Just a quick note from Shayne

Hi all.  I know I just wrote a big blog the other day but I have something important to tell you: 
Today when I was walking with Phyllis I stood my tail straight up.  I had no idea how good it would feel.  I usually keep my tail tucked so tight that I defy anyone to try to take my temperature.  But today I just picked my tail up and enjoyed the breeze on my butt! 
See ya!

Catching up with Shayne

Hi all!  I haven't been on my blog since December 1, but that's because I don't want to bore anybody while I am learning to be a happy dog.  And my progress to happiness has been very slow but Phyllis says baby steps are ok.  I have made quite a few baby steps since I wrote last and I think Phyllis is getting happier too.  It's really nice here as long as the dogs in the house stay away from me as I am really still scared of most things.  I am going to list my great baby steps so everyone can be happy for me. 
First of all, the food here is really good and I get fed whenever my dish of kibble is empty.  I was so emaciated when I got here and was afraid to eat.  Now I have my own dish and eat almost a cup of kibble a day.  That's a lot of food for a little dog like me but Phyllis says I was too skinny so she lets me eat my fill.  I was only 3.2 pounds when I got here and now I bet I am at least 4 pounds. Phyllis says I should weigh 5 pounds   Phyllis says I am going to need to have blood work just for drill and have the sleepies taken out of my eyes because I won't let Phyllis touch them.  They don't bother me so I don't understand what the big deal is over a little crust in my eyes.
Second, and very important, is that when Phyllis takes me out now I don't bite her.  I let her carry me out, but once outside I sttart to wiggle and squirm so she will put me down.  I just don't get the warm and fuzzy stuff she wants togive me.  Yet
And one of my greatest accomplishments is..............I don't poop in my bed anymore and have not even pooped in the house except one time, and then it was on a wee wee pad.  Now I know you are all thrilled to read this news, but I have to give most of the credit to Phyllis because she takes me out so much it makes me tired.  I don't always need to go when she takes me out but I think she has an ulterior motive behind all the walking I do.  It must be working because now I stay dry all night and sleep in my bed on the floor next to Phyllis's bed.  I think she will try to put me on the bed too, but she had better wait awhile because anything new freaks me out.
I now like to follow Phyllis around everywhere she goes.  I lovewhen she bends down to pat me as long as she doesn't pick me up.  Ugh.  Just not into it.  Mushy stuff is not for me yet.  While I have been following her around all this week she continues to bend over (not easy for an old lady like her) and pat me.  I love it.  When she sits down I will come out of bed and when she calls me I slowly walk over to her and let her pat me.  Two days ago I actually nudged her hand so she would pat me again and again.  After awhile I try to play bite her while she is patting me but then she just stops and won't pat me at all.  I hope I get her message soon, but right now it just confuses me when she says NO like that.  Then I sometimes run to my bed.  I am not sure what it's all about but I'm sure with time I may figure out what she wants me to do and not do.
My biggest breakthrough was this morning.  Phyllis was drinking her coffee on the patio and I actually stepped over the rail on the floor where the sliding door is and walked up to her so she would pat me.  When she stopped I put my front paws on her glider so she would pat me again.  When I got down with my paws she leaned over and picked me up!  I didn't try to bite her at all.  Phyllis almost fell off the glider she was so surprised!  Once I was up there I did get scared after a minute and started spinning so Phyllis knew she should put me down again and of course because it scared me I nipped her but not my  usual scared biting.
So I just wanted to let you know what was going on and that there is still a chance for me to be a regular happy dog even if it takes a year.  I know Phyllis will never give up on me and will keep me here for as long as it takes.
I also want you to know that I am not an aggressive dog at all.  I just get really scared sometimes and I can't tolerate being held when that happens.  I was outside on leash the other day and a lady and her dog walked by.  I froze in fright.  I know that Phyllis wanted to pick me up to comfort me but she knew I would have tried to take her fingers off just because I was too scared.
Phyllis says that an abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal and she understands me better than she ever did before.
She says this is a very good experience for her as well as for me.
Don't worry or feel bad for me because whatever my life was like before, and I can't even describe how bad it was, that I will never have a bad day again as long as Phyllis can help it.

Hello from Shayne

It's me, Shayne.  Boy oh boy it has been a tough week for me.  BUT I have made lots of headway with Phyllis.  I now come out of my bed and walk into the other room where Phyllis is.  I let her touch me now.  I really really want to walk right up to her and be cuddled but I don't know how yet.  I have one big problem that Phyllis gets annoyed with. Shhe never says anything to me but I can tell it doesn't make her happy.  I poop in my bed.  I am sleeping and all of a sudden I have the urge to poop so I just stand up and do it.  She wahes more beds than ever before she said to me one morning this week as she was spraying the room so it won't smell.
Phyllis got  big black gloves of cotton,and all this week she has picked me up with the glove on.  It scares me a little but it's Phyllis getting bit, orr me being scared of the glove.  She wins every time.
I like to pee outside and stay dry all night.  I don't know what the big deal is about where I poop but evidently Phyllis thinks it is a big deal.
So my week has been pretty  routine.  It goes like this:  Get up in the morning and wait for Phyllis to come for me with the glove.  I try to bite and hate to be held.  So she picks me up and holds me until I get tired of struggling with her and then she walks me outside where I love to pee.  Then I follow her around the block and she picks me up to take me in the house.  She holds me again and I try to get away but she holds on till I stop struggling.  Not fun for me but today things changed
First let me tell you a little about Phyllis.  She never remembers where she puts anything.  Her keys, glasses, phone, etc  So this morning she couldn't find the glove. Yesterday when she got me and picked me up it was the first time I did not try to bite her.  She gave a big Whoooppee which was a litttle unsettling but I know she was happy about something.
This morning she could not find the glove.   What else is new!
It didn't make any difference because I have stopped trying to bite her.  She says that's a big deal and was very happy.  When she picks me up now I still wiggle and try to get away but I don't bite her anymore.  And I don't struggle as much.

I have also started following her around the house.  I keep my distance but am starting to think that there is at least one person I have met that doesn't want to hurt me or neglect me.  She feeds me any time I feel like eating and talks to me all the time when I seem nervous
The night before last when she saw me start to poop in my bed she as just starting to put her pajamas on.  She grabbed her bottoms and while pulling them up she got me and took me out mid poop.  I didn't finish.  She scared the poop back in instead of out of me.
.
When I lie in my bed I let Phyllis come and pat me any time she wants.  If I am following her around and she turns to pet me I am on guard but all she does is speak softly to me an then I let her pat me.
Phyllis told me that some day I may be able to go to a forever home but we have lots of work to do.
I like it here.  I know I will like it more and the days go on. 
Life is starting to be good now and maybe, just maybe I can be a happy, playful, housebroken dog.
MAYBE.......I will let you know.

Hi, I'm Shayne

I am here with Phyllis and I will tell you what I know.  I had an owner since I was a puppy.  Last week my owners surrendered me to a high kill facility and United Yorkiie Rescue saved me from death and asked Phyllis if she would foster me. 
I am around two years old.  I weight 3.2 pounds but Phyllis says I should weigh aboutt five pounds as she tells me that I am malnourished, whatever that means.  When the kill facility found out that UYR would take me they had to put me to sleep in order to shave me as I was covered with knots, and feces, and urine and lots of bugs.  I was much too scared to do it while I was awake as I kept biting everyone who tried to touch me.
So my story really begins when I was rescued because it was not a story before that, it was a nightmare.  Phyllis met her friend who got me out of that awful cage with all the noise around me.  Her friend told her that she didn't think I had ever been touched because if someone tries to pick me up I go ballistic.  I have now bitten Phyllis at least 5 times and it took her awhile to figure out how to pick me up. 
So, I got here Friday night, November 23rd.  Phyllis tried to pick me up to take me out of the car and I bit her and fought like I was covered in red ants!  So she got out of the car and I came out on my own and she brought me in the house.  I couldn't really move because I was so scared.  And also because I had just had a neuter which is no fun.
Phyllis had a bed and wee wee pads and water in her bathroom in case I was aggressive and needed to be separated from the other dogs. 
She brought me food and I was very happy about that.  I know I need to eat so I scoffed down all the kibble she gave me and went to sleep
Saturday was a hard day for Phyllis and for me.  She seems nice and she feeds me and I will let her pat my head but picking me up is not the best thing.  I keep trying to tell her to leave me alone but she kept picking me up and I bit her several times  I did hear her say some words I really should not repeat so I don't think she was happy.  Late in the afternoon after I bit her she just carried me around the whole block.  I tried to get away all the time but she just kept walking while she held me with her hands in the sleeves of her jacket, thinking it woud help me calm down and I did but couldn't wait to be put back in the house.
Phyllis is not a young woman so her thought process is a little slower than the brightest light on the tree.  Not to say she's not smart, but it takes her awhile to figure things out.
This morning when she was taking us out, first Elvis and Cookie, her dogs because they wake her up to go out.  Then Carter the other foster who lives here, but doesn't have a story because he is pretty boring, and finally it was my turn and this time she fooled me.  She picked me up in a towel and I couldn't get near my favorite thumb to bite.  She carried me outside for awhile and I fought less than yesterday but I know I have a long way to go.
I hope I can stay here for awhile and get more used to being with nice people and other dogs.  I did explore the apartment today.  I went too close to Elvis and he came out barking and that was very scary.  I am happy to be alone in my bed in the bathroom.  No gate and I can go wherever I want.
Phyllis is going to try to help me like to be touched and maybe to play, but for right now I just want to be left alone.

