Bella - Our Christmas Angel Belle, is out of the hospital and doing gloriously!  

UPDATE: December 26, 2014

Bella is eating everything put in front of her!  She has her plate filled twice a day and she gobbles it all. She has gained about 8 ounces since coming into rescue. Bella adores being held. Her good spirits show up as she prances and dances and swirls like a trick pony. She circles the house searching for her mom and dad, her favorite game of hide and seek. Her gait reminds you of a Hackney with good action when she is on a firm surface. In a different life, she would have been very showy.  Such a happy little girl. She has found her voice and even gives a good imitation of lifting her lip when another Yorkie gets too close while she was being held!  Imagine the ferociousness of a 3 lb dog with only a few loose teeth! It boggles the mind and makes grown men weep.  

She REALLY needs someone home most of the time. Just to hold her and play, to feed her and pay attention to her big eyes and happy face. She cannot walk too too far, or do too many steps. Her little bowed legs are so twisted and crooked. Her teeth are few and loose. She wheezes at times making snoring noises when she is relaxed and content - like a dreaming kitten. Her tiny pink tongue peeks out most of the time, giving her a comical expression.  She is so damned cute it takes your breath away. 

She goes to the orthopedic vet next week. Who knows. Perhaps her legs can be made more steady and secure. We will report all that happens to the darling darling girl. 

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December 21, 2014

We've been asked for her story - so here is what we know. It is rather brief, but it is all we have.

The local shelter sent a haunting email late last Sunday night - not expecting that anyone from the rescue would see it until some time the following week, they described a 'teacup' Yorkie just 4 years old, with bad teeth, and at 7 pounds, had been turned in by the owner just the day before. The owner complained that the dog nipped at her child.  Shelter employees quickly decried that notion of aggression - they all fell in love with her, everyone wanted to hold the new little dog. Bella kissed everyone who came near and followed them like the sweetest, gentlest of dogs. Would we be able to take her they asked?

They were totally unprepared for the response. 

Would we take her?!  Try keeping us from swooping in to take her out of there - with big dogs screaming, the cold floors and clammy concrete walls - any Yorkie would be terrifed in such a setting.  Of course we would take her!  

Flying through the city, with a blanket on my lap, we wondered what we would find waiting in that cage. Would she be hiding, maybe giving a lifted lip to say - "back off, I'm scared." Would she snap at us when we tried to lead her out of the cage? Would she bark like a demon in fear of all of us strangers? What would we find? Having pulled many Yorkies before, we were prepared for all possiblities.

We waited nervously in the lobby, watching the staff fill out stacks of paperwork, impatient to see the Yorkie behind door number 3.  Behind us, the street door opened and a middle aged woman with red hair flew in at the end of the leash pulled by a red nosed pitbull.  We overheard as she approached the counter.... 'have to return her. Only had her since Saturday but can't keep her.  She won't go up the steps...  My husband and I looked at each other sadly. The pitbull had only hours left to live - being returned to the shelter was its death sentence. We moved away and swallowed hard. 

The Adoption Coordinator, Leeann, came around the corner. Seeing us with the blanket her anxious face broke into a huge smile. She knew who we were and why we were there! She shook our hands and gushed about what a wonderful rescue we were. Leeann had no idea anyone would see that email, sent so late the night before, had not expected an immediate answer, and was amazed that we were standing before her less than one day later.  "I don't know of any other rescue that is so well organized, so well prepared, and so responsive. It's a pleasure to work with such caring people."  We smiled because that is just what we work so hard to be.  

Leeann handed us the paperwork and reviewed the information.  "She has just a few teeth, and they are not in good shape.  She looked at us for signs that this might be a deal breaker, that we might reject the dog, sight unseen, because she was not the perfect dog that people often expected.  The dog would cost money, probably a lot of money if her teeth needed to be extracted at the vets. We nodded knowingly - that's a Yorkie. Few people brush their teeth and the result is that even young Yorkies may have very bad teeth or no teeth at all. The news didn't phase us in the least.

