I have to say the rescue is WAY more well behaved than their other dog, but HE has been influenced by her, so now they've got two dogs who bark at strangers and other dogs out on walks, in the house, etc... when I bring Jackson over there, he also gets influenced by them and can be a big pain in my butt. THAT's why I'm scared to add another.

I'm rambling but I honestly go back and forth ALL the time between puppy vs. rescue and think I started a thread on it in the past.

I'm pretty sure I will add a second dog in the future but I'm very happy and content right now with just Jackson. I just want to find that PERFECT dog that will totally fit in with us so I'm starting to learn to just not rush into anything. That doesn't stop me from visiting petfinder.com and the Yorkies For Sale section every single day ;) If I find the "right one" I'm hoping I will just know.

I hope I can explain ....:confused:

I think all animals should be required by law to be micro-chipped and a database is maintain for all the chips so when an animal comes into the shelter the dog has its chip read. Then the shelter fines the breeder x amount of $$$ for this dog winding up in a shelter. I would not want the breeder to get the dog back because they could easily kill the animal (so they don't pay hugh fines) instead of finding it a good home.

While I know this is tough, breeders have been getting us the taxpayers, rescue's etc to clean up their mess after they have made the profit off of the dogs. Also we have got to slow down the amount of animals breed every year. Millions of pets are euthanized because of profits from a greeder just pumping out dogs and could care less what home they go in.

If someone else has any idea's I would love to hear them.

[QUOTE=livingdustmops;2988805]I hope I can explain ....:confused:


While I know this is tough, breeders have been getting us the taxpayers, rescue's etc to clean up their mess after they have made the profit off of the dogs.

AKC does require breeders to identify their dogs, either by the old method, which is phasing out or micro chip. Many breeders are now chipping their pups prior to placing them.

Ok, thank you for clarifying. I wasn't sure what you were saying, but now I understand. :)

[quote=Mardelin;2988829]I would like ALL breeders be required to do this...this includes mass producers like hunt corporation, USDA etc...They are the biggest problem of just selling product..to anyone.

I agree, I think a lot of good potential rescuers rare turned down. I understand why they are strict but one set of rules does not fit everyone.

Why???...rescues work very, very hard to place animals that the breeders could have cared less about...Stop bashing rescue and start bashing the breeders that place these dogs into these homes or won't take them back. As far as I am concerned it is 99% of the breeders fault. They made the profit off of the dogs.

[quote=livingdustmops;2988888]I do know for a fact that Hunt does micro chip their pups........The reason I know is a family member (yeah! I know) bought their yorkie from a pet store...the micro chip was attempting to work it's way through the skin. He went back to the Pet Store and showed them the problem they contacted Hunt, Hunt covered the cost to have the old chip removed and cost of the new chip and implantation charges.

[quote=Mardelin;2988898]Okay then the next step is to see how many of their dogs end up in rescue...Sadly I don't think data is being kept on this...

So sorry about you family member..:eek: that must have driven you up a wall!

I'm not bashing rescues. Why turn this into an argument? :confused:

I'm just agreeing that perhaps they should not make it so hard to rescue. There are very good responsible loving dog owners that do not have a fenced in yard. (just one examble). Yet they will be turned down. They need to be more flexible and go on a case by case basis, not one size fits all.

that being said, I will not respond to any more word twisting accusations to turn Villettes thread into a battle ground.

Since you have never done rescue and don't understand everything that goes on with a reputable rescue everyone assumes people are being turned down for one thing but most reputable rescues do look at each application on a case by case examlple. They will always place the Yorkie is the best home for the Yorkie...as it should be.