MaryElizabeth Dugmore claims to care for Yorkies but her actions are opposite! I was a registered foster through this organization when there was a different president, for many many years. When Mary Elizabeth took over, this rescue and their mission went out the window. Last year I offered to help another foster with taking a Yorkie named Maya, to get her medical issues taken care of. Mary Elizabeth didn't like the price in Washington state, the bloodwork, dental procedure with multiple extractions and vaccines was going to be around $2000. MaryElizabeth said it was too expensive and she refused to negotiate with the veterinarian and refused ALL medical care for Maya, who was in desperate need of dental care. She told me to pay for it myself and she would waive the $600 adoption fee for 9 year old Maya. Because she was in obvious discomfort, I paid for it and adopted Maya. I refuse to do any future assistance with this rescue and I stopped all donations after I found out MaryElizabeth was paying her daughter under the table to do the books. The IRS is very interested in this when you're running a 501(c)(3). All donated funds are supposed to go to the care of the animals only. MaryElizabeth is not caring for the animals that she takes in, she says they don't have the money. Well if they don't have the money, they should not take in the rescues!!! Don't waste your money on this rescue, because it's not going towards the animals care. read more

I have had a wonderful experience with YTNR. I currently own a Yorkie named Chewy Nho. He is a big part of my life. I wanted to find him a brother that was under the age of 1. I was very lucky to find a 5 month year old Yorkie named Milo on the YTNR website. I filled out the application and waited. For some reason the application did not process the first time. I found this out when talking with members of the organization. I really wanted to be considered in adopting Milo so I filled out the application again. It is a very long application so I do recommend taking time to answer each question. They seemed very important and I completely understood why they ask such questions. For example: Why do you want a young dog versus an older one? Do you have a secure yard and explain. The questions may seem personal but the org wants to make sure the pups are going to a good secure home. I received a call the next day from Milo's foster mom. We talked on the phone for about 45 minutes. I could tell this was a phone interview so I tried to sound as calm as possible but it was hard since I was excited I received the call in the first place. I was told that I was next in line if the current family looking over Milo passed on the adoption. To my surprise the family before me had to pass on adopting Milo. This was wonderful to Chewy and I. With all YTNR adoptions, you can either drive to pick up the dog or try and meet the foster family half way. I drove the entire way since I had time to do so. The foster family was very sweet and welcomed Chewy and I with open arms into their home. Milo was a ball of energy and very very cute. He was a bit skinny but he was teething and had a hard time eating his food. I also experienced the same thing with Chewy so I did not think much of it. Now I have two Yorkies. Chewy and I re-named Milo. His name is Solo Nho Xiu. Yes, I love Star Wars. Chewy Nho means small chewbacca and Solo Nho Xiu means tiny Solo. I love my furbabies and cannot believe how well Chewy and Solo get along. Thank you so much YTNR! Your a great organization. Keep it up! read more