News from Cruze

Well, I have been here for a little over a week now.  Back at home with Phyllis, Elvis and Cookie.  Paris has a new home so it's just the three of us.  I am still wearing my cumberbund but I don't mind.  Phyllis doesn't mind either.  I hardly wet it but I wear it in the house just in case.  If she forgets to put it on me and I lift my leg, even though she doesn't yell at me I still run under the bed.  I know something is wrong but I can't help it.  So my belly band is a safety net if you know what I mean.  Phyllis says if people want to dress their girl dogs I can wear my belly band.  I wish I had some satin onces in black so I could feel like I was was all dressed up too.

After all of us went out to do our business we came back in so Phyllis could eat dinner without interruptions.  After dinner she waited a little while and took me out by myself.  Lots of times once night comes the other two dogs don't need to go out as often as I do.

First let me back up a bit.  As you may or may not remember one of the reasons I was given back to Phyllis is because I am terrible in the car.  I hate it.  The last time Phyllis took me in the car was before I was adopted.  I ran all over the place and really carried on when she put me in the crate. The lady that adopted  me and then returned me said that when she put me in the car seat to keep me safe I almost strangled myself trying to get out of it.  I don't know if I am scared or not but I didn't like it.

I have heard Phyllis say on the phone and to the people that came here for Paris that I need to get used to the car if I am ever going to find a forever home and that she was going to start training me to sit in the car without freaking out.

 Tonight Phyllis scooped me up and took me outside by myself.  She hugged me and kissed me but I could still tell that something was funny.  Dogs can smell how people feel and I could tell she was just a little nervous.  She even forgot to take my belly band off when she took me out and I don't care about that.  If I am outside, I lift my leg anyplace I want to.  Finally she looked down and laughed because she forgot to take it off.  After I peed outside  with my belly band off, LOL, she started back to our apartment.  I could feel through the leash that she was not her usual self.  Then she picked me up and hugged and kissed me and walked past our apartment and opened her car door.  I was on alert right away.  She sat in the car behind the wheel and held me while I put up my ears and started to move around.  She whispered sweet nothings in my ear.  Then she sat me in that car seat and strapped the lead to my harness.  My eyes were about ready to pop out of my head but she put her hand on my back and told me to sit.  I sat.....................Then nothing.  It was warm in the car because she didn't start it.  Just sat there and told me I was a good boy, which of course I already know.  Then more nothing.  Then she unstrapped me and brought me into the house.  I didn't mind at all.  Of course I have no idea what I will do once she turns the car on, but I hope that it takes a long time before she does it.  I think this is going to happen a lot now.  I'll do my best if it makes Phyllis happy.

 I am on a diet now.  I weigh over 5 pounds and I shouldn't weigh more than a little oveer 4 pounds.  Phyllis said we are all going on a diet.  Cookie eats less, Elvis eats less, and I eat less.  I eat half the dry food I was eating and Phyllis adds stringbeans so I will think I am full.  Who does she think she is kidding.  I like the stringbeans and eat everything in my bowl every time.  Now Phyllis says she is on a diet too.  You could fool me.  I know because I am always with her in the house and she eats all the time.  ALL THE TIME.  She says she is losing weight because she cut out bread, and stuff like that.  But she eats an awful lot and I don't see her getting any thinner.  She is always staying stuff like, well I ruined my diet today so I will start again tomorrow.  FAT Chance!  If you get my drift

See Ya

Cruze comes back

Cruze here.  My life has been a little topsy turvy lately.  Phyllis thought she found the best forever home for me with an older lady who was home a lot.  I tried to explain to Phyllis as the woman was taking me out of the house that this was a mistake.  They thought I was crying because I wanted to stay with Phyllis and they were right.  But I had to go.  I was terrible on the two hour ride back to the lady's house. I kicked and screamed the whole way and she put me in a crate because I carried on so.  To no avail though.   Don't get me wrong, she is a nice lady and she liked me well enough but she did expect me to potty train and go in the car like a nice guy/.  Well I never went anyplace except the vet and it takes awhile to get used to new things.  So after two weeks of screaming in the car and not being able to go without my belly band which I think was embarrassing to her, she decided I was making too much of a change to her life style.  She did love that I slept with her and got along with the cat and was under her feet a lot, but she just never had a yorkie before and it takes a long time to understand us.  When I wouldn't eat she gave me treats and I gained a pound and now I am being called Fatboy behind my back by Phyllis and she still doesn't realize that I understand everything.  Phyllis missed me and is not sorry I am back.  Especially because the lady gave Phyllis a food dish which is always good, and my toys, and a baby gate she never took out of the package and a carseat which Phyllis would not ordinarily spend the money for.  Elvis sits on her lap and I only went in the car with her once and she held me the whole time because I was small then.
There is a little girl dog named Paris here.  She is very bashful and really wouldn't talk to me but I will give her time because I have a feeling I will be here awhile.  Oh, I got a checkup and a haircut too.
The lady was not a bad lady and I liked her well enough but we were just not a good mix.  Phyllis feels bad that she didn't pick the perfect angel for me.  I kissed her a lot and told her it was okay because I love being here with her.
As far as the potty business goes, I just want to say that I bet there are a lot of older ladies and men that are out there that have little bladder problems.  Well at ten I am around 70 or so in people age and I know that some people that age wear little things to help them too.
So that's what's new for now.  I'm hungry because Phyllis didn't give me enough food and I got no treats but I have to lose one pound and that's not easy for dogs.  Or people either, right?

News from Paris

First I want to say that if I speak really clearly Phyllis understands my twang and is now able to tell you what I ask her to write. 
First of all she knows now that I lived most of my life with an older lady in Walla Walla Washington.  When my person started to get just slightly confused about a lot of things her grand-daughter took me back with her to Tennessee.  Then I hurt my knee playing with a big dog but it's not so bad and hardly bothers me.  My new owner had a baby and a big dog and a daughter and taking care of me was more than she could do so she had to give me up.  We loved each other and she didn't want to do it but was very brave because she knew I needed a better home more suited to a little dog.  So that's how I got here.
Today I went to a big building with lots of people in white coats.  One of them came to look at me.  I was really shaking.  Don't like strangers putting their hands all over me.  Well, do you?  Anyway they took me away from Phyllis and they took pictures of my leg.  When the dogtor came back he told Phyllis that my knee isn't so bad but my hip is dislocated.  Phyllis thought that was better than a bum knee but the dogtor said that he put my hip back in the socket lots of times and it kept popping out.  Before they did that to me they gave me some medicine.  Once the medicine started to work I didn't care what they did to me.
I'm sure I will need to have surgery. I don't know what they do but the dogtor did tell Phyllis.  I don't understand medical stuff but it sounded like they will take the ball that fits into my hip socket off and just let scar tissue fill the space and he said I may never run a race but I won't have any pain, which is good because it hurts a lot some of the time now.  I make sure to never let it touch the ground and i'm ok.
This evening Phyllis took me out to potty and on the way back (not that I moved except in a circle - I never had a leash tell me where to go and I won't do it so I plant 3,5 pounds of me and won't move) the neighbor next door was outside with her little dog.  I got so excited to see another little yorkie I just ran on my 3 good legs and started to play with him.  He is so cute.  His name is Brody and he liked me too.  I was so happy.  I am telling you this to show you how smart I am.  I don't play with Phyllis' dog Elvis and don't play with the chihuahua, Cookie, but I wanted to play with this cute little boy because I knew he was the same kind of dog as me.  And tomorrow is another day here in my little piece of heaven.