"Now, she's small but the owner said she went after her children. We have not seen any such display of aggression."  I asked for particulars - any growling, snapping, snarling, guarding of food or toys? Any dog to dog aggression?  Any kind of questionable behavior that we needed to know about? Leeann smiled again and said, "On the contrary, this little teacup is one of the sweetest most loving dogs any of the staff have ever handled. Wait til you meet her. You'll see what I mean." 

I grinned at the term "teacup" knowing there is no such true "teacup" Yorkshire Terrier but I didn't want to go into technicalities, she was being so kind so instead I asked, "You said she was 4 years old? Is that right? And 7 pounds?"  "No, no, she's a teacup - she's only 3.2 pounds."  I was unsure we were on the same page - so again, I said - the email said 7 pounds, did I read that wrong?" Leeann insisted, the Yorkie was only 3.2 pounds, at the most.  Unsure but trusting, we signed the Intake paperwork and followed Leeann to the vet's office.

Still disbelieving, she showed us the way to the staff's office so that we could pay for her vetting - the heartworm and Lyme test that we had requested.  The staff came swarming out and, hearing that we were there to pick up Bella, they all smiled and clapped and gushed about her!  "Sweet!" "Darling!" "Cutest little thing!"  It was unanimous.  

The lady at the counter asked for our credit card number.  Closing my eyes, I started to recite the 12 digit number from memory - 4310 7920 3....  and then I heard the cries of delight!  A young vet tech was triumphantly carrying one of the tiniest Yorkies I had ever seen, straight to me.  The triangle tip of Bella's tiny pink tongue was out of her mouth and she was reaching over to kiss every one of the ladies lined up, watching her with glee.  

Bella was breathtaking!  Tiny is the word that kept playing in my mind. I took her in my blanket and she peeked out at my husband who stooped to see her clearly.  I could tell he was under her spell - his heart melted as the staff cried.  

In less than two hours, Bella went from the shelter and vet's office, to a groomer (to get out some matts0, to a pet store for food, to my home to meet my Yorkies, and had supper, then over to our vet for a check up (where the scale showed her to be not 3.2 but 2.6 pounds!)  and then to her new foster mom for her last ride of the night.  We were exhausted and we were sure Bella would sleep well that night. 

Early the next day my cell phone rang and the foster mother's family was calling and terribly worried - saying that Bella was very sick. She had had diarrhea several times that morning and was so weak, she could not stand up. Her legs would not hold her up, she sat and stared listlessly, unable to take a step. "Get her to the vet!" I told them. Right now!  She is too little - she has to have fluids or she could go into a coma.  

Once Bella was examined, the vet's office called me. I could hear the concern in their voices.  She was badly dehydrated and listless. They could not get her to stand on her own. They were giving fluids, offering precription food, water, doing blood work and having x rays done to be sure nothing else was wrong. For the next 16 hours we waited and called and waited.  Bella had to stay overnight - had to be kept under observation to be sure she didn't slip away.  I told them - over and over - whatever she needed. Do it. I visited the vet that night and they assured me that she was holding her own. 

It wasn't until the next day when we heard the good news. Bella was up, was eating like a piggy and bouncing around the cage. She was barking with delight to see each dog that was brought back to the lab area and the vet techs were laughing at her antics. Bella was BACK!

I decided to bring the little Yorkie to my home. She needs to have medication twice a day to get her strength back and her internal bacteria up to par.  Bella LOVES the ID Diet food that I heat just a little in the microwave.  While my three Yorkies were skeptical about having a new addition, I wanted to be sure that she was not alone and that her stool was no longer a problem. 

Last night Bella wanted to sleep in my room but I feared that she could fall off of a bed so I set up an ex-pen close to my bed so I could touch her while she fell asleep. Not good enough, said Bella. She begged to get out. So I did what any good foster mother would do, I put a pillow on the floor, arranged the quilts and snuggled there with Bella. She was soon sound asleep nestled gently in my arms.  After a few hours, I was getting chilly on the floor and decide to try sleeping in bed one more time and this time Bella said she wanted to do the same - that's how it came to be. Four Yorkies and me in one bed - each in their own bed and my arm around Bella. 