Been contemplating on this for awhile, but I truly have nothing to lose now --- I have devoted a large part of my life as a an advocate to help those without a voice. My experience and involvement is fostering, transporting and adopting and loving with all my heart & soul. My concern is of one particular Foundation which I have worked with for 8 years with no incident or concern until recently. The Foundation of concern is Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue (YTNR) headed by MaryElizabeth Dugmore. I recently found a beautiful pup named Abbey through the SEAACA shelter. I decided to foster Abbey and went through the necessary process with YTNR to make it happen and by October 8, 2022 the process was complete with Abbey in my care. I proceeded to care for Abbey and take her to the veterinarian approved by YTNR. The vet advised that Abbey was pregnant at around 28 days at that time. He also advised that due to her size and age (7 months) she needed to be monitored and cared for carefully. Abbey was carrying 5 puppies. At that time I was told by MaryElizabeth to JUST FEED HER, that monitoring her was not necessary (and yes I have proof). She immediately wanted Abbey picked up and flown to Tennessee. I was forced to give Abbey to a transporter appointed by MaryElizabeth., whom ironically is also named Mary (Cuomo spelling?). I informed her that she is not in a position to fly and that the vet would not clear her. MaryElizabeth took Abbey from me and to a second opinion and was again told the same as the first vet. I was promised, which I have in writing, that I would adopt Abbey after birth and weaning. Based on her medical examination Abbey will have given birth by now. I have made several requests for an update via email and endless phone calls to no avail. MaryElizabeth. has ignored my inquiries. My concern is that Abbey was not cared for properly and is no longer with us or she is being used as a breeding dog. MaryElizabeth showed no concern for Abbey's well being and was only interested in making sure those puppies were birthed. In my desperate attempt to get information on Abbey, I have unveiled information that is unsettling. People outside of my situation have advised me that when they inquire about puppies birthed through this Foundation they too have been ignored. Once again, I have worked with YTNR for eight years and the basic fostering/adopting process has gone smoothly. However, as soon puppies came into the picture the person I once dealt with was someone completely different. To this day, I have no information on the well being of Abbey. If MaryElizabeth is truly an advocate for animals and a caring human being, then there is no reason for this kind of behavior. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE ABBEY IS? Is she alive? Foundations should be monitored to ensure that they are legitimate and are not using their claim as advocates for profit. I truly hope I'm wrong but certain documentation tells me I am not. read more

This is my frantic email to the Regional director of YTNR after unknowingly adopting a very sick dog from the YTNR: Hi Ms.York, I wanted to let you know that I adopted Max on Saturday Feb 4, 2012 and I really hope it works out BUT at this point I'm not sure. I wanted and thought I was purchasing a dog that was potty trained. Max's description stated he was potted trained. His foster mom said he was potty trained. In the 5 days that I have had Max, he has pooped in his kennel twice over night. (he was sonly in 5-6 hours and taken out before put to bed). He CONSTANTLY pee's in the house. I was prompted to write this email to you because in a matter of 15mins, he has managed to pee in the house 4 times. Of course each time he does, I scold him and put him out. He come right back in and pees again. 4 TIMES IN 15 MINUTES!!!!! He pees in the car, he pees everywhere. I took him in for a check up today and was told he is part chichua 4yrs old, has a intestinal infection, a temperature and possible urinary track infection he also needs extensive dental work. Two teeth need extracting right away. None of this was on his profile because If it was, honestly, I would not have taken him. I feel as though I could have possibly been deceived. There were major issues not revealed to me and I did not get what I thought I was purchasing. Now, here's the hard part. I have grown to love him already and it's not his fault that these things were not communicated well. What do you suggest we do???? Your prompt response is greatly appreciated Their response to my email was: I think you should return him to our rescue. Where do you live and I will have someone get him. If I don't have anyone close enough, can you possibly help get him to his new foster home? Please let me know ASAP. Thanks. (fyi; YTNR has no refund policy. I would have After receievng this email response, I texted Ms. York, Regional Dir. again asking her to please give me a call to discuss this matter. She doesn't respond, so I email her AGAIN with the following message My message to YTNR:As I initially stated, we have fallen in love with Max and would like to keep him if possible. Would the rescue be willing to refund any of the adoption fee to offset some of the medical? It was after this email message that Ms.York, Regional Dir. calls me yelling and screaming, accusing me of crating Max during the day, obviously she did understand that part of my email and however she never bothered to ask for clarification or ask about Max's health. When I asked to have my required $275.00 CASH donation returned to off set some of the Vet bills, she continued to yell and scream until I had no choice but to hang up on her after warning her several time that I would not continue to speak with her unless she lowered her voice and spoke to me with the same respect that I was giving her. He last comment o me was :We are not a bank, we don't have money to have theses dogs checked out from top to bottom. I am VERY disappointed that the Regional Dir was so rude and indifferent concerning my dilemma as a new adoptive parent. She showed no empathy or concern for Max's health. She simply stated "send him back". Isn't the goal of the organization to find loving, forever homes for these little guys? If I was to return him to foster care, wouldn't Max still need the same medical attention? Her negative response did not make sense. She was completely unwilling to work with me on the adoption fees to offset medical expenses. Her only suggestion was to return Max to foster care. She was so aggressive that it was impossible (no matter how hard I tried) to have a reasonable conversation with her. She misread my email, called me accusing me of things she knows nothing about. She stated I said that I crated Max. I have a 4 yr old Bichon and I never crate her, I just recently starting crating her at night , because Max was accustom to sleeping in a crate at night,she and Max go everywhere with me. Needless to say, I am very disappointed in her lack of customer service. As I stated to her. I will be keeping Max, I do not feel it is right to give an animal away just because they are sick. I will love him and do all I can to get him well and provide a loving environment. I have been told by other foster moms that this Rep. encourages them to NOT to be forth coming and she recommends that they with hold important decision making information from potential adoptive families. This practice is not right and thus must change. I have spent 30 stressful days,sleepless nights and close to $2000.00 trying EVERYTHING I can to get Max well. I will never adopt again from YTNR again. I plan to share my horrific experience with anyone who will listen and is considering this organization . read more