Paris tells more of her story

Well, it is Sunday, July 29th, 2012 and I am starting my fifth day in Phyllis' house.  She is trying to undertand me and now she knows that before I was in TN I came from Washington State!  She is now trying to understand my story but I still have that TN accent and if you ever tried to understand someone from New England you will know that it can be somewhat confusing sometimes.
I like to stay in a bedroom in a bed by myself because I'm not used to getting any attention.  Every day and night Phyllis picks me up and takes me into the living room and sits me with her.  It's kind of nice not to be alone all the time.
So, on Friday night while I was sitting with her doing nothing she gave me a bully stick.  I don't know if any of you ever had one, but they are sooooooooo good.  She didn't let me have it for too long but long enough to know I have spent 5 years without the most wonderful bone in the world.
Well, Friday morning when we got up and it was time to eat I hobbled into the kitchen waiting for that delicious bone.  She put my bowl on the floor and I went to get that great bone and it wasn't there.  Just my usual yorkie kibble.  I refused to eat at all until she gave me that bone but it never came.  I even squeeked a little to tell her I wanted it but no go.  So I just went back into my bed in the bedroom and refused to eat all day.  Phyllis said to me that there would be no more bones for me if I couldn't tell the difference between a wonderful treat from my food.  So I just held out and refused to eat all day.
When it came time for dinner Phyllis fed us and once more I went to the food looking for that bone but it wasn't there so I wouldn't eat again.  I am pretty good at getting my way at most things but she was more stubborn than I am.
She brought my bowl of food into the bedroom where I was pouting in my bed and just left it there.  I ignored her because I couldn't get what I wanted.
Cookie the fat old Chihuahua, who always prowls the house looking for bones or treats that Elvis hides came over to try to eat my food.  Well that did it.  I took my 4 pound body and growled and snapped at her and then ate all my food so she couldn't get it.  And to think, Phyllis thought I may be sick!  A dog has to try to see what they can get away with and Phyllis won this one.
BUT, and it is a big but, I do get my way outside.  First of all, I may have told you that my papers said I was not housebroken.  It is embarrassing for someone to say that.  And anyway it's not true.
I have used a wee wee pad to pee and I do all the other stuff outside.  Now I wait and pee outside too.  I stay dry all night and instead of sleeping on the floor in my old home, I now sleep on the bed with Elvis and Phyllis.  Cookie is strange and prefers to sleep in the closet in a suitcase with soft blankets in it.  Of course she is old so who knows how her brain works.  She just wants to eat and sleep.
Last night was the first night that Phyllis didn't come and get me to sit on the couch with her.  I went out of the bedroom and walked to her and asked her to pick me up and let me lay next to her.  She was very happy.
Walking outside has been an issue with us.  Phyllis takes me out to do my  business but I refuse to walk anyplace after that.  At night when she takes me out I like to walk a little bit but only my  way and I have her trained to that.  Of course walking is hard because my leg hurts, but I am not used to being walked on leash and I don't like it.  So she takes me out and puts me on the grass and I do whatever it is I have to do and then I just stand there.  Phyllis tugs a little on the leash but I refuse to move.  Soooooo, just like I like it she picks me up and carries me back into the house.  She tries lots of stuff to make me walk.  She makes funny sounds, she talks to me in a very high voice and tells me how good I am, but eventually I get my way.  I love it when she picks me up and kisses my head and tickles my belly and whispers in my ear and cuddles me.  Who wants to take a walk when I can stand my ground and get all that attention.
Monday, whichis tomorrow I heard Phyllis say that I was going to an orthopedic surgeon to see about my leg.  I know what that is because I may be small but I am very smart.
So I will be back to tell you what happens at the dogtor visit.
By the way, I am not interested in other dogs like Elvis and Cookie.  I do, however, like Phyllis a lot

Paris comes to Florida

My name is Paris and I just arrived 4 hours ago from a long plane trip.  I was given up by my owner who just didn't have time for me and never taught me lots of things that I need to know to be a great dog.  I am 4 years old and weigh less than 4 pounds and if I must say so, I am very cute.
I know that the papers that came with me said I am not housebroken.  So far I am making a fool of my last owner, who by the way, did I say they gave me up because they had no time for me?
Well I peed on a wee wee pad just like I know I am supposed to. I was afraid to eat when I got here, but  I finally got so hungry I just had to.  Then Phyllis took me outside.  I did my business out there too.  So some people just don't know how to take care of us so we can do what we have to do instead of them telling people we go on the floor.  No way.
  I am trying to be brave but it is very scary here.  I don't really know Phyllis but she was nice enough to feed me first with her hand and then I went to the bowl and ate myself.  I also tried out the water here.  I am going to sign off now because I am very tired.  But before I do I just want to add.....

I heard Phyllis say I would sleep in her bed with the other dogs.  I never slept  in bed in Tennessee just on a blanket on the floor so I will let you know what it's like real soon.
Oh, I almost forgot.  I have a very sore back knee.  It really hurt after being on the plane so long.  I think I may need an operation to fix it.  I need to find out what operation means.  Phyllis said it but she talks funny so she may have said something else.  She told me that my teeth need to be cleaned too because nobody ever bothered taking care of them.
Did I tell you I was given away because my old owner didn't have time for me?  I don't need much and they gave me less!  You would think I needed long walks, or movies, or long conversations.  All I need is to be fed, and kissed and hugged and shown a little love.  Is that much to ask?
I was here for 5 minutes when Phyllis picked me up and gave me lots of kisses and hugs and told me she would love me forever, even when I go to a forever home, whatever that is.  So far I haven't had one, because someone thought I was too much to bother with.
And another thing I heard Phyllis say......Even if I have an accident in the house how much could it be.  She said if I were a great big dog she might get annoyed, but what can a little dog less than 4 pounds do anyway.  That's what she said alright.  And I am going to try very hard to prove my old owner, who had no time for me, that they are wrong and that I deserve nothing but the best loving, the best water, and the best food.

I'll be back soon as soon as I figure things out here.

Cruze has left the building

Hi everyone - Cruze here.  I know my story was rather short but I have no issues and I don't want to play with toys.  The only thing I ever wanted to do while I was here was sit with Phyllis.  When she got up, I got up and just followed her with my eyes always asking when she would sit down again so I could cuddle with her.  I loved sleeping in bed with Phyllis and the other dogs. 
Anyway while I was here I did learn to potty outside but would have an accident when Phyllis went out so she put a belly band on me so I would not wet the floor.  Since I was used to make babies I prefer the sidewalk to grass but to each his own.
The big news for me is that now I am living in Vero Beach.  I finally told Phyllis how old I was.  It wasn't easy but together we figured out that I am 10 years old.  So now I live with an older lady who just loves me to pieces.  I am still trying to let her know that when she sits with me I am at my happiest.  So guys and gals, that's my story.  A little short and boring but we are all different and we don't all have exciting lives when we get older.  I am so glad I am healthy now and living with a lady who loves me and cares for me.  I get good food and lots of love.  I will live the rest of my life with her I hope and we will live happily ever after.  But don't leave yet, because a new little yorkie has come to live with Phyllis.  I'm sure she will tell you her story soon.

Catching up with Cruze

Hi everyone.  I am going to tell you how I have been since being here with Phyllis and Cookie and Elvis.  I feel great and have a great time here doig what I like best which isn't much to you maybe, but its great for me.  I don't like to play with dogs or toys.  I don't want to chew any bones  All I want to do is sit next to Phyllis or have her carry me.  She doesn't mind because I am so small.  She is trying to find a home for me.  I have no idea why as it is just perfect for me here.  Phyllis knits a lot so I get to sit by her all the time.  I love the food she gives me too. 
Phyllis takes us out a lot and I love to pottty outside BUT I need to wear this thing around me that covers my private parts because sometimes I pee in the house.  I hate the belly band as she calls it but have learned to live with it.  It should be the worst thing that ever happens to me anyway.  She leaves it off when she is home and I go out every two hours and will stay dry, but if she leaves the house I need to wear it because soetimes I get scared or anxious when I am alone and I will pee myself.
Last night I peed on the floor and even though Phylllis never yells at me or punishes me something tells me that when she says "what did you do?" I feel like I need to run under the bed.
Phyllis says she is looking for a home for me with an older person who just wants to pat me and hold me because those are my favorite things.  Nobody ever did that before I got here.
I sleep on the bed with Phyllis and as long as I can lay next to her I sleep all night.  She feels so good to me I just love to lay next to her and I would do it 24 hours a day if she was sitting all that time
Phyllis told us that Saturday the 16th we are getting a new foster here.  I know I won't like him buSt Phyllis is pretty sure that Elvis needs someone to play with because all he does is bring her a ball and barks.  Of course I know what he is saying and so does she so she gets on the floor and throws a ball for him until he gets tired.  I know that she is not crazy about doing it because she groans when she has to get up.  We are about the same age, Phyllis and I, but I don't moan and groan when I lay down so I don't understand why she does.
If I think of anything interesting to tell you I wiill be back but I am pretty boring if I do say so myself.  I'm so glad that United Yorkie Rescue sent me here because I love Phyllis and don't know if I can love anyone else the way I love her.