She has eaten her breakfast, taken her meds and made two stools that were so perfect, I wanted to bronze them and sell them as souvenirs!  She is asleep at my feet in her donut bed, that is heated just a tiny bit.  All of the Yorkies go out together to potty and Bella herself, went to the door just one hour ago, to say, "Please, may I go out to tinkle?"  What more could she do? After ONE day - she is just as good as a Yorkie could be.  

So here is the rest of the story - yes, her teeth are few and the few she has need to be cleaned. She may lose more. Her tongue does peek out from her lips - very cute. But I feel badly that she didn't have a chance to keep all of her teeth.

Bella's back legs are luxated - that is turned inward. This may have been the way she was born. We had x-rays done and we made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon for after Christmas.  She may or may not need surgery.  We won't know until after that appointment. If she does - we will do everything that the surgeon suggests. The cost could be astronomical, the healing could take months.  

In the mean time, if she finds a perfect home who will follow through and have her legs checked and surgery done, if it is recommended, would be considered.  

My requirements for Bella's new home would include:
 
* Someone home much of the time, a retired couple would be great, not someone who is gone 8 hours a day.
* A home with few steps and a yard - she prefers to potty on grass  
* A home with carpeted floors as she finds hardwood to be difficult to navigate.  
* We would like to find someone with Yorkie experience - who knows about brushing teeth and has a good vet history.  
* Another small very friendly dog would be nice - she likes dogs but is timid with them.  

We have had quite a few calls about her - mainly because of her size, age and sex.  But there is so much more to this little dog. Her tiny bowed back legs are comical and her little pink tongue - her loving personality, her need to be loved and to be held.  She is so beautiful. She deserves better care than what the people who have had her, have given her. Never again will she be neglected for a moment. Angel Belle - Bella is perfection. 

Her adoption fee is $450.00. If your home fits the description, please put in your application but realize that there may already be many people ahead of you. Don't be disappointed. Check out all of our other Yorkies - there are so many who need you. 


She is vacationing in Sinking Spring, PA, with Marilyn and her gang.

Good with Dogs, Is Not Good with Kids

Save A Yorkie Rescue, Inc.  is a 501(c)(3) qualified non-profit organization operating on donations from Yorkie lovers who care. Please help by donating your tax deductible donations. 

OR

mail your check or money order to
Save A Yorkie Rescue, Inc., 526 N. St. Cloud St., #602,  Allentown, PA 18104

YOUR generosity is appreciated!

KEEP THESE FACTS IN MIND:
1. Yorkies do not usually get along well with small children and can be injured by small children, even ones who love them. Be aware of this and keep them apart. 2. Yorkies can be very difficult (nearly impossible) to housebreak. If you are gone for more than 3 hours at a time, the dog will have to have access to wee wee pads, or need someone to stop in to let him out to potty.
3. We almost NEVER get a puppy (less than one year old) in Yorkie Rescue. If only a puppy will do, check the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America website for a recommended breeder - never buy over the Internet, or from a newspaper ad or a petstore. The heartache you save will be immeasureable.
4. There is no such thing as a "teacup" Yorkie, so don't be misled by such a description. LEARN about the breed BEFORE you decide to adopt.
5. You will need to make arrangements to drive and meet the dog at the foster home which can be in New Jersey, western PA, Maryland,  etc. The dog's biography lists where the dog is fostering. We want you to meet the dog with your family and your dog, if you have one. This is a requirement for adoption.

WHAT IS THE ADOPTION FEE?
Adoption donations generally vary from dog to dog, it depends on the health, the age and the size of the dog.

Young Yorkies will have a higher adoption donation since they are the most highly sought after and they help to cover the costs of the older dogs who have a harder time finding a loving home. It is sad but true that people overwhelming demand very young dogs when they would be infinitely happier with a mellow adult. 

 

 ADOPTION AREA

Save A Yorkie Rescue prefers to adopt only in the PA, NJ, western NY, DE, MD, VA, some CT area's. If you are in the NYC area or near Long Island, there is a Yorkie Rescue closer to you. 

Be aware that you will be asked to drive to meet and pick up your dog.

 

 

 

 

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