My name is Bernie!

Say hello to Bernie. He is a 9 year old, 11.4 pound Yorkie boy. He is being fostered in Ft. Myers, FL. Bernie’s adoption fee is $225.

UPDATED BIO 03/27/2018: Hi everybody! It's me - Bernie! I am still looking for my furever home - it's been three months already - come on, you won't be sorry if you choose me to be your furver doggie.

Why? 'Cause Foster Mom says I am one cool kid. I just go with the flow and I am very easy to care for. And - BONUS! I am even easier to love. Oh, I do require a toy (or two) to carry around with me. Something else. Did I mention I had all my teeth pulled? I sure was happy not to have a potty mouth anymore, but the best thing about it is I can still eat good and I don't have to brush after meals!

I'm a smart little boy, too. I am house-trained to both the wee-wee pads and the outside. Foster mom says she is so surprised that there isn't a long line of folks waiting to adopt me. I may be a bit camera-shy so my pictures don't show how cute I am. Or maybe Foster Mom just needs to learn how to take pictures, lol?! Well, that's all for now folks! I am willing and able and ready to go to my forever home, are you ready to apply to adopt me? You won't be sorry!

Please note: Bernie's hernia surgery and dental cost was over $2,500 and UYR appreciates all the generous donations from our readers. However, we still are requesting donations to cover the high costs of these vetting expenses - and he still badly needs a dental for his too-long-neglected mouth. Please consider a donation so that Bernie can continue to feel better and can continue to put all the sadness and neglect he has endured in his short life in the past.

UPDATED BIO 02/23/2018: Bernie is a shy but very loving boy. After undergoing his B-I-G hernia surgery, he has now had his B-I-G dental. He is still healing from the dental but is happy as a clam that he will need no more dentals and have no more toothaches. Why? Because he is now officially toofless. But don't think this will stop him from enjoying a squeak toy! Some boys just love their toys. So cute.

Bernie is a very docile little fella and can blend into most situations. He also likes to be with his person,but enjoys his "me time" as well. His foster parents and the other doggies all really like Bernie. He is very well-mannered, both in the car, on the leash and even in the bath. Bonus! Bernie is house-trained to a pad or the outdoors.

Foster Mom feels that Bernie would like a companion dog in the home instead of being alone, even though he is not very social with the other dogs in the house; but does like to be nearby so he is part of the resident doggie gang. He may eventually make a good playmate for the right companion dog, but at this time, Bernie just likes to do his own thing. Sweet Bernie has been through a lot since he was rescued 7 weeks ago from a South Florida high-kill shelter, but has come such a long way in his foster home. Foster Mom says that Bernie would make any pet parent happy. That's saying a lot………

UPDATED BIO 01/25/2018: Bernie has had his B-I-G hernia surgery and is feeling so much better and is looking great. He has become part of the resident doggie gang and blends in nicely with others. Bonus! Bernie is house-trained – yahoo! This little fella is more on the quiet and calm side, and totally enjoys being with his person and enjoying the immense pleasure of feeling so much better – and of course, being loved.

Bernie will have his follow-up visit with his surgeon soon and will also get a much-needed dental - then he will be ready to go to his forever home. He would do well as an only dog so that he could receive all the attention of his owner(s), or having another fur-friend would be great as well. Foster Mom calls this sweet boy a “good all-around camper" and shares that he has been such a pleasure to foster.

Please note: Bernie’s hernia surgery cost was $2,000 and UYR appreciates all the generous donations from our readers. However, we are not quite half-way in receiving donations to cover the high costs of his vetting expenses – and he still badly needs a dental for his too-long-neglected mouth. Please consider a donation so that Bernie can continue to feel better and can continue to put all the sadness and neglect he has endured in his short life in the past.

UPDATED BIO 01/11/2012: Bernie came to us from a high-kill shelter in Miami. He is cute as can be and had just been groomed prior to being taken to the shelter. This little man looked to be the perfect little boy. Why-Oh-why would anyone surrender this little angel? Then it was determined that Bernie had a very large perineal hernia. A perineal hernia is a condition that occurs in both dogs and cats in which there is an abnormal displacement of pelvic and/or abdominal organs (small intestine, rectum, prostate, bladder, or fat) into the region around the anus called the perineum. Bernie’s previous owners apparently thought it was very urgent that he have a nice haircut, but somehow failed to notice the hernia that was the size of a baseball on poor Bernie’s bottom. This poor little fella had to contort himself like a pretzel to have a bowel movement.

United Yorkie Rescue could not allow this little boy to stay in the shelter one day longer and made arrangements to pull him. Under normal circumstances, we ask for financial assistance with larger vetting expenses prior to any surgeries; however, we could not let this precious boy continue to be in misery in this condition. Bernie had had his much-needed surgery and is recuperating nicely. The surgery was very delicate and had to be done by a veterinarian surgeon. Sadly, Bernie’s mouth is in terrible condition, and this will need to be taken care of once he has recuperated from his big surgery.

UYR is asking our wonderful donors to please stand behind Bernie and support his recovery. We certainly want to do all we can to get him to his "Happy Tails" moment. He's on his way, but not there yet. Please help us help Bernie get healthier and out of pain so that he can put all the sadness and neglect he has endured in his short life in the past. Thank you to everyone who is willing to help UYR with Bernie’s high medical expenses, which currently total almost $2000 and will increase with his next procedure, a much needed dental. Without support, we cannot continue to help pups like Bernie. Just click on the Donation Button below or go to https://www.youcaring.com/bernieinflorida-1067741. UYR & Bernie thanks you for your support!