Yorkies For Adoption
A Guide to Finding Yorkies for Adoption
It can be extremely tempting to act as soon as you come across the “yorkies for adoption” ad in the paper, a local shop, or on the internet. Unfortunately, there are several things that can go wrong when responding to an ad such as this. We are going to talk about a few things that you should bear in mind when searching for yorkies for adoption. We will also take a look at a few of the best places to begin your search for a Yorkshire terrier.
Be Suspicious
Unfortunately, the days of puppy mills/farms are still upon us. A puppy mill is a term applied to people or operations that have several pure bred dogs that are bred repeatedly simply to produce puppies that can be sold to make a quick buck. Oftentimes, the dogs being bred are not given the best of care and end up being over-bred until they become too unhealthy or unfit to bear puppies. We won’t even go into what happens to these dogs once they are of no use to the puppy mill operator.
Most times, puppy mill operators will be very reluctant to allow prospective owners to visit the kennels. It’s always a good idea to ask to see the parents of a puppy you are interested in. Not only will you get a better idea as to what the puppy’s temperament will be, but it should also put your mind at ease about whether your puppy is coming from a genuine breeder or a puppy farmer. Any breeder who refuses to allow you to see the parents should be avoided—why shouldn’t you be allowed to see the parents of the puppy you’re interested in (if they are on site/available)?
Also, bear in mind that Yorkshire terriers are an extremely popular type of pure bred dog. Unless the dog is coming from a rescue organization or a shelter, a pure bred dog of this breed is likely to sell for several hundred dollars. If pure bred yorkies are advertised for a price much lower than is to be expected, one should be suspicious as to why these puppies are so cheap. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of reasons why someone would need to get rid of a dog fast, which would explain a cheap selling or “adoption” price—especially if the dog is an older puppy or an adult dog. However, when it comes to newly weaned puppies, it’s always best to be a little suspicious about the background of the pups or breeder.
Ask Questions
As tempting as it may be to snatch up the first yorkie you come across, there are some questions that should be answered first. For instance, why is the dog being sold? There are a number of acceptable reasons why a dog should be sold, such as: the owners are unable to care for it, it doesn’t get along with the owner’s other pets or children, or if the owner is a breeder who genuinely cares about continuing the Yorkshire terrier breed and enjoys producing healthy, happy dogs to be passed on to caring families. Dog breeding should not be performed simply as a means to generate cash.
Another good item to bring up to the breeder is what kind of temperament does the dog’s parents have? Are they working stock, gentle lap dogs, or suspicious/watchdog material? If possible, ask to see the parents so that you can determine for yourself whether the parents’ temperament would produce a puppy suitable for your lifestyle. This is really only necessary with puppies, as older dogs have likely already formed a temperament of their own which can be determined by simply spending a bit of time with the dog.
Other good questions to ask include whether the dog is up to date on vaccinations, if he has any known medical conditions, whether he has been neutered, and also whether he is good with other dogs, cats, or children (if applicable).
Genuine Places to find Yorkies for Adoption
Adopting a yorkie is very different from purchasing a puppy from a reputable breeder. The term ‘adoption’ mostly applies to dogs that truly need a home. The best place to adopt a pure bred Yorkie is a Yorkshire terrier rescue organization. These organizations take in pure bred yorkies that have been abandoned, lost, or whose owners were no longer able to care for them properly. Most rescue foundations will take the time to test each dog’s temperament and endeavor to learn as much about each dog as they can. The more information they have about a dog, the more likely they are to find a suitable “forever” home for it. Rescue foundations usually do charge an adoption fee, but it is often much lower than the cost of purchasing a yorkie from a breeder.
A local shelter is another reliable place to find yorkies for adoption. Hundreds of animals end up in shelters on a daily basis. Most shelters are underfunded and low on space, which makes it difficult to keep up with the in-flow of animals they receive. Unfortunately, many shelters have no choice but to euthanize animals due to lack of space. Yorkies, again, are a very popular breed of dog, therefore there is a good chance that your local shelter might have one. However, it is important that you understand that with shelter dogs, the animal’s history is often unknown, therefore the dog may end up being a “mix” or non-pure bred. If you genuinely want to save a dog from a lonely, possibly shortened life, I highly recommend that you take a look around your local animal shelter to see what they have to offer.