Mijoy Yorkies and Mijoy Biewers

Hi to you at MIJOY

I want  you to print my story – It has taken me a good few months, to even get as far as writing to you.  My reason for wanting it printed – so the readers can get an idea from an owners experiences with owning a small . I definitely made a bad choice.

I first phoned you years ago about a really small dog, you then referred to them as pockets, and at that time, you were one of the very few breeders even mentioning the word pocket.  I came very close to getting a pup from you all those years ago, but decided against it. You drummed it into me that these were no easy pups to rear, and that they needed 24/7 as you put it attention.  I still thought – is this woman for real? (I must ask your forgiveness for that comment)

Sometime later, I was at the SPAR down the road, and noticed one of the shoppers approaching her vehicle, full of Yorkies. I had seen this shopper many times before. She was a breeder and very seldom one of those really small Yorkies popped up she also told me they were born very rarely.  I gave her my details, weeks, months and years went by, 2 years and two months to be precise, I got the call, she had one of those really small pups. Owning a really small yorkie had gone right out of my mind at that stage, but now hearing this news, my imagination started running wild.  I really should not have bought the pup but I did.

I went to see the pup, I remember thinking how you read me the riot act when I wanted one of yours, but this woman may just have been worse.  I bought the pup, and was meticulous with her feeds, her care, everything.  Days, weeks and months passed with not one problem.  I started getting very casual thinking, this small dog, is no problem to rear. Up to this time Candy had gone to work with me every day, was with me all night, all day, all weekend. She was my constant companion.

 I was offered promotion at work, and that would mean Candy could not go to work with me.  In the beginning, I would go home at lunch time, rush home to collect Candy and then go and shop or visit whatever my plans were for that evening.  Everything was perfect, never had a problem.

I became casual, not going home at lunch time.  I would leave in the morning and return at night, Candy would be home alone for 8 - 10 hours at a time. My Mother brought up the subject, that she thought I was not being fair to Candy and I best keep a closer watch on her.  I again took no notice, but I did see Candy withdrawing, she was no more that happy go lucky little dog that jumped up and down at seeing me. Her appetite had decreased. I took her to the vet, who also remarked, that such a small dog should not be treated like Candy was being treated by me, she needed a lot more attention.  I made the decision to spoil her as much as possible when I was at home, quality time. I applied this but went off track some while later. Candy was now 2 years old.  She was not happy, I thought I should possibly rehome her, I was very busy in my work career and a really small yorkie did not fit into my daily plans. 

I placed the advert and my phone rang off the hook. I had one lady particularly interested, but when I thought of never seeing Candy again, I stopped the idea of rehoming.  Again I would try to improve her quality of life. Candy’s appetite , one day she would eat and the next day she would eat very little. She lost a tremendous amount of weight, she used to be quite a porky little thing, but now she was very very thin.   She developed an upset stomach and started bringing up her food, stopped eating, but I had this meeting that was very important, I would see her later that day and take her to the vet. Later that day, the Boss called me and my colleagues into the office and complimented us on our achievements, and after work there would be a celebration. We would all be taken out to dinner.  My mind immediately went to Candy, and I declined the get together. The Boss told me I had to attend, I was one of the people that had made this all happen.  He talked me into going. There was no time to get home, take Candy to the vet and be back in time. I would take her tomorrow, first thing…….  I told my PA I would be late for work the following day.

I arrived home at 11 that night.  Candy was really ill. She could not get up, she had been obviously very ill, vomit and diarrhea all over.  She was weak, icy cold. I picked her up and phoned my vet who met me at his consulting rooms. I cannot and will not tell you what he said to me then.  I told him how I had been busy that day and had done my best. He admitted her and said he thought it in her interests that I did not collect her IF she survived.  He would find a loving home for her.  I was speechless, but deserved it.  3am I got the call, Candy had passed away, I would be billed for the cremation, I must please come in and pay the bill.  I went in after work the following day, and my vet was speaking to a client, he stopped and called me into his consulting room. He explained how Candy, had been left to deteriorate to such an extent that she no longer had the desire to live.  She was just skin and bone, had been really ill and even then I had neglected her. I was lucky he was not taking this any further.

Although this happened eighteen months ago, I am still full of guilt, not a day goes by that I do not think of Candy, how I abused her, how she should have been with an owner as you and her breeder suggested, with her owner all the time.  I am writing this in the hope that confessing to my neglect of Candy, will ease my guilt. I also want the readers to know that the small little yorkie is very special and should not be bought in haste like I did.

I also want to say that all the information that you drummed into me all those years ago, I should have taken to heart. I bought this puppy- initially she was my everything and I looked after her very well and then as my career took off, I started neglecting her. I should not have been so selfish and I should have rehomed her. I hope one day I will have peace within, but I am so guilt ridden – I cannot look at another small dog without thinking of Candy.

Guilty.

Sandton.

Hello Guilty.

I most certainly cannot say anything that is going to ease your guilt, because in the first place you most certainly were not a suitable owner once your career took off.

We sell our pups and we offer all our purchasers the opportunity, that if for whatever reason, their circumstances change, we will take back the yorkie they purchased from us. We put that pup/dog on this earth, we will take responsibility for it.

It is a great pity you did not rehome Candy when your lifestyle changed. These little dogs, well any dog should be properly cared for and if anyone finds themselves in a situation that they no longer can care for the dog as it should be cared for, the best way out of the situation is to rehome the dog.  The small yorkie as I have said over and over again, needs that one on one contact with its owner, 24/7. It is like having a human child.  Without the right owner the tiny Yorkies life hangs in the balance.
I hope your mail makes some readers who want this small yorkie to take into account, what happened to you, and think it over very carefully before they dive into buying that really small dog.

As I have said time and time again, VERY FEW people are suited to owning that very small dog.  I repeatedly get people telling me how they owned a hamster or a chicken and reared that. A hamster will come to NO harm, if left in its cage with food and water irrespective of its age or size. However, a tiny yorkie cannot be left with its food and water and the owner expect it to just get on with it, until they decide to return home.

Thanks for your mail, it can’t have been easy putting pen to paper.  I am sure it will possibly assist the public in making the right choice. It is very important that a future dog owner, irrespective of breed, takeseverything into account, before jumping into purchasing that puppy.