Barney went to his forever home

I am so excited to tell you that I am now in my foreveer home and I have the best Mom in the world.  Phyllis picked her from about 10 people who wanted to adopt me!  Well this time she hit the tail on the head.  I loved being here with Phyllis.  She taught me all kinds of good things.  How people can love me and how to get in trouble and how to run around the house faster than she can.  Elvis taught me how to play and even though I was using a pee pee pad, I started to like going outside too.  It is so much fun to lift a leg or squat in the grass.  When the bushes are wet it's fun to go there to pee and get sprinkled with the water from the rain.  She also has a thing she calls a clicker and when she asked me to sit the first time she had to push me down a little because I didn't know what she wanted.  So she put me down on my butt and then said I was good!!!! and cliicked that thing and gave me a delicious treat!  Wow, I loved it so for the rest of the day whenever she was with me and she asked me to sit I did and got clicked and a treat every time.  So she knows how very smart I am and told my new Mom how smart I was.
So, about two weeks ago a lady came to the house to visit.  I liked her so much that I jumped up on her lap and fell asleep after Elvis and I got through showing off for her.  She stayed for a long time talking to Phyllis and then she left.
About 10 days ago she came back.  She took me out to the car and............Phyllis was going back in the house.  Oh No!  I don't want to be in a strange car with a strange lady and no Phyllis to pat me and kiss me and let me clean her glasses.  Finally, after a little panic attack, I just lay down on the lady with my head and went to sleep.  I just couldn't deal at that moment.  Well, she took me to her apartment and it is way up high on the fifth floor.  I walked around, found the wee wee pads and just didn't know quite what to do.  The lady was nice and took me for a long walk.  She is so nice because I am just a puppy and don't walk well on my leash.  When I see anything else that moves I want to get it so now the Lady, who is now my Mom, uses the same way to train me that Phyllis does.
It is hard to tell Phyllis about the past 10 days because that damned phone keeps falling out of my paw and my texting skills are no better
My Lady is the best forever Mom a dog could ask for.  She is patient because she knows I am a puppy and she is training me all the time.
My lady writes books and sails her own boat and next week I am going on the adventure of my life.   I am sailing with my Lady to theBahamas.  Just my Lady and me!!!  I have been on her boat and I think I like it but I will know better when we leave
My Lady takes me for long walks and except for the occasional use of the wee wee pad in an emergency, I am doing all my business outside.  There are lots of paths here and we are surrounded by water.  Lots of dogs to meet and people to meet.  I try not to jump on them but I get so excited.
My Lady will help me with that
ok, guys and gals, Barney has left the house!!

Meet Cruze

My name is Cruze.  I don't think it has always been my name but I forget it now.  I found myself at a very high kill shelter and United Yorkie Rescue saved me from a sure death.  I am going to tell you what I know about myself. I have asked Phyllis to tell you my story as I tell it to her. 
Someone took me out of the shelter right before I was going to die.  They were from United Yorkie Rescue.  I went to a vet where they found out that I weigh 4.5 pounds and that I am at least 8 years old and that some of my teeth like my canines are short because I probably lived in a wire cage and wore them down trying to get out.  The vet found out that I had a big tumor on my spleen and it had to come out, the whole spleen, I mean. I also had a terrible operation so I can't make anymore babies which is what I think I was used for.  For the last two weeks I have had staples in my chest and stitches in my private parts.  I have to wear a plastic collar because I love to lick my stitches when Phyllis isn't looking.  I also have something wrapped around my middle because I think Phyllis does not like when I lift my leg in the house.  Nobody has ever told me I can't but I can tell Phyllis would rather I do everything I need to do outside.  And I do when she takes me but when she goes away I get nervous so I have something like a diaper called a belly band. 
So, I was with a lady and she called Phyllis to see if she would take me in because there a lot of dogs saved and not always enough people to take them.  Puppy mill auctions and raids sometimes when people go in and take some of us so we can be happy.  Even though Phyllis only wants to foster one dog at a time, she just couldn't say no to such a little dog like me.
When the lady called Phyllis it was on a Friday and Phyllis had just gone to Disney in Orlando Florida to celebrate her 70th birthday.  She had never been there before.  I know this because she talks on the phone and tells people so I hear it.  I am at least 8 and can speak several languages so I understand it all.  Phyllis has told people that she never had so much fun and liked her meet and greet with Winnie the Pooh, whatever that means.
The lady who took me out of the hospital dropped me off at Phyllis's house on Sunday before she even got back from Disney.  When I was dropped off I went into a house with two girls that were taking care of Phyllis's dogs, Elvis, Cookie and her other foster dog Barney.  I don't like Barney by the way.  He keeps trying to play with me.  He weighs 11 pounds and I weigh just a little over 4 but when he tries to play with me I jump out of my bed and snap at him and then he does the most rediculous thing.  He lays down on his back and then runs away.  Size means nothing.  Just a couple of hours ago Phyllis took her Elvis out.  He weighs 12 pounds.  A big boxer game at him and Elvis bit him on the nose and the other dog was bleeding. Phyllis was horrified but since she doesn't hit her dogs she just made him lay down like a time out.  Dogs will be dogs.  The bigger the dog, I understand, the more agressive Elvis can be.  Strange that he has fostered oer 30 dogs and gets alone or ignores all of them.
So that's the beginning of my new life here and I will keep you posted.  I must say it's not bad here, I get good food and sleep in Phyllis's bed.  Sometimes I want to sleep on her pillow so she moves over.

Barney's update

I want everyone to know about me.  I have now been here a couple of weeks, maybe three, and I am the happiest boy.  Phyllis loves me so much and I know how to get her to!  I just have to be funny and she laughs at me all day long.  I have learned to chase toys and I know that when I go back near Phyllis she will throw it again.  Every time she talks to me I know just what to do.  I lie down right between her feet on the floor and throw myself over on my back and wiggle my legs back and forth and up and down and then she bends down and gives me big belly rubs.  A lot of time during the day we do this.  I know how to make her laugh too.  I just go into the bathroom and do my business with my butt right up against the toilet.  I see her sit on that seat sometimes but I don't know how to get there so I just go as close as I can.  She laughs while she is telling me that all my stuff should be on the wee wee pad.  She stopped laughing so hardafter awhile when I do it so I have decided that I will do everything on the wee wee pad.  She likes that and I can tell because she always gives me a belly rub after she sees I did it.  I love to get my belly rubbed.
I know that all puppies are like me because I hear Phyllis tell people on the phone that I am a typical puppy, like a two year old baby that has two legs.  I ran away today when Phyllis opened the door.  Not away away, but started down the street.  Phyllis is calling in a sweet voice, come back Barney, so I thought it was a game until I heard in a very deep voice right from Phyllis "don't you dare take one more step!"  I froze right there and didn't move.  I could tell she wasn't laughing anymore.  She is still working on getting me to stay when she leaves, but I like to be with her.  Today the baby gate went up.  Now I can't get out.  Phyllis is no spring chicken so it takes a minute for her to climb over the gate, but if that's what she wants, so be it.

I eat dry food when I am hungry but when Phyllis feeds her dogs she gives me a little of the wet food.  I love it.  I love life.  I love to play with Elvis and I even like that cranky old chihuahua, Cookie.
I always make Phyllis laugh at bedtime too.  We all get on the bed and I push myself right up so I am in the crook of her arm, then I turn on  my back, spread all four legs as far apart as I can and go right to sleep.  I love that the best of everything else here.  It's great to have a roof over my head that isn't going to kill me in a few days, and great to eat good dog food so I will be healthy.  And I love all the toys and bones here, but my very favorite thing is lying with Phyllis at bed time.  Back soon, but right now I need to chew my bone..

'

Elvis has left the building

That's right everyone.  I have left my foster mom Phyllis and I am now living the life on Marco Island with my new sister Bella Luna.   If you all remember I came here a little over a month ago a very sick little boy with fleas and pancreatitis and worms and not knowing where to go to the bathroom or let anyone show me love.  Well boys and girls, I have a new life now.  I went into my new home as if I had been there all my life.  I love my new people and I know where I am supposed to go to the bathroom.  I go on long walks and even like my new sister.  I have a yard to play in and a golf course to walk.  I am never alone too long when my mom and dad go to work and know how to behave when they are gone.  Phyllis did a good job teaching   me to be the loving dog that I know I am now.  I am going to live happily ever after which is what I was meant to do.  I am handsome and smart.  United Yorkie Rescue truly saved my life and Phyllis taught me how to enjoy it.

Barney the flopsy mopsy pully

Barney here.  What a week it has been.  The day I got here was the day I was neutered and I had 6 staples holding my  operation together.  So I had the operation on a Tuesday and on Saturday it rained and Phyllis took my collar off and forgot to put it back on so I had a ball and pulled out three of the staples.  Phyllis saw it Sunday and it was pretty bad so she poured a lot of stuff in it and on Monday morning she brought me to the vet and they gave me something to put me to sleep for just a short time and they had to staple me again.  When I woke up I was a hurtin' dude for a couple of hours.  It wasn't my fault.  Phyllis made a mistake.  She probsably will never make that mistake again.  Because sometimes you need to make a mistake to learn something better.  But she felt pretty bad for me.  Between me and Elvis being neutered two days apart was hard for her.  By the way, she loves me to death.  She loves when I roll on my back so I can get a belly rub.  She loves that I sleep late in the morning and love to lay next to her in bed.  The thing she really loves the best though, is that I am a pretty  big yorkie and 11 pounds and probably wind up at 13 pounds, and I have long hair, and I USE A WEE WEE pad.  I squat on the paper and do my business on the paper.  I know that Phyllis would rather I went outside toa  do it but when it rained and poured last weekend she wished the four of us were paper trained.  I must have belonged to somebody before I was picked up and on my way to euthanization because I am trained to go on the wee wee pad.  I don't remember going outside before here beecause I don't think I ever had a harness and leash on.  And I don't like going the way she wants to all the time.  I hope I get better at it soon because dragging her my way is not easy.  She is much bigger than I am. 
I will let you know how our training goes and how I do in finding a forever home.  Never will anyone love me as much as Phyllis does.  I can just tell when she puts her hands on me that she loves me and loves to cuddle with me too. 

