Is this a puppy mill (PA)??
 

Hello everyone, I am new to Yorkie Talk and I have just been reading lots of the posts and just learning a lot about Yorkies and how to buy them and what to look out for. I am very interested in buying a yorkie, but I am on a very tight budget. I found a breeder that was selling a male and had the puppy in my price range, and she sent me pictures of him and everything. I am very excited about this, but after I calmed down, I started wondering if this is a puppy mill or if there is something wrong with this puppy. I called the breeder and she sounded very nice as well as informed, and she told me that she has been breeding for 25 or so years. Her site is very nice and she even pointed out the parents of the puppy on her site while on the phone with me. She told me that the puppy has his shots, been vet checked, and everything. The only things that she told me about the puppy that made him a little cheaper is the fact that he is 14 weeks old now, and she said that she doesn't like keeping puppies after they are 12 weeks old, and she told me that he will be about 7-8 pounds, which is a little big for a yorkie. She told me that I could get him from her for $500. She actually had 2 available and that was one of them, the other one, she said only had one testicle, because the other didn't drop yet. I already knew to stay away from that puppy. Well the name of this place is Vera Cruz Yokies and it is located in Reinholds, PA. Everything sounded too good to be true, so I wanted to ask you guys if it truly is too good to be true, or if she is trying to sell me a sick dog or something strange. She told me that she normally sells dogs for like $1000 or more for the ones that are around 10 to 12 weeks old and will be full grown at around 3-6 lbs. or so. The puppies aren't spayed/neutered but I didn't think it would matter. Sorry for the long post but I am very excited and very nervous at the same time so I wanted to see what you all knew if anything about her. O yea and her name is Erma Weaver if that helps to find out if she is ok. Thank you very much. :D

PS. If she is bad, and you know someone selling yorkie male puppies in the tristate area (preferably near Cherry Hill, NJ) for no more then $800 I would be very interested in talking to them because I want to get the puppy for my finance for her birthday which is on April 22 :cake2: . Thank you. :thumbs up

I honestly dont think its a puppy mill. My male yorkie max. I purchased him for $500.00 also because he was a little bit older. The same thing she likes to sell her dogs around 10-12 week old line, but my dog was 14 weeks. He is also a large male, right now at 9 months he weighs 8 pounds. My breeder has been doing this for 20+ years and she also has many other yorkies that sell for $1500+. So honestly what this lady is telling you, I believe its true because that is exactly what happen to me. R u interested in studding out your dog eventually? If so, there might be a problem finding a female, because im in the same boat now, my male is too big for a yorkie female. So something to think aobut..:aimeeyork

I don't know if that is a puppy mill...but it seems somewhat credible.
Are you going to pick him up in person?? Maybe that would help get rid of some of your worries. I guess some breeders just price differently?

I don't know much on the subject. I got my puppy who was a 8 week old female with shots and tail docked for $400. And she is perfectly healthy and normal. She is now 12 weeks and 2.4 pounds. I was skeptical too bc of her low price but I went to the breeders house and was able to see the mom and dad as well as the rest of the litter. She also had the papers and everything. So I would just suggest going and checking it out in person if you are still skeptical.

I just want to say hello and welcome! You may want to post this in the general section here on YT so you will get a lot more feedback :)

Thank you for the welcome.....I am going to her house to look at the puppy to see if I infact like him and to look at the parents and everything. I think everything should be cleared up if I go to see him first.

I have another question now....I just got an email about 20 minutes ago telling me that one of the two available puppies were sold today, so I am in a scramble trying to figure out what to do and if I should quickly jump for the other puppy. I have a pretty good feeling that the only puppy left is the one with the one testicle. Is that a bad thing for a dog to have only one testicle?? Will that come back and haunt me later down the line with vet bills or something???

it sould not matter if you plan to have him neutered, but if you're looking to mate than that's out of the question, go and take a look see for yourself and good luck

I think you need to go and look, that will help you decided. As far as the one testicle, I am not 100% - but being that he is only 14 weeks, it may still drop soon, but the Vet should know and also when he gets neutered, the Vet just has to search for it and remove it, that's all. I don't think that much to worry about. Hopefully others that know for sure will chime in soon!

Welcome to YT :D

it should not matter if you plan to have him neutered because you will have to anyway, but if you're looking to mate than that's out of the question, go and take a look see for yourself and good luck

Hi! Welcome to YT! :) Unless you are planning to breed or show, the undescended testicle should not be a problem beyond a higher neuter cost. You might call a local vet and get a price estimate. I also think that they sometimes descend later for some pups. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here.

Anyway, welcome to YT! :D

Thank you for the warm welcomes to YT....and so far I love YT and I have been learning so much from this site.

I just wanted to let you all know I posted this again in the general section just to see if anyone else had anything to say about the subject....just in case anyone else was wandering the answer to the undesended testicle mystery.

Welcome. I think by going there you will get a feel for how the parents and puppies are kept. Good luck your fiancee is lucky!!!

Welcome to YT. :welcome4: Reinholds is in Lancaster County, PA and I live in Lancaster. I've never been there though and have not heard of that lady's name or of Vera Cruz Yorkies. Please let us know what that place is like if you go to see the puppy. I do know that Reinholds is more or less a farming community.

Good Luck in making your decision. :goodluck:

Thank you very much....I will most definately let you know about this breeder when I go to look at her place, and hopefully pick up my little man!!!

hi! i live in voorhees. i purchased my yorkie from a great breeder that i found in the courier post. he was $650 and AKC + champion sired.

Lancaster County is the puppymill heart of the country. I would be very wary of buying a puppy from a breeder who lives there without a lot of research. Please read this article about Pennsylvania puppy mills:

http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/Pennsylvania.html

Have you checked the USDA "puppy mill" list for her name or the name of her kennel?

http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/ListB2006.pdf

Hey Rob welcome to the group. Im Chrissy and live not to far from you in Pine Hill

She is def NOT a puppy mill I have bought 3 yorkies from her and we both use the same vet Her pups are wonderful

this is her web page to see pics of dogs Vera Cruz Yorkies -- Our Puppies!

Undescended Testicle
 

A lot of breeders will tell you that the testicle may descend later but in fact
all my research and experience as well as checking with vets is - no. This is actually a process that happens soon after whelping. The opening closes soon after birth and if the testicles aren't descend before that too bad they won't ever. It won't matter if she doesn't breed him but will be a little more difficult spay and more expensive since the vets usually have to go into the abdomen to get the other testicle.

She has beautiful dogs and has some good lines behind her. I checked out some of her pedigrees. Unless she truly is a puppy mill then you should get a beautiful pup from there.

thanks so much for posting your review regarding this breeder

I don't think Vera Cruz has any puppies I clicked on the link and nothing came up. I am looking for a young adult anyway. Puppies are so cute but require so much work I would rather find a Yorkie who needs a loving forever home. Oh yeah I noticed the post's from Rob about the Yorkie puppy was dated 2008 old post :)