This is only my opinion, this is how I feel, I do not expect everyone to agree with my personal views. This is not to say people who own this type of dogs are monsters, they aren’t ….
Typically.
This is more to sway people to think long… and Hard before deciding to truly purchase this type of dog.
First let us begin with the No Duh factors-
1. A dog should not be breed when it is under the weight of 5 pounds ( Even this is iffy to me)
-Why? Think of weighing 50 pounds and giving birth to a 25 pound baby? Really. Imagine giving birth to something half your weight. That’s what these poor animals are put through.
2. Most Breeders of these puppies are in fact puppy mill runners. If you truly considering purchasing a teacup puppy do the following:
-1. DEMAND VIDEO OF YOUR PUPPY PLAYING! ( This is vital to see if the puppy is indeed healthy, even Vets will ask to see your puppy playing when you take them in for their first exams)
-2. Demand photo’s of the living environment of the puppy, demand to know what it’s being fed, and demand to be told any health conditions: runny nose, fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, lost interest in playing. All of these could be warning signs of more serious conditions.
3. I cannot stress this one enough. Please … please … Demand to see the parents of the puppy. Be sure to ask for videos of the puppies and the parents interacting, so you can determine any health problems the parents may have.
Beware of Imbreeding!
These puppies will have more health issues than you can possibly imagine.
The risk of open fontanels (soft spot from the cranial bone not forming), portosystemic shunts (PSS- abnormal vessel that allows blood to bypass the liver. As a result the blood is not cleansed by one of the bodies filters: the liver), hypoglycemia, cardiac problems, collapsing trachea, luxating patellas, Leggs Calves Perthes disease, seizures, hydroencephaly, blindness and digestive problems can be increased in these tiny babies.
Problems such as respiratory problems can remain or worsen throughout their lives. These babies frequently are so fragile that they do not live more than a few years. There have been several tiny Yorkies as adults who still had open fontanels and their owners had to carry nourishment with them all the time. Their vets have felt it unsafe to give a full dose of vaccine so the puppies had to get several injections to be on the safe side.
(source: http://www.barkrescue.net/teacup.htm)
Breeders of these puppies are taking it upon themselves to play God. To alter an animal’s genetics. It is wrong. It is causing unnatural puppies to be born. And it is creating suffering in an innocent life that does not deserve it.
In short. If you’re looking for an animal to love and to care for and to keep with you for years to come, please visit your local shelters.
Most animals there desperately want to be loved and won’t be around tomorrow. Why invest in a $5000.00 puppy when you can get a loving lifetime friend at your shelter for under $200.00.
Please be considerate in what you are really helping to fund.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, I hope it will reach a few people out there , even if Just one person.
-Sincerely-
Blaine L. Howard
Ban Teacup Puppy Traders 