Yorkie Times ~ December 2017

As the year draws to an end, Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue (YTNR) celebrates the lives saved in 2017. This year we took in 66 dogs, while also still fostering 12 dogs who've been with us since 2016. As of date, we've rehomed 38 dogs.

Little Bella found herself a new mommy, after having been surrendered due to sad life circumstances, and now lives a comfortable life in the Pacific North West. Little Boozer flew out of California first class, experiencing a taste of what it's like to be spoiled like never before. Ariel got a new lease on life when YTNR was able to assist her with liver shunt surgery, and she is now happy and healthy in her family's arms. A medically and physically neglected Angel, received surgery and lots of love after entering YTNR foster care, and got adopted by her amazing foster mommy. Ella never knew human companionship or love, and was used to breed puppies until her patellas were in the worst possible condition. Surrendered to YTNR, she is now awaiting surgery to give her back the use of her legs, and a chance to dash into a forever home of her own. And our list goes on ...

We were also able to provide comfort and love for little dogs like Izzy, Lady, Chloe and Stixx, who crossed the rainbow bridge while being cared for as family. In memory of Izzy, we started a Pawspice program for our fosters facing life limiting disease.

In September of 2017, we celebrated our 20th anniversary of rescuing Yorkies. We reflected on the 4000+ doggies we saved over the years, and the amazing people who've helped make dreams come true. We are thankful for our donors, our volunteers, our fosters and everyone who support us. YTNR continues on because of animal lovers like YOU - and is able to give little dogs a second chance for a forever home, because of supporters like YOU.

As you reflect back on your accomplishments this year, please include helping to save Yorkies to your list. Please also consider a holiday or monthly donation to assist us in taking in more Yorkies from high kill shelters or sad personal circumstances. It will help provide them with the necessary medical care, and ready them for adoption, while also providing comfort measures, medication and love for our current Pawspice doggies, Ebony and Lou, and our hard to adopt older doggies, needing special care as well.

As a 501(c)(3), we value your donations towards the direct care of the little souls we serve. May peace be with you as you celebrate the holidays, and may an amazing 2018 await you.

With Yorkie love and kisses

MaryElizabeth Dugmore

President and founder,

Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue

Holiday safety by Hannelie Vermeulen

Safety and Happy Holidays

With Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanza fast approaching, and New Year's Eve not far behind, we are all readying ourselves for the festivities that come along with the celebrations. With tinsels, garlands, menorah and other candles, Christmas trees, holly, and other plants, holiday decorations, baked goodies and rich foods, as well as spiced drinks and alcohol around, we'd like to put a reminder out there to be careful of the safety of our Yorkies and other animals.

Take time to ensure a pet friendly holiday home:

Check on the plants you receive as gifts, or you bring in to decorate your home, e.g. lilies, poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly, which can cause serious medical concerns if ingested.
Xmas trees provide such joy, but make sure it is secure in it's stand, and consider placing ornaments out of reach of your critters, and lighting in safe positions. Decorations can easily be mistaken for toys, and electrical wiring can be chewed through. Cover the water, especially if it has preservatives in it.
Be careful of burning candles in a menorah where your animal can reach out and burn a paw or fur, or dump it over to become a fire hazard. Battery operated or electrical menorahs can also pose a risk due to parts being swallowed, or chewed through.
During baking, take care to not spill rich batter and give a waiting pup a taste.
While eating, make sure the visiting guests don't provide the little beggar in your home a sweet, fatty, spicy, rich, or sugar free morsel, that sends you the the emergency vet with diarrhea, food poisoning, pancreatitis, an obstruction or kidney failure. (Be especially careful of chocolate, turkey pieces, bones, turkey or ham twine, onions and garlic, bread dough, grapes and raisins, sugar free candies and macadamia nuts ...)
And of course, dump out drinks before an exploring doggie lick up the last bit.
Last, but not least, be careful when choosing dog or cats toys - make sure they are sturdy and don't have little pieces that can break off and become a danger.