See ya!

Elvis is all better

I have had a miserable week.  After my neuter I couldn't even hold my head up.  And my operation hurt very much.  Worse than that I wanted to lick it to make it feel better so Phyllis put a big collar on me so I couldn't do that.  My operation was put together with glue and if I licked it I would have opened the wound.  I really didn't care, I just wanted to lick it.  So the thing around my neck only came off when I ate.  I even went outside with  it on because as soon as she took it off I wanted to sit and lick.  All this time, since last week I have just lay on the bed and looked at Phyllis with the saddest eyes I could get going, and I knew she really really wanted to take that collar off me but she didn't.  I could tell that Phyllis was worried about me because I am usually a happy bouncy kissy boy but I didn't give in.  So for one week she had to up her Lexapro just to handle it.  Yesterday she finally took the collar off as I had been wearing it for 8 days and she looked at my surgery and knew I was healed enough.  Boy oh boy what a relief.  Now I am back to barking, wagging my tail and giving Phyllis all the kisses I can squeeze in.  She leaves food in a bowl on the floor so I can eat whenever I want to and when I go to my new home that's probably how I will be fed.  AND, I may go to a new home next week.   And I think even though I was in one home for 6 years and then all of a sudden found myself in a cage in a high kill place, once I got here I did learn that people are kind for the most part and I can sleep with my person in their house instead of living outside.  And that life can be good and I can be clean and happy wherever Phyllis decides would be a good home for me.

Phyllis sometimes forgets to write what I say so I don't know if she told you before when I asked her to, but I don't lift my leg in the house or pee or poop in the house.  I did when I got here and some people said a 6 year old dog can't be housebroken,, whatever that means, but I did it with the help of Phyllis and her dog Elvis,  I love to walk and walk and walk and walk......................................Phyllis takes me for a one mile walk in the morning and a one mile walk at night with her own Elvis.  I think Phyllis would like to walk faster but there is so much grass and so many trees and bushes to smell that it sometimes takes just a little longer.

I will let you know how my new home is if I go to one and I will keep you all posted while I just get happier every day.

Say Hello to Barney

 My name is Barney.  I am 11 pounds and 8 months old.  I will ask Phyllis to tell you what I know. 
One day a truck came and picked me up off the street because I didn't have a person with me and I was just walking around lost which people call a stray..  Nex thing I know is that I went to a very high kill shelte.  I sat there in a cage with a number on it for five days.  I could hear the people there saying how said it was that  cage.  So one day before I would be killed I was rescued with a bunch of other little dogs like me (well, I am not exactly little except compared to really really big dog or person).  United Yorkie Rescue got me from the people who saved our lives.   So then I went to a dogtors office and was there for a few days and then they took me out of that cage and ..............then I woke up.  I heard Phyllis say I was neutered and lost five teeth that just didn't fall out on their own.  So Phyllis took me home and I was really sick until today when I woke up feeling so good.  I have gone from a cage to Phyllis' bed and I have great puppy food.  She lets me lay on the couch and whine if I feel bad.  I am just a baby and can't wait until I can play and run around again.  When Phyllis comes up to me if I am on the floor, I roll right over on my back and she giggles and bends down to scratch and tickle my belly.  I love it.  I am trying to play with Phyllis' dog Elvis but he doesn't seem that interested.  He gave me a little nip today when I tried to get him to play with me.  I love when new people come into the house and give me lots of attention.  Phyllis says that I am as long as two small yorkies put together.  I know I am not the most handsome dog that is here, but I am the cutest and I really know that.  So there is a bathroom issue.    I am supposed to use the outside as my toilet but sometimes I forget.  I did pee on paper once, but I just wanted to see what it felt like.  Today I pooped outside and you would have thought Phyllis had won the lottery.  She looks so silly in the street when she tells me what a good boy I am.  It's embarassing (If dogs can be embarassed)   Doesn't it seem strange that she makes such a big deal over a dog going to the bathroom?
I love the food Phyllis gives me and I just sit right by her feet waiting for her to put my food down.  I love to lay real close to her on the bed and the couch.  I have no idea how she sleeps at all.  The old dog that is here likes to sleep in a suitcase in the bedroom closet and leaves us pretty early but I sleep on the bed and the two Elvises sleep on the bed and we all like to be real close to her.  It feels so good .  And if anything is spelled wrong, please remember Phyllis types what I say so it would be her fault.  But we all make mistakes once in awhile right!?

to

Well today I got neutered and had a tooth pulled.  Let me tell you something,  it wasn't fun!  Phyllis scooped me up this morning after our walk and left the other dogs and took me right to the vet.  They just scooped me up again and put me in a cage for what seemed like hours.  I was scared to death.  I waited and waited..............and then I woke up and boy was I a hurtin' boy.  I'm not sure what they did to me but I hurt all over.  My mouth hurts and I hurt between my back legs.  I am now laying in a bed on the floor half passed out from some creamcheese Phyllis gave me.  I think she spiked it with something because I can barely move.  For the first hour after I got home I just lay in that bed and stared at Phyllis.  I could tell she was feeling it too because I wouldn't look away.  I think (if dogs can think) I was just making sure she was there so nothing worse happens to me.  She looks sad when she looks at me but keeps telling me that in two days I will feel 100% better.  I will let you know then.  I really want to believe her, but you have no idea what I feel like now.  I don't want to eat or drink.  I just want to sleep so I need to go right now but I will be back.  I wish we had more members to our blog so Phyllis can werite a book and get lots of money for Animal Rescue and maybe some for her too!  (She wrote that on her own, I didn't say it)

Elvis has been here for 15 days

Yup, that's right.  I have been here for 15 d ays.  I can hardly remember where I was before.  In the last two days I have found out things that scared me before are really nothing to be scared of.  Every night Phyllis would putme on her bed but Inever slept in a bed with anyone so I would get off.  For the last two nigts I have slept on a pillow by her head and I don't even wake her in the morning.  Cookie does that! I don't remember when I last felt so good.  I also know that Phyllis would rather I went to the bathroom outside and not inside.  It has not taken me long to get that message because she takes me out over and over again.  I love to go outside and walk and walk.  I don't care that she is holding onto the other end of me because I know that pulling is not allowed so I just trot next to her and I would walk for 4 miles if she had it in her.  I walk a mile every morning and a mile every evening.  Love love love it.  I don't wear that thing around my belly so if I peed in her house it wouldn't go on the floor. I only pee outside because I know she wants me to go outside.............But every once in awhile I need to leave a little drop of pee so that in case there is a girl dog around looking for me she will know how to find me.  Phyllis doesn't like it and I hardly do it, but sometimes a dog just can't help himself.
I have also started chasing toys.  I see the other Elvis doing it so I did too for awhile.  Elvis wants to play with me but I just don't get it and would rather just be with Phyllis.  Maybe I will try it soon, but I am not promising.  Tomorrow I am getting a haircut and I am sure Phyllis will put it on her Facebook page for all to see just how handsome I am.  And she keeps talking about neuters.  I don't know that word but just like I said last time, she puts a strange smile on her face when she says it!  I wonder why 

P,S.

P.S.  On Friday I am getting a haircut.  I do know that word because I have had haircuts before.  Phyllis can't wait to see what a handsome boy I am under all this hair.  I will send you a picture after my haircut.

Another update from Elvis

I have now been here 10 days and I have learned a lot.  Phyllis is really nice, she feeds me and makes sure I stay clean and just yesterday I was so happy to see her I jumped on the couch and kissed her and hugged her.....And she let me do it!  I know I was someplace else all my life but I am starting to think where I am now is good.  It seems that after the first few days I stopped waiting for someone I knew to come and get me and every day I think more and more that this is my home.  That's because we live in the moment, dogs do, and things in the past start to fade a little bit at a time.  I am sure that if my first mom came here now I would be very excited, but I am not sad because she is not doing that.  Not any more.  I hope you know what I mean.  If you hit me and kick me I may always be afraid of feet or sticks, or whatever I was abused with but people who save a dog like me can't feel bad for us, because we don't feel bad for ourselves.
Anyway, even though I understand most languages there are some words I don't have a meaning for because I never heard them before.  Phyllis has said some words I don't understand.  She told me that on April 19th I am going to have a neuter.  I don't know that word but she was smiling when she said it.  She told me that I am losing my jewels.  I do not know that word either.  She said maybe I will stop marking in the house.  I don't pee in the house, but something in me says to leave just a little pee here and there.  Even when I don't really want to do it, it happens.  Other than what I have said here, the world turns and I sleep every night and I follow Phyllis every day and I am having a pretty good time waiting to see what happens next.

