Yorkie911 Rescue

Founded in 2010 by Heidi Walker, Yorkie911 Rescue is a nonprofit organization, which provides foster homes for small breed dogs whose owners no longer want or can care for them.

The organization is entirely staffed by dedicated and caring volunteers, who are able and willing to provide care and shelter for the animals in their own homes. According to Heidi, they currently have close to 40 volunteers, with some more active than others. They utilize a dedicated volunteer coordinator to manage all the care, rescues and adoptions.

“The mission of Yorkie911 Rescue is to rescue and ultimately find the perfect adoptive home for the dogs in our care,” say Heidi Walker. The volunteer staff provide a foster home until a permanent adoption can be arranged. Some foster homes elect to keep their rescues permanently.

Heidi, who is a trained groomer, first got the idea of rescuing dogs when she visited an upstate shelter. She found the conditions there so deplorable that she knew something had to be done to provide better care for mistreated dogs. She began by taking one dog at that time and caring for it. She has been passionate about rescuing dogs ever since.

The Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie as it’s commonly known, has many amazing qualities. They are known to be bold, active and surprisingly brave for such a small breed. They are stubborn, often difficult to house-train, but always willing to alert their owner if something is amiss. Yorkies quickly become attached to their new home and family.

Many of the rescues come from Puerto Rico, which has a population problem with the sheer number of stray dogs. The rescue procedure begins with spaying or neutering before the animal travels to the US. “There are as many as half a million dogs and cats wondering the streets of Puerto Rico,” says Heidi. Heidi further explained, “Yorkie911 Rescue has a partner organization in Puerto Rico and they work together to facilitate the process of finding Long Island homes for the dogs.”

Other dogs are rescued from Baltimore, where dog fighting rings are a big problem. When asked how the dogs get to Long Island, Heidi stated “our volunteers drive the dogs up by car, each sharing a leg of the journey, with the final leg being northern New Jersey to Long Island.” These volunteer drivers are affectionately known as “the Yorkie911 Road Warriors.”

According to Heidi, there are several reasons people give up on their pets. These can include a change in circumstances, medical issues for the dog or just a lack of desire to maintain the commitment and responsibility of caring for a pet. This is referred to as “surrendering.” Currently, Yorkie911 Rescue has 15-20 dogs under its care.

When Yorkie911 accepts a new rescue, Heidi has the important task of assessing the animal. This includes a full medical checkup by a vet, including whether neutering or spaying is indicated. Former owners are asked to complete a questionnaire as to the animal’s disposition, past and present health status and vaccine status. If medical care is necessary, including spaying or neutering, Yorkie911 Rescue pays for the care out of its budget. The organization is always fundraising and gladly accepts donations to cover their expenses. Occasionally they receive a grant, typically from an individual or organization.

One example of the work that is being done at Yorkie911 Rescue is Mollie (pictured below). Mollie, a cava-poo, or Cavalier-Poodle mix, was rescued with a major heart defect and required surgery. Ultimately two surgeries were performed, the 2nd completed just this past February. Mollie is now doing well, under the loving care of a Yorkie911 Rescue foster family.

The website for Yorkie911 Rescue can be found at https://yorkie911rescue.rescuegroups.org. There you can learn about the organization, including how to surrender an animal, how you can volunteer or donate, and how you can apply to adopt a dog in need of a home. And naturally, there are many wonderful photos.