Adopting a Yorkie ???

[Duckman]

I am seriously considering adopting a rescued Yorkie if it is not claimed by its owner within the hold time. A week ago late Friday I was picking up my Maltese from the groomer at PetSmart and there was a couple there with what appeared to be a Yorkie which they found in the street/parking lot. The groomer said PetSmart didn't take in strays but would probably be able to get an employee to take it home overnight and then give it to a rescue group.

The little dog looked like it had been on the street quite a while and was very skinny and in need of a full grooming. It was also obviously scared and tired as it laid on the counter. It is possible it has a mix in the breed, but it seems to have Yorkie also.

I went back to PetSmart on Monday to check on what happened to the dog. I was told they couldn't get anyone to take it home and ultimately gave it back to the couple who brought it in with info about the local animal control shelter. Had I known that on Friday, I would have taken it in, groomed it, had my vet take a look at it, and then try to find the owner.

There was no contact info on the couple who took it back and I checked with all the local rescues (including our animal control shelter) but the dog was no where to be found. So I thought maybe the couple decided to keep it and maybe try to find the owner. A first trip down to animal control yeilded no results.

I got the impression that the couple who found the dog couldn't keep it (or didn't want it) but at least they were kind enough to bring it into PetSmart after finding it in the street and parking lot. I ran a lost/found ad in the newspaper over the weekend, hoping either the couple who had the dog OR the dog's owner might call. No leads from the ad...

Today, Tuesday, I found out that animal control has what I am 99% sure is the Yorkie. It was brought in yesterday (Monday). I went down to animal control at lunchtime today and talked to the person at animal control who described it to me. The picture looks like it also. The person at animal control said it was given an initial check by their shelter vet and it had a limp when it walked. My Maltese also has a limp sometimes, so I am familiar with that.

I wasn't able to see the dog while I was there. They keep it for 7 days and then it may be up for adoption. Animal control has my name and phone number and I will be following the progress of this dog so it doesn't slip through the cracks. The shelter unfortunately euthanizes 7 out of 10 animals so that is a concern especially if they consider an animal's medical condition as a factor. I made it clear that I would adopt it even if it is labeled a special needs animal.

Here is a picture (it is a dark picture but that is the only pic animal control had of it):
http://www.duckman.net/imagesmisc/yorkie.jpg

My concern is that the dog will somehow be labled "unadoptable" and be put to sleep. I have made 2 trips to animal control so far and made it very clear that I want to adopt this animal.

Does anyone have any suggestions on dealing with local animal control shelters regarding this situation? I am a persistent person and will be following the progress of what happens to this animal as often as I can...

[DaisyMaesMom]

I'm sorry that I don't have any help to offer, but someone here will be able to steer you in the right direction.. I'm sure of it!! Good Luck!

[shecass]

Welcome. What a kind and caring person you are. I'm sorry I don't have any advice to offer other than just keep after them and continue to let them know that you want the dog if no one claims it.

Please keep us posted, and good luck.

[JeanieK]

All shelters have contact numbers for breed rescue groups. When they get in an animal of any of those particular breeds they contact them and it is rescued.

However since they already have you ready to rescue it I doubt that they will need to call anyone else.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Welcome to YT.

[simonandhallie]

Hugs to you for being so diligent! That is definitely a yorkie from the picture, what a cutie! I've never dealt with animal control personally but I am positive someone here has. I would call everyday, visit, make SURE they know you want that baby! Is there a way to get another group involved like the United Yorkie Rescue? It may be worth a try to give them a call and see what they can do to help you and the yorkie!

PLEASE keep us updated, you are a kind soul to be so willing to help out this baby!

[JeanieK]

I was able to lighten your picture for you. The poor little baby. Looks like it could use a huge dose of L

[Duckman]

Thanks for the comments so far...and thanks for the lighter picture

Sunday a week ago, the Sunday after that Friday when I first saw the stray Yorkie in PetSmart, our local newspaper had a huge front page article titled "7 out of 10 animals in the city shelter are Killed" with killed in huge letters and the byline that 1300 animals are euthanized every month there. They are simply overwhelmed there at the local animal control shelter. I don't want this dog to slip through the cracks and be euthanized by mistake.

After reading that article anything I can do to put the odds in this little dog's favor will help. I wish they would have let me bring it home in a foster home situation but I can also understand why they don't do that. I am sure that the dog must be scared and needs grooming and a good diet...