In the process of being careful while celebrating, also make sure the little ones don't get out when visitors enter. (Ask neighbors to keep a vigilant eye out when you have a get together.)

Consider feeding them early, before the festivities begin, and to provide them with a safe haven, away from the door and the temptations the party brings.

Leave a little note on the serving tables, asking people not to feed your dogs snacks, or to place plates and cups out of their reach.

In general, don't let your Yorkies out in deep snow - always have them on a leash or in a small contained area. Wash their feet if they return from walks on salted sidewalks, and overall make sure their feet stay warm, whether by using booties, or by taking short walks, and drying of their feet and fur when getting back inside. Use rain coats, warm jackets, and foot wear to help them keep dry and warm when outside, and consider a hot water bottle against which they can snuggle up upon their return. Always make sure no antifreeze spills around the house or garage, and that it is kept out of reach of your companion animals.

With safety in mind, enjoy this season of festivities. Celebrate, love one another, and reach out to those who are lonely, or who celebrate their first (or following) holidays after a loss that changed their lives.

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and an enjoyable Kwanza. May 2017 end on a happy note, and ring in an amazing New Year, bringing happiness to all, and all our critters.

The Smoky Awards

Background and History of Smoky

Smoky was a four pound Yorkie who was found in an abandoned jungle foxhole in New Guinea in early 1944 by a soldier whose jeep had stalled in the jungle.

The next day the Yorkie was sold for two Australian pounds ($6.44) to 20 year old Private First Class Bill Wynne. Bill and Smoky flew combat missions and went through many air raids together. She lived on rugged army tropical food including at times C and K rations, while they served 18 months straight in combat. They traveled 40,000 miles overseas.

One of the highlights of the Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue Annual Gathering is the announcement of the winners of the yearly Smoky Awards. All our rescues are special and we like to acknowledge them and their rescue stories. All rescues adopted between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017 were eligible for nomination.

Since new people have joined our great group since the last time, it might be fitting to retell the story of WHO the Smoky of the "Smoky Award" is. We turned to Bill Wynne whose heart was stolen over 60 years ago by his four pound Yorkie, Smoky - his angel in a foxhole.

When YTNR was planning its very first rescue Ball in 1999, the first thing that came to mind was creating a special award for the Yorkie Rescue of the Year. It seemed logical to name the award after Bill Wynne's world famous Yorkie rescue. After nominations came in, it quickly became clear that each story was special and touching. Each rescue is a great rescue, just as Smoky was. She started a movement, in rescue, in therapy, in obedience that showed people what a four pound dynamo could do.

Announcing the year's Smoky Awards each year at the Gathering is something we look forward to, through laughter and tears. It reminds us of why we do what we do, and how much it is so worthwhile.

We receive many nominations each year. It is never easy to narrow the field; each dog has its own story, fortunately ending happily with a new and loving forever family. Some of these little dogs are senior citizens; some have health issues requiring ongoing care; some never knew human love before; some were strays; and some came from families who loved them but could no longer care for them.

Yorkie Doodle Dandy by Bill Wynne the full story of this WWII hero is available in our Yorkie Angel Boutique. www.YorkieAngelBoutique.com

2ND RUNNER UP ~ HARMONY (MATILDA)

ADOPTED BY LISA PHILLIPS

MATILDA HARMONY (AKA HARMONY)

(by Lisa Phillips)

My name is Lisa Phillips and I adopted Harmony on September 11, 2016 from YTNR.

After the yorkie rescue, Murray, had passed from cancer in June 2016, I was heartbroken. I knew eventually I would be able to open up my heart again and rescue another yorkie in need. This time, something felt different and then I realized I wanted to adopt a special needs pup. In searching yorkie rescues, I came upon YTNR site. I knew this time I wanted a girl and started reading through the available rescues. When I got to Harmony's page and read her story, I knew she was the one.

