Has a Yorkie caught your eye recently? And you are thinking of getting one, just that you prefer to adopt one and not shop for one? After all, no one can resist the adorableness of a Yorkie, can you?
So, where can you find a free Yorkie?
There are several ways to find a free Yorkie:
- Pet Shelters
- Yorkie Rescues
- Breeders
- Social Network
- Forums
- Advertising Sites
As we go through them one by one, please keep a vigilant lookout for potential scams. We will go through a step-by-step guide on how to avoid getting scammed while adopting a Yorkie.
Check With Your Local Pet Shelters And Rescues
When shopping around for a new doggy to add to your family, shelters and rescue homes are undoubtedly the best place to start.
With Yorkies in particular, this route is the easiest and cheapest way to get your hands on one of the furry little angels.
One of the biggest perks of starting your search with local pet shelters and adoption centers is the fact that you get to play your part in giving a lonely little pooch a loving home.
In addition to the warm fuzzies you get, you will also sleep peacefully knowing that you have an ethically sourced new member of the family who is happier than they ever could be to be loved.
When shopping for Yorkies in shelters, however, there is no guarantee that you will get exactly what you want. Yorkies are generally not very easy to come by and if you do find one, the specific type you end up with is all a matter of chance.
You could get a mutt with all sorts of mixed genes. Or you might get lucky and find a quintessential traditional purebred Yorkie. You will therefore end up having to settle or be patient, and try your luck until you exactly get what you are looking for.
Finally, this option also means you might end up with old and/or sickly Yorkies that do not live as long as a healthy Yorkie should.
Most of these are either abandoned or street rescues. You thus have to be adequately prepared for the potential additional medical costs to get them fit enough to take home.
Check Facebook Groups For Adoptions
Going shelter to shelter time and again looking for the perfect Yorkie for your family may not always be the most practical or sustainable route. Maybe there aren’t any shelters around you. Or it could be that the breed is so rare in your area that all your repeat trips to the centers have been unfruitful.
In this case, online shopping for a pooch is something you could consider.
Facebook stands out as one of the best platforms when it comes to finding homeless Yorkies on the internet. It could be pups from a breeder or abandoned adults.
There are several groups that cater to this, including general dog adoption pages to niche groups that deal specifically with Yorkies. You just have to do a little research, and you should find the most prolific ones around you.
For the most part, Yorkie adoption groups on Facebook offer some of the best deals when it comes to finding the breed.
It is important to note that chances are you will end up with an adult Yorkie looking for a new home after being fostered or abandoned. Occasionally you might find an ad for young and healthy Yorkie puppies.
In a nutshell, shopping for your Yorkie on Facebook is not only very convenient but, more often than not, the best chance you have at getting a great deal. In fact, you could even get them free if you find an individual looking to offload their pups quickly. You just have to be patient and consistent in your search.
Write An Email To Breeders To Adopt
Breeders, as the name suggests, are businesses that rear and breed-specific dogs. If you want a guarantee that you will find the Yorkie of your dreams on your first try, then these are the people to go with.
They are particularly useful if you are in the market for a specific type of Yorkie, whether it is a teacup, Parti, or Biewer Yorkshire Terrier. These exclusive breeds require specific breeding practices that are only observed by these breeders.
They may even have the Yorkies’ tails docked to fit the official characteristics of a purebred Yorkie.
Due to their reliability and the variety offered, you might have to pay a bit more than other options for your Yorkie. Prices range between $300 and $1,500. What you end up paying will depend on a variety of factors, including the dog’s specific bloodline and its specific type.
Sometimes, you may be paying for expenses you may not have intended as well. For example, some breeder may send their dogs for spaying to keep them out of the heat and prevent pregnancy. The cost of which is pushed to you as the customer. Suppose you do not intend to have these “features,” make sure to check with your breeder before purchasing.
However, you have the benefit of getting to pick from younger and healthier litters which makes the investment worth it. You can also skip the newborn puppy phase, which requires a lot more care than an older puppy or adult Yorkie.
If you are lucky, they might be properly potty trained to take their business outside by the breeders themselves or to not bark as much. The breeders might, after all, be living with them for quite some time, so there is a need to instill some house rules and discipline in them.
While breeders are convenient if you want a fast adoption and variety in terms of Yorkie types, they have their fair share of problems you need to look out for. First of all, there is the issue of ethical breeding. While it is nice to have a unique Yorkie, it shouldn’t be at the cost of any other dog’s health or safety.
