I know you mean well, but perhaps you don't understand Mia's condition.

Can you give me the name of just one person who you think would adopt her and give her the care she needs 24 hours a day? Give me one name of one person who would take her and give her meds 4 times a day? Feed her by hand 4 times a day? Giver her a lactulose enema or clean up diarrhea. Take her to the vet every other day? Stay up with her all night when she can't stop walking? Hold her while she has a siezure? Pay more than a thousand dollars in vet care so far? I only know of one person who would ...and is... giving her the care she needs. I know that she is getting the best care possible with us....

I'm terribly upset about her condition right now.... I know we've done everything possible to save this baby ...born of greed into misery..... It seems we will soon have to make the last loving decision possible for this helpless little soul and it's breaking my heart. I apologize if my answer seems sharp. It's just devastating to all of us and the more I see of this, the more heartbroken and angry I feel.

PLEASE............ if you buy a puppy, buy one from a reputable breeder!!!!

Thanks, Trish!! I knew the answer but didn't quite know how to word it. You're a gem!! ;)

Most people just don't realize that they could be buying heartbreak and huge vet bills if they don't choose their breeder carefully. If you see any red flags, please run from that breeder.

My Maltese Lady is a rescue. She was abandoned by her first mom when she was four years old because she started having seizures. After many tests, she was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy which is probably genetic.

A year and a half later she was diagnosed with diabetes, also most likely inherited. Since dogs are always Type I diabetics, Lady needs insulin shots twice a day exactly twelve hours apart. I have adjusted my schedule around her for six years now.

As a result of her diabetes, her nerves have been affected. She has neuropathy in her hind legs and no longer produces tears in one eye which requires special eye drops and artificial tears 4-6 times a day. She is also prone to other eye problems like uveitis and must see an opthamologist regularly.

Lady has constant uti's from the diabetes which are very difficult to clear up. She had one last winter that almost killed her. She was hospitalized twice and had to have subq fluids at home. This "simple" uti cost me $700.

Lady also has arthritis, a heart murmur and hypothyroidism. Her medications and diabetic supplies cost close to $250 a month. Her basic vet bills just to test and maintain all her conditions are huge. We also usually have at least one "close call" a year which runs close to $1,000.

Lady was somebody's "bargain" puppy from a backyard breeder from a newspaper ad. Some bargain, huh?

Please, please do your homework and check out the breeder you are buying your puppy from. Make sure she is breeding genetically sound dogs and that she screens for health issues prone to the breed like liver shunts. Insist any puppy you buy have a bile acids test before you bring him home. And speaking of bringing him home, if a breeder wants to sell you a puppy before twelve weeks of age, that is a huge red flag as it goes against the guidelines of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America.

By paying a little more now you can save yourself a fortune in vet bills in the future and heartbreak you can't put a price on.

I offered my help with the colorado yorkie rescue, and Have not been contacted just yet, I am still willing and able, these types of stories break my heart. My mom jokes about how spoiled Armani is and yet I feel that he is blessed to have us in his life, and does not suffer just like some of these poor puppies. Please if any of the people involved in the rescue see this, let me know that I can do. I am a full time student with full time work, but I have extra time around the holidays :)

:goodpost: Thank you so much for your post! That's what Trish & I are trying to get everyone to understand. You would be surprised [or maybe not] at the number of people who contact us when their "bargains" have medical problems and they simply don't want to deal with a sick pup or can't afford to. We have those who want to surrender them for various reasons and then we find that they have serious, sometimes untreatable medical problems. We immediately have them vet checked and spay or neutered when they come into rescue. Our little Lily [on our website] went in for a simple spay and died twice on the table! We were given the choice to "let her go" or the vet would try to save her! Our hearts wouldn't let her give up! They were able to save her but it was touch and go during which time she had to be moved back and forth from our vet [who doesn't have staff available overnight] to Emergency care overnight. Trish then nursed her back to health and then we found out that there was a problem with her liver. Geeezzzz ... we just knew there would never be anyone who would want this precious little girl with her problems! Well ... there are angels in NM because not only did they want her even knowing her condition, they have patiently worked on special diets, she has normal levels now and is living the "Princess" life in Las Cruces!! Fortunately, there are still those, like us and you, who see beyond their problems and see the real beauty in these precious little throwaways!! God bless you for rescuing and caring!

Thank you so much, Tatiana!! Please PM your contact information to me or email us at the Yahoo address below. Thank you again ... we need all the help we can get!

what a sad story. but what a great foster mom for being so dedicated!!

That's so sad. I'm glad that the little girl is in loving arms now though, hopefully prayers will be answered and there will be a miracle. No puppy diservers that :(

wow what a sad story, the baby and foster family will be in our prayers for sure. she looks adorable! i really dont know how people can just get rid of sick animals, it just breaks my heart. i know how expensive it can get to take care of them and the time it takes but still the way i think of it is they are family and you do what you have to. we have gotten 2 of our dogs from people who didnt want them because of health issues and i wouldnt give them bk if my life depended on it, they add so much to our lives.

Looks like little Mia may have her Miracle ....
 

Sorry it\'s taken awhile to update but this baby has been seen by a "parade" of doctors in the last few months ... but finally, finally it looks like one got it right!!! This foster Mom & Dad absolutely refused to give up on her even when we just couldn\'t imagine that there was anything that would even give her a tiny speck of quality in her life! We were just at the point that all we could pray was please give her a miracle or take her to Rainbow Bridge. Well .... it\'s truly the season of Miracles!!! She was taken for an MRI yesterday upon the recommendation of her latest doctor ... and ... this is a portion of the email from foster Mom [who, like me, has to make immediate notes or can\'t remember details] ...

1. Mia\'s cortex never completely developed, causing....
2. Inflammation in the white matter of the brain.....and she has....
3. A fluid filled cyst on the right ventricle of the brain, not cancer and not a tumor, causing her to constantly turn to the left and circle.

She will be under the vet’s care for the next 36 to 48 hours. The medication she will be on is Cytosine, this medication is used for several types of diseases, including cancer. Mia will be on medication the rest of her life to keep the inflammation down due to the fact that the cortex never completely developed. I believe she will also be on another medication IV as well, the Cytosine will be given to her through IV. She has no indication of liver shunt what so ever, just as he told me a week ago.

Within 12 hrs. the vet will be able to determine if Mia is getting better, his thought process on this was that the eye sight should be coming back and the inflammation should start to go down. Like he said, she won\'t be the smartest dog on the block, but should be able to walk straight, go up and down stairs and play. What more could I ask for. Miss Mia will be able to see me for the first time, God willing.

THIS, my wonderful YT friends, is truly a Miracle!!! I believe I recall that he also said the problem with the Cortex is a genetic flaw but that the success rate [if she survives these 48 hrs.] is 95%!!! So, please, please pray for this tiny soul!!

Mia will definitely be in my prayers.

Sending lots of prayers to that poor special little Girl !

I\'m praying for this little angel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for posting this. I don\'t think a lot of people. including me, realize the problems that can arise with pups from bad breeders and you have really opened my eyes. This story is so sad and I PRAY that this little one will now have a healthy life. God Bless the caring foster parents who wouldn\'t give up on this baby and also you for caring so much.

I looked on the rescue website and I could not find her story. Do you have a direct link to it?

It is comforting to know that there are people out there unselfish and giving enough to help out under such extraordinary circumstances.