Hello from Lula

I just want to tell you that I feel like I am in Heaven!  Phyllis was great but boy you should see me now.  I go to work with my forever Mom every day.  I love everyone there.  I love my new Dad and I even like the cat named Sil.  My new Mom and Dad love me to pieces.  She sends notes to Phyllis telling her how happy I am and how well I have adjusted to being in anotheer home.  I don't even use a wee wee pad when we go to work.  I wait to go outside.  And I can tell that Mom  and Dad are over the moon with me.  I haven't started my regular barking yet, but when I do that will be the real test.  I sleep in bed and have great food and go on great walks.  I did like to play wrestle with Elvis but I like being the only spoiled dog in a home.

Keeping up with Elvis

Well, I have been here for 6 days.  It doesn't seem that bad.  The other two dogs, Cookie and Elvis don't want to play with me yet, but I don't feel like I want to play with them yet.  It is still very strange not to be in my own home but I have made some improvements.  I have found out that Phyllis is not so bad.  She feeds me and walks me and picks me up to hug me and ugh, kiss me!  Actually I kiss her back!!!!  I wear something around my belly so if I lift my leg I won't get the floor wet.  I don't care for any toys here, but I think I am getting used to being here.  The walks are good, the food is good and she lets me sleep wherever I want to.  She tried to get me to sleep in her bed, but that's not for me.  I like my own space in a bed on the floor.  My reports came back and the doctor called Phyllis.  I could hear what she was saying which is that  my Pancreatitus is very bad and she would not be surprised if I had loose doodies, threw up, and didn't want to eat.  Phyllis was very surprised to hear that because I have not got these things happening to me.  I jump on the couch now and sit on the top.  Phyllis doesn't miind but my surrender papers said I wasn't allowed on the furniture.  This place is pretty great because I can do those things.  I see lots of toys but don't play with them.  What if the other Elvis gets mad at me?  I am a little afraid of him but Phyllis told me that he wouldn't hurt me.  I was supposed to have an operation.  I heard her on the phone saying that since I am on so many meds to try to help my condition she thought we should put the operation off for a week or two.  After I have the operation Phyllis said I won't try to mark so much.  I am not sure what the operation is going to be but she told me that after the operation I couldn't make any babies.  I am six and I don't want any babies any more than she does.  This weekend Phyllis had a little person here.  I really liked her which Phyllis said is good for me.  Phyllis was going to give me a haircut at the cutting place but decided that I was still too scared that I am not in my old home that we need to wait a bit.  So that's where I am now as far as my condition and stuff.  I take meds for hookworm, pancreatititis and some other thing I got from drinking bad water.  I will let you know how I am doing in a few days
Oh, and by the way, as so many other dogs that have come to this house, I can understand almost all languages after just a day or two.  I come from Miami so I know perfect Spanish. Phyllis can only say sit in Spanish!  So now I know english which I learned almost overnight because she talks so much, and I speak Spanish because I was brought up in a Latino home.  Maybe I will someday be adopted by someone who speaks Italian, or French.  No problem, I get all of them down in a matter of days.  I will be back soon if I have anything interesting to tell you.  
And one more thing.  I have given up laying on the floor looking at the door waiting for my people  to come and get me.  I think this place might be better and I am starting to forget that I was someplace else all my life.  I think!

Elvis the Yorkie

My name is Elvis, but not Phyllis's Elvis.  I am a yorkie named Elvis and I am here with Phyllis and Cookie the chihuahua and Elvis the Shi Tzu who are her dogs.  This is what I know.  I was born in Florida and a lady got me from a breeder when I was 3 months old.  It is the only home I have ever known.  Last Sunday, April 1st,2012,, my family surrendered me because they had a baby and could not give me the attention that I needed.  Nor did they pay much attention to me when I lived there anyway.
Sunday I was taken from the only home I have ever known and brought to Phyllis.  I was and still am very scared.  When Phyllis picked me up in the house and put me on a table she started to be really upset.  I heard her say I had so many fleas on me she couldn't believe it.  All of a sudden I was in a strange bathtub with this strange lady giving me a flea bath.  I was not happy but stood very still so she wouldn't get mad at me.  I don't know her after all.  Then she gave me Frontline and also to the other dogs in the house.  After my bath I stayed laying down by the door waiting for me family to come and pick me up.  It is now Wednesday and I am still waiting.  I lay on the floor and look at the door but they don't come.  Phyllis give me lots of love and attention but it's my family that I want.
Yesterday I went to the vet and found out I have hookworms and something called Clostridium which is an infection coming from drinking dirty water from gutters or bowls that collect water  outside and then get dirty and germy.  I got a bunch of shots because I haven't had any in two or three yeaers.  Last night I felt just terrible from the reaction to one of the shots.  I shook all night.  Phyllis gave me medicine to help me feel better and today I am fine. 
I am 6 years old and nobody ever took the time to show me how to go outside.  I never knew I should not just go anyplace I want to.  Phyllis and Elvis are going to show me how to do the right thing.  I hope my real Mom comes to get me but I have a feeling it's not going to happen.  Right now I am feeling very depressed even tho Phyllis is nice to me.  She says in a week or so I will love her and start to forget the other people.  I hope so because I am so sad now.  I will be back soon with more news of my time here if Mom doesn't show up!  Why would anyone do this to me just because of a baby or two?  Not fun for me right now and Phyllis looks so sad for me.

ishLula's happy ending

Hi everyone, Lula here.  Boy have I had fun.  Lots of people wanted to adopt me but Phyllis waits for a special feeling and she got it with an application from Gina.  We may have told you this story, but Phyllis sometimes forgets as she just had her 70th birthday and that makes it ok!  Anyway, this lady, Gina talked to Phyllis for 3 weeks before Phyllis was sure that she was the right one for me.  Gina came to the house and slept here.  People were worried that we were going to share her apartment with a stranger for the night but we thought it was ok.  Since coming here I have become quite the barker.  It seems to be the only way for me to get what I want and I am a very stubborn girl.  I try spanish but Phyllis didn't understand so I bark in English and then she seems to get it.  I bark for food, I bark for attention I bark when I see new people, I bark when I want to go out.  For some reason I think that Phyllis was very happy when I left although I felt her love every minute of every day.
So, now I live in Clearwater Florida with Gina and her husband and her cat.  She takes me to work every day and I love it.  I bark at her too and she pretty  much understands everything I say.  I think she learned a lot in the 24 hours she stayed with us at Phyllis's house.  I love my new house and always use a wee wee pad, I have no cancer anymore, I love myfood and so life is good.  I hope you are all happy for me as I think I could not be happier (if I really knew what happy was because I am a dog)  Sometimes I can tell I am happy because the tail on my but starts to wag very fast and that's when Phyllis said she could tell I was happy.  So when I feel that tag going a mile a minute I know things are good.

Chewy/Chevy's Happy Ending

Phyllis calls me Chewy bu I have a new home now and my Dad, Bruce calls me Chevy which was my name on United Yorkie page.  I just want to tell you that I am now living in the villages with Bruce and I am very happy.  We go for rides on his golf cart which are famous in the villages.  We go for a ride every day.  Bruce only moved to the Villages inDecember from New York and he didn't know anyone and is kind of shy.  Well now that I am in his life everyone wants to talk to him and meet me.  He loves me very much and we go for walks and rides and I even go with him if he wants to stop for a beer, whatever that is.  He certainly seems to enjoy it!  I am going to now tell you one of the messages that I sent to Phyllis when I first got here - "Hi Mom, it's Chevy here.  We are doing great.  Just got back from a long cart ride.  Dad said we were lost but not to worry, cause we'd find our way home and we did.  I'm not sure I like walking in the grass much it feels different here and scares me a little.  Dad says it's okay and I will get used to it.  I hope you are doing good Mom, maybe someday you could get a dad too it's so great!  Bye for today.  I won't forget you and everything you did for me and with me".  I send her messages all the time and I hope you all liked this one.  She told me she cried when she read this one because Dad and I are so happy together.  We sleep together and I am hardly ever alone.