You, therefore, have to do your research to ensure that you are working with a reputable business. You can learn a lot in this regard from online reviews.
Preferably, only reach out to ones with clean records of ethical breeding and treatment of the dogs. And if you are lucky, you will get a breeder with a high-quality bloodline Yorkie for you to take home with you.
Internet Forums, Advertising Sites And Other Media Sources
Facebook is not the only online platform where you can get your Yorkie. There are several internet resources at your disposal that allow you to connect with owners and breeders looking for loving homes from all types and ages of Yorkshire terriers. You just have to be willing to do the research.
One option you have is internet forums. These include general forums like Reddit and niche ones specifically dealing with dog adoption like Maddie’s Pet Forum. These are not only convenient but also a source of good deals. You just have to sharpen your haggling skills, and you can get your hands on a fantastic pooch at a fantastic price.
Another option with online resources is going through advertising sites like craigslist and social media pages for adoption agencies. These are usually more legitimate and are ideal if you want to avoid getting raw deals or outright falling for scams.
As with Facebook and shelters, you may not have the luxury of options and variety when searching for Yorkies. These usually offer re-adoption opportunities for older and often sickly dogs. So if you want to give a poor Yorkie down on their luck a good home, then these online options would be fantastic.
Online resources are also a wonderful place to look for rare types of Yorkies. These include natural teacups and black Yorkies that are otherwise very hard to find, especially if you want yours ethically bred.
Despite the convenience that these options all offer you, it is essential to understand the risk of working with online platforms.
A lot of scammers out there hide behind the anonymity these resources provide. So make sure to do your due diligence in research before you make any payments.
Beware Of Scams
While we are on the topic of scams with online shopping for Yorkies, the best defense tool you can have is an understanding of what tricks are out there. That way, you will be able to spot a trap and get you and your wallet out of the situation before things go wrong for you. Here are 4 of the most common online scams when it comes to Yorkie adoption, especially through online platforms.
The Pure Bloodline Scam
This is a common one and preys on the desire for high quality and purity. Unfortunately, not every Yorkie marketed as a pure breed is pure. Fortunately, there are several ways to spot a mutt.
The coat pattern is the easiest way, and if the dog is advertised as pure does not have the black/blue and gold/tan combination, then you are probably getting scammed.
The Ghost Puppy Scam
This is a very unfortunate one because you don’t even end up with a Yorkie to console you. Ghost scams are usually run on Facebook pages and online ad forums. The advertiser will usually post photos of a Yorkie and quote a specific price.
They are usually very flexible with bargains and might even slash the price by half. However, the moment you make your payment, they disappear.
The best way to spare yourself is to only work with reputable businesses, whether it is a breeder or a shelter, and never pay until you have the dog in your hands.
Hidden Health Complications
Sometimes, the quality of the Yorkie promised does not exactly live up to your expectations. You might end up with a pure breed with more health issues and skin problems than you were prepared for.
This usually happens when the purchase process does not involve genuine health checkups. This will end up costing you more in terms of health expenses down the line.
Unethical Breeding Scams
This is not exactly a scam, but it is something to look out for. Unethical breeding is a problem in the Yorkie trade business as breeders try and feed the demand for trendier and rarer types of the breed. For the sake of a clean conscience and the general safety of Yorkies, it is best to go with ethically bred options.
Related Questions
Why Are Yorkies Expensive? Yorkies are among the most expensive dog breeds on the market, with price tags as high as $1,500 for purebred puppies. The main reason for the high price is the hype surrounding toy breeds, in which case Yorkies are among the most adorable. Some types are also significantly more expensive because of how rare they are, including breed and coat color variants.
Is Owning A Yorkie Worth It? Yorkies may be expensive but they sure as hell are worth the initial and maintenance investment you will have to make. In addition to being super cute and cuddly, Yorkies are very friendly. This makes them ideal family pets. They are also very intelligent and easy to train which makes living with them a lot of fun.
What Is The Cheapest Dog You Can Buy? If you are looking for a bargain, you should consider looking at mixed breeds with mutts, in general, being the cheapest option. If you are looking for a specific breed, however, Beagles are your best option for a great deal. They range between $200 and $500, depending on things like the age where you get the dog. Sometimes if you are lucky, you could find this common breed for free in adoption shelters.