This group is dedicated to helping this beautiful toy breed dog. Thank you for all you do.

About 8 years ago, I inquired about a Yorkie I saw on this site. I never received a response until about three years after that. Someone called me out of the blue and said that they had a dog who would be perfect for me. Little was disclosed except that she was paper trained, the same age as my other yorkie and was pulled from a shelter in Indiana. She was being fostered by someone in Chicago and we could arrange meeting. I was honestly not looking for a dog at the time, but decided to meet the dog. When I met the dog, she exhibited a lot of aggressive and anxious behaviors, but the foster mom said that was just how she was when she met new people and dogs and that she never had any problems with the dog. Fast forward a few months post adoption, and the dog I rescued was attacking my other yorkie, attacking other dogs we saw in the park, biting anyone who came into my house, pacing frantically when nervous, and peeing and pooping whenever nervous. I attempted to take her to training and paid for 8 weeks of intense dog school. The trainer indicated that I had probably been "had" and this dog was not right and would have NEVER passed a temperament test to be adopted out of a shelter -- meaning, she would have been put down as unfit. However, NONE of this was ever told to me. I emailed YTNR representatives and the response I received was APPALLING. They indicated that these behaviors were not present before (this dog was 6 years old and there is absolutely NO way these behaviors weren't present before) and that if they took her back, they would put her down. Basically putting her death on my hands. They offered NO support and no options and basically prayed upon my love of dogs to deceive me into keeping her. I didn't have the heart to put her down and kept her. She has exhibited the same behaviors and has greatly altered my existence -- I didn't want anyone to come over because she would poop all over and bite them, and walking in the park was an embarrassing nightmare, as she would attack all other dogs -- so I had to steer clear of any dogs. Despite this, I gave her my love as best as I could. Recently, I had twin babies and I knew that it was going to be dicey as to whether it could work with her. Not surprisingly, it is absolutely not working. She is a nervous wreck, has lunged at the babies, barks incessantly whenever they cry, has bit 7 people who have come near the babies, has forced us to have to gate ourselves and the babies in the bedroom, and is attacking my other dog again whenever she gets near the babies. I once again emailed YTNR and they are radio silent. I have been a dog lover my whole life, have volunteered at dog shelters and taken excellent care of my pets. I am a firm believer in dog rescue, but I would implore ANYONE looking at YTNR to do their due diligence. These people are not honest or trustworthy and they are not disclosing all of the facts before adopting out dogs who are not fit to be adopted out or who are not a good fit in a particular home. Because of my experience, I will likely never rescue another dog again and I will warn ANYONE and EVERYONE of this horrendous experience with this group. They hold themselves out to be dog saviors but are doing a terrible disservice to all involved. I am considering legal action against them because this should never happen. BOTTOM LINE: DO NOT RESCUE A DOG FROM THIS GROUP. Go to a reputable shelter where dogs have to at least pass temperament tests. read more