She had been surrendered to YTNR with a badly broken left lower leg. And this wasn't her first fracture. Previously she had been dropped which resulted in a fracture of her right front leg. The poor little girl, so young and two broken legs. The second broken leg was quite severe and the family couldn't afford to fix the leg, so after two days they surrendered her; I cannot imagine the pain she endured in those two days. It took four surgeries, including taking bone from her rib, to keep the leg from amputation, a long healing process that included a year in foster care with Momma Corrine.

When I completed the application for Harmony, I had many questions and concerns as we live a busy lifestyle and wanted to ensure she would be strong enough to join our busy family. I had many conversations with Corrine via phone and email. She assured me that Harmony was a tough little girl.

On September 11, 2016, I got up at 4:00 am for a 6:30 am flight out of Long Island, with a layover in Baltimore, and landing in Indianapolis. My heart beating heavily, I went to baggage claim to meet Corrine and Harmony. As soon as I saw that precious girl, I knew I had made the right decision.

Finalizing the adoption, we flew back home to Long Island. Harmony's first night with us was spent on our boat, where she met her sister Sarah, and her big brother Scruffy, both yorkies as well.

I renamed Harmony and she is now Matilda Harmony. Matilda means strong in battle and this little girl has proven that to be true. We call her Tilly for short.

Since then, she has been camping with us, to our farmhouse upstate where the pups can run around 10 acres, swimming in the Great South Bay, flew to the Blue Ridge Mounts in NC for a vacation with her Aunt Christy and her cousins, Zinze and Izzy.

When Tilly runs, whether it's after a bird, squirrel, or playing with her siblings, you'd never know she has a gimp front leg. She is a happy little girl and we just love her to the moon and back.

Attached are before and after pics of our spunky little Tilly. Before adoption with her leg in a cast, and a picture at the farmhouse upstate NY in the fall.

YTNR Pawspice

YTNR PAWSPICE

Over the years animal care has evolved, and veterinary care has become much more comprehensive.

Community shelters across the US have increased to more than 13 000, taking in an average of 3.3 million dogs a year ( SPCA.com). The number of rescue organizations are also increasing - all working to provide animals a second chance for love, and a home to call their own. Doing our share, Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue (YTNR) has been providing Yorkies (and a few other dogs) a foster home, veterinary care, and socialization to assist in their adoptability, for the past 20 years.

In the years gone by, intakes into YTNR often included larger numbers of younger and healthier dogs. More recently, we have noticed an increase in older dogs, dogs with higher medical needs, dogs needing longer term fostering before becoming adoptable, or too ill to find adoptive homes. In so many ways ADOPT, DON'T SHOP, has increased the chances for dogs across the US to be adopted (according to the SPCA ~1.6 million dogs are adopted annually) - yet the ones needing more care are often left behind.

YTNR, as many other rescue groups, often accept the harder to adopt dogs. Taking in older and ill dogs, needing higher levels of care, expensive work-up's or surgery, strains the budget of a rescue organization. We are challenged to find new ways of generating income (ideas and donations always welcome), and to manage little creatures deserving of a second chance.

COST OF CARE GRAPH

This year, we started YTNR Pawspice, in memory of Izzy, who was surrendered at 16.5 years old - blind, deaf and incontinent - when her owner bought a new puppy. Izzy was able to live out the last year of her life with dignity, and in the loving care of her forever foster mom's home.

At YTNR we enter a dog into Pawspice when a life limiting disease is diagnosed - typically with 6 months or less to live. We work with veterinarians to diagnose, to for example provide pain control and assistance with breathing, and to guide us in comfort care, not curative measures. Our Pawspice is non-aggressive and non-invasive compassionate care.

As a group we work together to problem-solve options, such as using egg crates or memory foam mattresses, ramps or stairs, harnesses to assist them in walking, and wheelchairs or strollers - anything to help our dogs live out their days pain free, as comfortable as possible, and with dignity. During this final journey, we continue to work on enriching their lives with positive experiences, still helping them to feel joy, and to experience love. Together we celebrate the human-animal bond.