Lula has good news

I'm baaaaack.  So now I am ready to catch you all up  on my life.  Since the last time I was here I have decided that going to the bathroom outside  is what I like best.  Wee wee pads are ok, but outside with the other dogs seems like a better thing.  Also, on Monday Phyllis took me to the Dogtor to have my stitches out.  It was awful.  Two people held me while I went through this torturous stuff.  I had so many stitches to take out that Phyllis finally went into another room so she didn't have to listen to me.  She told me as she left that I shouldn't be mad at her because she wasn't doing anything.  Well, she took me there didn't she!
It's really funny that nobody knows that I understand what they are saying.  I heard the doctor tell Phyllis that my biopsy report came in.  She said all my cancer is gone and if I have breast exams every 3 months for a year and I don't get anymore tumors I will probably live a long time.  I was glad to hear that because I love life.  I am not sure what exactly a breast exam is but I don't think it will be too bad.
So today Phyllis picked me up and took off my collar and put me in the sink.  She said that I smell like dog!  How dare she say such a mean thing to me.  The cleaning lady came yesterday and she told Phyllis to smell my blanket.  Phyllis's nose doesn't work that well because she never smells anything.  Well she put her nose in the blanket that we both share and she finally smelled that so now the blanket smells good because it got washed..
Back to the sink.  Next thing I knew I was in the sink with water running all over me.  I fought like a champ but she is stronger than I am.  I don't think anyone ever did that to me before.  Water and soap all over me while I was trying to get out of the sink.  Phyllis got all wet and laughed at me.   My head under the faucet to get soap off my head.  Just awful..  And I have a feeling this won't be the only time it ever happens.  I sure hope I get used to it.  Anyway now she says I smell nice and the blanket smells nice so all is good.
We walk 1/2 mile every morning and I love it.  I always get my leash stuck under my leg which is good exercise for Phyllis as she is forever bending over to fix it.  I really do it on purpose as Phyllis is getting older (she will be 70 in 2 weeks) and really needs the excercise.  I will be back when anything interesting happens.  In the meantime Phyllis has 6 followers on her blog.  She would love more so some day she can have a book of stories so she can use the money to help more dogs.  If she gets enough followers someone for google or another web site will want to advertise on her blog and then she may get money to publish a book.  Boy, I''m not bashful am I!?

Lula's update

Well, I have been here for just over a week.  Every day things get easier for me to fit in.  Last Thursday I had 13 stitches and 5 mammary tumors removed.  I could tell when Phyllis picked me up that she was scared for me.  I was passed out and wrapped in a blanket on the way home.  She put me in a dog bed and I didn't move for almost 6 hours.  I don't remember the operations I had but when I woke up I couldn't really walk.  Phyllis brought water for.  I heard the doctor tell Phyllis to wash out all my stitches with some stuff.  All 13 stitches!  So I decided that since she was so nice to me and I still didn't know her very well, I would lay very quietly on my back and let her do it.
 Every day is pretty much the same routine.  We get up, go for a walk then I bark at her until my food is put down in front of me.  Then we go for another walk and when we come homeElvis brings toys to Phyllis to throw and she plays with him.  Soooooooooooooo, today I thought I would try it.  I got a toy that Phyllis threw and shook it and got it again just like I see Elvis do.  Tonight while Phyllis was in the shower I tried to play with Elvis like Phyllis does.  He really likes me a lot and we wrestled and jumped and played for at least a long time.  I don't really know time but from when Phyllis got in the shower to after she had her pajamas on.  That much time.  Then we all went into the den to watch tv and knit.  Only Phyllis knits.  So Elvis and I played again.  It was so much fun.  Phyllis says that in such a short time I am becoming the dog I should be.  I have no idea what she is talking about but she feeds me so I put up with her chatter.  I will come back again when I can get Phyllis to type for me and let you know how I am after my stitches come out and my reports come back.  My surgery was for Breast Cancer and Phyllis knits hats for Cancer patients.
Oh, and Phyllis did tell me that I probably won't be here long because everyone wants a small yorkie girl who pees on paper.  And that's what I am.
See Ya!

Lulla's Update

It's Lula.  Yesterday after my surgery Phyllis brought me home and I don't think I opened my eyes until at least 7 hours later.  I can't believe what they did to me.  I am stitched from way down to way up.  Phyllis says that I am such a good girl.  I could tell when she picked me up this morning to give me my meds that I might hurt.  I really surprised her.  I can't say that I am bouncing around but I feel pretty good.  I ate all my dinner and now I am laying by Phyllis.  She said we should go shopping to walk it off but I am not quite up to that yet.  Phyllis really has no idea just how much spunk I have but when I feel better she is in for a big surprise.  She has to clean my stitches every day with some stuff and when she came towards me with the cotton balls I knew something was coming and I turned over on my back.  I know she likes a challenge but really..............!  I still can't quite tell her where I came from or how old I am until she learns to understand my language.  I can now understand her although when I came almost a week ago english was not my first language.  A lot of people have written to Phyllis saying they want to adopt me.  And I know why too.  I am beautiful, happy, energetic and all that good stuff.  The best part of me for Phyllis is that I came here knowing how to go on a wee wee pad for everything I need to do.  Even last night in a drug induced coma, when I had to go potty I staggered over the paper and then staggered back to sleep.  I have gone all through this pain and suffering (ok, it's not as bad as I thought) just because nobody in my past life thought of the dangerr I could be in if I was not spayed.  And to all the women who read this I know you understand the most.  5 teats of mine had tumors and my uterus was about to burst and I had to have a hysterectomy too.  A boy dog would still be whining now and I don't complain at all.  I will keep you informed of where I am in my recovery.  If you look on the united yorkie rescue site I am Lula in Florida and I love the spotlight.  I will let you know the results of some tests that Phyllis calls biopsy.  I haven't a clue but dinner was delicious and that's all I care about.  Eating,sleeping, playing and being cuddled.  You should try it coz it makes you feel warm and fuzzy and I don't remember the last time I felt like that.

Lula's story

My name is Lula.  There may be mistakes here but I speak mostly spanish and Phyllis doesn't understand a word so I have to tell her my story very slowly.  We make a good pair.  I can't type and she can't bark so we try to make it work.  People gave me away.  To a high kill facility.  I am about 4 I think and I am a beautiful perfect yorkie.....almost.  My belly was full of lumps when she got me and I was not spayed.  I came here on Sunday, March 4th.  I like the dogs here and I like Phyllis.  I think I came from a spanish speaking area of Florida and that's probably why Phyllis keeps asking me what I want when I bark at her.  She is starting to understand so I think all is not lost.
Anyway, on Monday she took me to the animal doctor and we found out I have mammary tumors  That is breast cancer.  You probably know that dogs have more than two breasts and I have at least six.  So today I had multiple mastectomies, I was spayed and had my teeth fixed.  The doctor told Phyllis that I also had pyro something that I didn't understand, but she told Phyllis it means that my uterus was in danger of bursting.  I guess if I were human I would be scared but I was just anxious because I had to wait in a cage all morning until time for my surgery.  Phyllis came at got me and I was really out of it.  I could hardly wake up so the doctor wrapped me in a huge blanket and handed me to Phyllis with directions and meds.  I could tell that Phyllis was very nervous to have such a sick dog with such major surgery to take care of but so far she has done very well.  The first time I raised my head she brought me water, and I went back to sleep.  Then I woke up and she put a pill into some great tasting cheese and put it in my mouth so I couldn't spit it out and now I am really feeling no pain.  Just kind of dizzy and tired.  I will get back to you tomorrrow and let you know how Phyllis makes it through the night.  Who is taking care of who here anyway.  She pulled down the low bed she calls a futon so I could stay on the floor in a bed but still be near her.  I can't say I feel great but it's better than being in a war torn country.  More tomorrow as I get better.  I don't understand how my family just gave me to a place that would kill me just because I needed some care.  Maybe they didn't have the money.  I can't tell Phyllis that but she is getting smarter every day.  Now she knows that if I stand in the kitchen and bark I want to eat and if I bark and go to the door I want to go out.  I use a wee wee pad but sometimes I just want to go out.

Stevie has a new Foster Mom

I just want to let you all know that I have gone to live in another foster home with a wonderful Foster Mom and Foster Dad.  Phyllis cried when I left because she did not want to let me go.  The reason for my going is that Elvis and Chewy and Cookie were scaring me all the time.  I don't think they did it on purpose but whenever they were asleep and I couldn't see that and I went near their beds and accidently woke them they would come charging after me and I was scared to death.  Phyllis started trying to fine a different home where I could have peace and UYR led me and Phyllis to Kandice, an angel in Punta Gorda.  First I had to ride in someone else's car so for about 15 minutes before I got in my bed in that car Phyllis just held me in her arms and sang to me (if you call that singing) and I was half asleep when I was carried to another car and put right into my bed on a nice lady's lap.  I was very calm on the way there and I love my new home.  There is an old blind dog and one cat and I stay mostlywith Kandice all day.  Phyllis taught me that it was ok to trust people and that I could be happy with someone else.  She took a week before she would write this because she is still sad that I am nnot with her.  Please know that I am loved here and Phyllis taught me I could let that happen and love back.  I will never forget her and send her pics of me whenever Kandice takes them.  I am very sure that she will never forget me either.  I thank her for getting me started and UYR for saving me and now Kancide for helping me even more.