[livingdustmops]

The shelter is required by law to follow certain guidelines but this is what I would do.

1. Call the shelter and find out who the local Yorkie rescue person is/phone
2. Call this person and tell them your interest in this dog - no matter what the costs
3. This dog could easily be a biter - they get so frightened in the shelter & the shelter may only release to a rescue if they have a good working relationship otherwise they may have to put the dog down no matter what.
4. The rescue person could convince them the dog is very ill and please do an early release to them
5. Check your laws - in Arizona it is only 3 days if the dog does not have ID tags or a micro-chip - 7 days if it does.
6. Rescue could easily have a great relationship and work behind the scene with the shelter to get the dog released to them - something that would be very hard for you to do.
7. If rescue can't help you then find out what day and time the dog will be available for adoption and show up 10 minutes early. Usually small dogs have a waiting list and you have to be there at a certain time so everyone who wants the dog puts their name in a hat and whomever name is drawn is who gets the dog - doesn't mean they could be a good care giver . If you win the drawing then immediately take it to a vet an get a full blood panel work up on the dog. It is better to know what battles you might have to face with this little one. You also do not want this dog around yours until you have the facts or diseases could be passed to your dog. I always have a 14 day separation period if the dog came from off the street. I just kept the new one in a separate bedroom. Please as much as you feel bad for this little one DO NOT put your dog and this dog together until your vet has seen this dog or you could be hurting your dog..Tough Love.


Good Luck and lets keep our fingers crossed for this little one.

[puppylove123]

welcom to yt! i hope you get this furbaby! he/she looks like a doll! please keep us updated!

[Patti]

Oh that poor baby. He definately looks all yorkie to me. He needs you so bad! Just keep in contact with them, get a person's name and call everyday.Good Luck

[Duckman]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

I have talked with the vet and will definitely get my vet to look at the dog and do some standard tests. And I will separate my Maltese from the Yorkie for a quarantine period. The shelter requires all animals adopted have the shots and confirmed spay/neuter by them. As part of the $80 adoption fee they also include those shots and micro-chipping.

This Yorkie had no collar, tags, or microchip and I have been told that the waiting period is 7 days (unless there are major health issues).

I will check to see if we have any local breed specific rescues for Yorkies...good suggestion.

Of course the best scenerio would be if the original owner could be found and he or she was a caring and responsible owner. Maybe they are looking for this dog and would love to get her back. This dog had been on the street a while though, and I checked some back issues of the local newspaper for lost ads about a dog like this, but couldn't find any listed...

[JeanieK]

If they had been concerned about the dog, they would have called the animal shelter and given them their name in case it was turned in.

[Lola LaRue]

Keep being persistent. Call everyday and let them know that you are seriously interested in adoption. I am sure that animal control would rather someone adopt a pet. I don't think they euthanize unless needed. By the way, I wish more people were like you. If everyone adopted from shelters, then we would not have to euthanize so many pets each year.

[Duckman]

Originally Posted by JeanieK

If they had been concerned about the dog, they would have called the animal shelter and given them their name in case it was turned in.

Yes, that is what I was thinking also. After talking with some of the various rescue groups here, this situation fits the profile of an abandoned pet (due to the fact that the local shelters were not notified of the loss and no tags or collar - although it is possible for the collar to slip off).

I have heard that some people release their pets into the wild (or streets) when they no longer want them or can't take care of them ... they are not aware of the various rescue groups or they just don't care.

[Duckman]

Originally Posted by Lola LaRue

Keep being persistent. Call everyday and let them know that you are seriously interested in adoption. I am sure that animal control would rather someone adopt a pet. I don't think they euthanize unless needed. By the way, I wish more people were like you. If everyone adopted from shelters, then we would not have to euthanize so many pets each year.

Yes, I will be persistent the next several days. They will want to close this case with a successful adotion just so I won't bother them anymore

Seriously, I know they would want to adopt rather than kill, but they are overwhelmed with animals right now and that mistakes can happen. Recently, animal control impounded 50+ dogs from an owner who didn't have the means or the facilities to take care of them (terrible conditions and animal cruelty charges were filed).

I am now going over the on-line 57 page city ordinance that governs the animal control facility so I know the rules of the game...