This is an emotional journey, and decision making can be difficult. Dr Alice Villalobos, DVM, developed a Quality of Life Scale, to assist at such a time. It is also referred to as the HHHHHMM scale ( pawspice.com). It covers HURT (pain control and breathing), HUNGER (eating independently, vs. needing hand, syringe or tube feeding), HYDRATION (drinking vs. subcutaneous fluids), HYGIENE (clean wounds, and bedding, and assist with elimination), HAPPINESS (joyful, responsive, vs. anxious), MOBILITY (independent vs. assisted), and MORE GOOD DAYS THAN BAD.

YTNR currently has Ebony in Pawspice in Indiana, and Lou in Pawspice in California. Their quality of life is respectfully managed, they are loved abundantly, and joy remains a part of their final journey.

While we honor our Pawspice dogs with compassionate end of life care, we also recognize the physical and emotional stress, and the grief our Pawspice providers deal with. Caregiving is meaningful, yet challenging - and can lead to emotional depletion and physical exhaustion if we don't engage in adequate self-care.

A great THANK YOU to our loving providers, and a BIG REMINDER to take time for yourself, to regenerate - and for all of us to reach out to them and to support them. RESCUE TAKES A VILLAGE - and we are the YTNR village!

Please consider a donation to YTNR and our Pawspice program. click here to DONATE

Happy Endings

Jasper is in a new loving home, he was adopted by his foster mom.

She loved him so much she couldn't let him go.

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Tipper has gone to a wonderful family

who will love and spoil her the rest of her life.

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Jackie and Jerry adopted Kodak now Cody. As a foster mom for 17 years I don't think I have ever seen anyone so excited to adopt a rescue. When Jackie saw Cody she was kissing him all over and telling him how beautiful he is. You really had to be there to appreciate what I saw that adoption day. Jackie and Jerry are YTNR volunteers and are very devoted to saving Yorkies.

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Chloe with her new family Cris and Chuck Cashion in Red Bay, Alabama. They also have a Schnauzer named Harlee. She and Chloe got along famously when they came to Kentucky to adopt Chloe. Chloe had a rough summer healing from all her broken bones and surgery. She finally came to trust us and became a wonderful playful girl. Such a sweet and happy dog. She put a smile on my face every day. Chloe so deserved such a fantastic family that loves her beyond measure. Hope the photos are in time to make the December Yorkie Times. I signed Cris up to start receiving it.

Thank you so much for helping Chloe. I know she took a lot of YTNR's resources but it was so worth it!

Karen

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Bennie with his new Mom ♥

Thank you for opening your hearts and homes for

these precious rescues and for making their dreams come true!

In Loving Memory

My beloved Charlie went over the Rainbow Bridge today. I think it was just last week we were talking about how old he was. Charlie was 17 and lived a wonderful life with us for the last 8 years, before that he was a breeder at a puppy mill. My heart is aching but I know this was best as he has not eaten in many days. RIP little buddy.

Kathy Schuller

"It is eerily terrifying that there is no sound when a heart breaks. Car accidents end with a bang, falling ends with a thud, even writing makes the scratching sound of pencil against paper. But the sound of a heart breaking is completely silent. Almost as though no one, not even the universe itself could create a sound for such devastation. Almost as though silence is the only way the universe could pay its respect to the sound of a heart falling apart."

- Nikita Gill, The Sound of Heartbreak

Looking for a Furever Home

MISSEY

Little Missey is an Oregon girl who joined us in Oregon at 12.5 years old, after her mommy died. She's healthy and in really good shape - no cataracts, and most of her own teeth left in good condition. She is 5.5 lbs. of pure love, enjoys long walks, but also loves long naps. She'll wait for you on the couch or the bed, and cuddle up as soon as you join her.