It's been Awhile

I just haven't felt like blogging lately so now it's time to catch up.  Caesar went to another home to be fostered because I think I heard Phyllis say that I scared him. I think Phyllis thought that when a blind dog came into the house all the other dogs would behave like Mother Theresa (God rest her soul), but it has not been the case.  Elvis really does not like me and when I walk into his crate and he is in there he comes out charging.  I think I wake him up and that he is not all bad.  I have made very little progress, but some..  I can jump on the couch and lay on my back so Phyllis can rub my belly and I walk several trimes a day and smell everything.  It's amazing how many different things out there to smell  I never leave Phyllis at all.  I am at her feet waiting to be touched all the time unless I take a nap and then I like my special bed under the desk.
   I heard Phyllis talking on the phone and she said that dinner time sometimes reminds her of a movie she once saw about Helen Keller.  She says that in one scene before her teacher comes to help her, Helen was walking around the dinner table just grabbing at anything she could and stuffing it in her mouth.  She tried signing water in my paw like in the movie but I didn't have a clue.  Phyllis says no disrespect to Helen.  I am not that bad but when I know the food is coming I get excited and sometimes one of the bowls goes flying.  Last week after I ate I backed up and pooped on the floor and my back leg went into the bowl of food and then I walked away.  Phyllis said if she didn't laugh she would cry.  She tried to pick me up so she could wash my food but I ran away and left the food markings all tthe way from the kitchen to the bedroom.  I still have not wagged my tail and still do my business whenever I feel the urge but now I have a belly band on all the time so I can't pee on the floor.  Can you imagine, Phyllis has to buy Poise for me so I won't leak on the floor if I have an accident.  People probably think it's for her when she buys it but so what. 
Chewy was adopted but he came back and I am sure he will be filling you in soon.  When Caesar got to his foster mom in The Villages she could not believe how timid he had become (she had him for two days before he came here.)  They think it is because the other dogs can tell I am different and so they behave differently around me and Caesar was afraid of me.  I really need to be fostered in a home with no other dogs to bother me.  When I walk outside if a new dog comes up to me I get so scared I try to run away.  Phyllis continues to subject me to this exercise because in her mind it will help me to be less afraid over time.  I hope she's right!  We will chat again soon.  No applications to adopt me yet. 

Catching up with Caesar

I know that Stevie gets a lot of attention but I need some too.
  On the same day that he was neutered so was I.  I also had 5 more teeth pulled so I was in much more pain than Stevie was.  I couldn't eat my regular food so Phyllis mixed it with water and I was able to lap it up after 2 days of not eating at all. 
I just wanted to sleep.  I cried sometimes and Phyllis gave me great meds.  After she gave me a little pill in some creamcheese I just slept like a baby for a long time.  I love to be with Phyllis and just want to be on her lap or next to her or touching her back.  Elvis doesn't always like this and he will sometimes charge me when I get to close.  Phyllis corrects him but told me she doesn't understand why he is not a kind caring dog.  He has had 35 friends over the last 3 years and some of them he just loved to play with she said.  So here I am a little 5 pound dog who understands everything she says and she understands nothing of what I say.
 I try to tell her why I lift my leg but she still doesn't like it so I wear a belly band around my belly.  She says it's because I want to lift my leg everyplace.   Isn't that what we are supposed to do?  I always thought so but she doesn't seem to like it so I look like a fool in the house but thank goodness when we go out she takes it off!
As I mentioned, the last week of my life has been very painful.  I love my treats but can't break them and chew them anymore.   Phyllis seems to realizes this and she crushes my treats to almost power so I can still have them.  I just lick the crumbs.
My favorite part of the day is bedtime.  Phyllis picks me up and puts me on the bed and I curl up as close to her as I can without making Elvis mad at me and sleep like a stone all night without moving.  Sometimes in the morning when she gets up because Cookie barks at her, she takes them out and lets me sleep until she gets back.
I wish I knew how to play with a toy.  I watch Elvis run back and forth to her with his toys but I just don't get it.  I was not well treated before I got here and I know I never had a toy to play with.  I was definitely not fed right.  I can tell because of the great food I get to eat here and becaue my bald spots are growing back in.  I think this year will be a much bettter one that the last few and if I can find someone to adopt me I will be in heaven.  I want to be an only dog that can have my owner all to myself and just watch tv and nap and take short walks.  I hope I'm not asking for too much,
I also can't seem to tell Phyllis why when I see a leash I cower and run away for a minute before I let her put it on me.  She never gives up on me and I am getting better all the time.  I don't run as far or as long as I know she is going to get me anyway.
There is one thing I like to do!  I love to chase squirrels!  I want to climb the tree right after I see them run up one.  I also am a very friendly dog when I meet other dogs.  When my stitches come out Phyllis told me she would take me to the dog park.  I don't know what a dog park is but she sounds very happy  when she says it so I can't wait to see what it is.  I will need to wait till my stitches come out next week.  I will let you know how I like it.

Stevie's last few days

This week has had its ups and downs for me but I think there are probably dogs much worse off than I am...... I just haven't met one yet!  On Tuesday morning at 7:30 Phyllis, her grandaughter, Caesar and I piled into the car and went to the vet for the day.  I had to be neutered.  I was petrified.  Not because of the procedure as I have or had no idea what that was.  I was petrified because someone else was holding me in a strange place and they put me in a cage and Phyllis left.  Phyllis came to get us with her grandaughter right before 5 at night.  I was very sleepy and just lay on the seat next to her wrapped in a warm towel.  Caesar sat on the grandaughter's lap in the back seat wrapped in a warm towel too.  It was awful.  All of it.  I had to have my teeth cleaned so my mouth hurt and Caesar had to have 5 more teeth pulled so his mouth hurt.  We have to take pain medication for two days and an antibiotic for 10 days each.  Phyllis told them that they had to use invisible stitches or glue to sew up my neuter place because she knows I panic with a collar on.
Good things have happened to me too.  I have gone to potty outside more and more although the house is fine for me too.  I am less scared to be outside and Phyllis always tells me how well I am doing.  I can walk way behind her and smell everything.  I let Phyllis's grandaughter pat me and when she stopped I put my paws up on the thing she was sitting on so she would do it again.  A stranger in the street wanted to pat me and Phyllis told her to be very slow as I usuallly don't let anyone strange touch me.  I lay down on the ground and try to make a hole open so they can't touch me.  When Phyllis sees that she asks the people not to touch me but she always likes me to try.  \
This morning when Phyllis woke up I was on her futon with her and the other dogs.  It's the first time I have done that and she was very surprised to see me there.  I usually sleep by myself either in a dog  bed or on the couch.  I liked being up there with her and the other dogs know after almost a month that I don't want them to touch me or bother me and they don't.
Sometimes I jump up on the couch when she says up up up come up come up up up.  I can't stand her saying it over and over again so I just jump up and turn around and sit down, and when she tells me what a smart boy I get off the couch and she leaves me alone.
  Oh yeah, I'm sorry to say that one of the down things was that when Phyllis tried to get me to take my antibiotic pill in cheese wizz I didn't want to open my mouth. She tried to get it open by herself.   I was up on a counter and pretty freaked out as it is after the day I had and I bit her....Not hard but hard enough for her brain to kick into first gear.  Now I get my pills in delicious whipped cream cheese.  Sorry Phyllis! 
I still don't wag my tail but it is flying higher than eveer. I go to the door when I hear the leashes and stand still to have mine put on and I used to run away or panic.

Stevie is settling

I have changed since my last blog.  Phyllis has the same routine for walking all of us every day.  It does not change and it is for my benefit.  A few days ago I pottied outside and have since done that two or three times.  Phyllis is always very pleased and pats me on the head and rubs my hair until I think I am going to start losing it.  She seems to like whatever it is I do that is different.  I walked onto grass for the first time which made me smell what was in front of my face.  I liked the smell and so now I want to walk slower and smell everything. Now I walk on a retractable leash way behind the other dogs smelling everything I can.  I used to only walk right next to Phyllis, but now I let her get way in front of me.  Because we do the same thing every day I am now accustomed (nice word for a dog right!) to the routine and know that if I feel her tug I stop smelling and walk to her and if she doesn't tug I still know that if I walk forward on my own that she will be at the other end of my leash.  I never pass her.  I always stop right at her side
.  My tail is up most of the time now instead of way down between my legs, but I still don't wag it at all.  I hear her ask me when I will wag my tail but don't do it yet.  I can jump on the couch when I know she is there and encourages me and I don't run away when she comes up to me to put my leash on.
 In the morning when Phyllis drinks her coffee on her rocking settee which she loves, I stand by her and let her pick me up.  I lay on her lap while she rocks us and drinks her coffee.  I like it.  So, that's where  I am.  I don't know how much more I can do but Phyllis knows there is more.  She says its okay to take baby steps.  Oh, and one more thing.  Because I never walk past Phyllis, going in the front door is sometimes hard because she holds the door open and wants me to walk in before her so the door doesn't close on me.  I did walk in today.  One time only.  But I did walk in today.