Please read the article on puppy mill dogs before you apply for Yvette.

Beautiful Yvette is a four year old black-masked fawn, born on the 4th of July. She has a troubled past, having been rescued from a puppy mill where she was kept in a pen with five other dogs and forced to fight for every kibble of food. She has been in foster care for nine months now and her outlook on life is much, much brighter. In fact, she is ready to join her forever family and take that last step away from her sad beginnings.

Before coming into FBRN's care, Yvette had no positive experiences with people. She was very fearful and skittish, and she is still apprehensive. Though she craves affection, she is still afraid when she is picked up, and needs very gentle handling. She loves human touch, but it must be on her terms, in her own time. For this reason, only gentle, quiet children over the age of twelve will be considered.

Yvette enjoys the company of other dogs as long as they are submissive to her and about the same size. She sometimes plays with them. Given her history it is not surprising that she will guard her toys. In her foster home the other dogs let Yvette have her way and they have no problems, but she will not tolerate an alpha. Yvette is fed separately to keep the peace. She does display some fear aggression when she meets new dogs. This is a dog who has been scared to death most of her life, and her forever family must be patient with her. It's all new.

Yvette has a permanent medical condition called Canine Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency. Untreated, it presents chronic diarrhea and other symptoms of malnutrition. Now her condition is controlled with strict adherence to a medication and diet routine. Yvette gets an antacid prior to eating, and enjoys a special food and prescription meds with her meals. The cost of her medication and food is approximately $80 each month.

As for training, well, puppy mill dogs don't receive any training, of course. She does fine in a crate though, and is making great strides in her housebreaking. She still has the occasional accident but they are getting fewer and further apart. She doesn't signal clearly to go out, so she needs regular and frequent trips outdoors to reinforce her good behavior. She needs to be accompanied out, and usually takes care of her business right away. Yvette is a sweet girl who wants to please and she is very motivated by treats. She is not leash-trained and is very skittish about anything that feels like "close confinement" by people. That includes a leash. She will tolerate having a harness put on for safety in the car or at the vet's office, but it makes her uncomfortable. It will be best for Yvette to have a fenced yard where she can potty and play freely in the outdoors.

Yvette does not need any serious exercise. She has bursts of playfulness and then sometimes zips back over to have you scritch her behind for fun. She loves to sit quietly in your lap and feel the safely and warmth she longed for all those years in the puppy mill. Skittish when forced into any activity, even if it's just getting attention, she must do things on her terms to continue building trust. When you see her delight and enjoyment of a situation it's all worth the wait. Because of her fear and trust issues, Yvette will never be a dog to take on errands or to the office. It would be cruel to ask that much of her.

Besides sitting in your lap, what does Yvette love? Stuffies! Stuffies in your house beware, your days are numbered! She eviscerates them in seconds, and has a high old time of it, too. She LOVES Nylabones as well. She doesn't give a hoot about other kinds of toys, but that doesn't mean she won't guard them from the other dogs. "I don't want it, but I don't want you to have it either!"

Yvette's perfect home will be with someone gentle and sensitive to her puppy mill background. Patience will be important, and time to give Yvette the space she needs to build trust. She is not a dog for a novice pet owner or for a home with young children. A quiet home with lots of love,, for a sweet but shy little soul. She would love to have someone with her all day but might adjust to having someone come in and give her a break mid-day if it were the right person.

A few words from Yvette's foster mom who has spent nine months getting to know her:

"Yvette is a sensitive little soul who only wants a safe and loving lap. She is willing to share with a laid-back Frenchie but does need some special time with her person each day. Her little kisses are still soft as butterfly wings and are very special when she gives them".

If you think you might be worthy of butterfly kisses someday, please take the time to apply for Yvette. She is special and she is waiting in eastern Tennessee. Yvette will not be shipped.