Missey would not mind a doggie sibling or two, since she gets along well with other dogs. She will also be fine with being the only one soaking up all the love in the house!

If you think you could be her ideal parent(s), please complete an application at www.yorkierescue.com . She would love to be home for the holidays!

Her adoption fee is $225. Microchip included

Special Thanks to this month's Donors

Thank You to the Many Wonderful & Generous November

Contributors

General Fund

Yi Quin Lu

Carlyn Clement for Teddy

Lynn Garcia for Teddy

Sabina Pish for Teddy

Johnell Costa for Teddy

LouAnn Scott for Teddy and other Yorkies

Helen Marlowe for Teddy

Karen Roff in memory of Pee Wee

Nancy Nicoulin Jar change rounded up

Kathy Cline in honor of Susan Sullivan and in memory

of her beloved Honey, forever missed and loved

Priscilla Byars

Scott Czaplewski

Amanda Sneed

MaryJane Sanders

Lorraine Brown for Yorkie Encephalitis

Hannelie Vermeulen and Lynn Garcia from the recycling project

Paul Sherman

Joyce Alderisio for Teddy

Yorkie Angel Donors *

Karin & Alan Nakashima*

Kathryn Schuller*

Pieter Vermeulen*

Hannelie Vermeulen*

MaryElizabeth Dugmore*

Bette Gae Dart*

Carla Pucket*

Betty Jo Williams*

Ron & Amalia Spaulding*

Lindsay Hardin*

Stephi Jackson*

Ann Sousa*

Joan Willner**

Roz Carella*

Shannon Gelbart*

Paula Scott*

Lisa Ellison*

* monthly donor

We couldn't do it without you...

The Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue Inc. is run solely on private donations and fundraising efforts made by people like you who love this Breed. We appreciate your support

Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue Donations

We are a 501 (c) (3) organization, your donation is 100% tax deductible.

Please Help Our Fundraiser

Start your Christmas Cards shopping early and you will be helping us raise the

much needed funds for our precious rescues that require crucial medical care

These beautiful cards are designed by the artist that donated them to us.

Heavy linen type stock paper. Red envelopes included.

Inside message: May your Christmas be filled with sweet surprises!

Price: $12.00 for the pack of 10 (shipping included)

You can support us via PayPal (button on www.yorkierescue.com )

or mail us a check to:

YTNR

1065 Lewis Rd, Chapmansboro TN, 37035

♥ Yorkies across U.S. will Thank You, as will YTNR ♥

We would Love your support!

Just click on the image above and you will be ready to shop

♥ Yorkies across U.S. will Thank You, as will YTNR ♥

Supermodel Athena Maria Aphrodite

The Goddess of Wisdom and Love.....

During this festive season of giving, let us take time to slow down and enjoy the simple things. May this wonderful time of the year touch your heart in a special way. Wishing you much happiness not just today, but throughout the New Year.

Neeko's Joke

~ The Santa Claus at the shopping mall was very surprised when a Emily, young lady aged about 20 years old walked up and sat on his lap. Now, we all know that Santa doesn't usually take requests from adults, but she smiled very nicely at him, so he asked her, 'What do you want for Christmas?'
'Something for my mother, please,' replied Emily sweetly.
'Something for your mother? Well, that's very loving and thoughtful of you,' smiled Santa. 'What do would you like me to bring her?'
Without turning a hair Emily answered quickly, 'A son-in-law.' ~

Wishing you All a very Merry and Blessed Christmas ♥

Love and Smooches,

Neeko :o)

Many Thanks to Lifeline4Paws

Every time we remember to say "thank you",

we experience nothing less than heaven on earth.

~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

Chris Hogan,

Executive Vice President

of the Hogan Family Foundation Inc,

is the Program Director of Lifeline-4-Paws.

She is a YTNR member and has generously supported

our rescue efforts, contributing tens of thousands of dollars

to hundreds of our dogs since 2007.