Cheryl Lucas - Yorkie Trail BEWARE! Trail-Unethical Dishonest Wichita Falls Texas

Depending on when you initially took your dog to the vet for issues arising from the congenital defect, you may have missed the SOL (Statute of Limitations) to file suit Under the PA Dog Purchaser Protection Act. However, you may have a product liability claim. Product liability refers to the liability of any or all parties along the chain of manufacture of any product for damage caused by that product (compensatory damages- your loss of $2,800.00 and whatever your vet bills totaled). Products containing inherent defects that cause harm to a consumer of the product have standing, a legal requirement to file suit. While these types of products are generally thought of as tangible personal property, products liability has stretched that definition to include intangibles (gas), naturals (pets), real estate (house), and writings (navigational charts). I'd consult with an attorney immediately. I'd be happy to refer you to a great PL lawyer in downtown Pittsburgh. It sounds like your unfortunate situation is yet another reason to crack down on breeder licensing requirements. One more thing, I'd do some serious complaining to the licensing board, Attorney General, Consumer Protection Bureau and Sheriff of whatever state/county this breeder is operating in. Maybe if you make enough noise, she'll lose her credentials, that is, if she had any to begin with. Good luck.

I am so sorry for your loss, Tinamarie.  Losing a pet is a hard thing to go through; however, ruining someone's business over a sad but unpreventable circumstance is not a nice thing to do.  I purchased a tiny yorkie puppy in 2004 from Cheryl and found her to be completely honest and trustworthy in our transaction.  In order to avoid shipping my dog in the summer heat, Cheryl drove nearly 400 miles to meet me half way.  My puppy was exactly what it was represented to be and I had no problems whatsoever with her.  She is seven now and is the light of my life....plus being a healthy and happy little dog who lays on my desk while I sell real estate.  My homework assignment to you Tinamarie would be to call 20 breeders and ask how their guarantee works.  I know of no one who will guarantee a dog for 3 years to be in perfect health, or to promise the dog will be at a certain weight/height after it is grown.  As pet owners, we must assume some of the normal everyday risk that is associated with pet ownership.  Another issue of importance:  Cheryl is NOT a puppy mill, she raises her puppies in her home with her kids, husband and other animals.  My dog was very well socialized and nearly potty trained.  To any potential yorkie purchaser, please don't hesitate to trust Cheryl as a quality breeder who will handle the transaction in a professional manner.

Tina, my heart goes out to your loss. Even though a number of years have passed, I imagine the pain remains. I'm curious - what were the name of his dame and sire?

I am so sorry for your loss, Tinamarie.  Losing a pet is a hard thing to go through; however, ruining someone's business over a sad but unpreventable circumstance is not a nice thing to do.  I purchased a tiny yorkie puppy in 2004 from Cheryl and found her to be completely honest and trustworthy in our transaction.  In order to avoid shipping my dog in the summer heat, Cheryl drove nearly 400 miles to meet me half way.  My puppy was exactly what it was represented to be and I had no problems whatsoever with her.  She is seven now and is the light of my life....plus being a healthy and happy little dog who lays on my desk while I sell real estate.  My homework assignment to you Tinamarie would be to call 20 breeders and ask how their guarantee works.  I know of no one who will guarantee a dog for 3 years to be in perfect health, or to promise the dog will be at a certain weight/height after it is grown.  As pet owners, we must assume some of the normal everyday risk that is associated with pet ownership.  Another issue of importance:  Cheryl is NOT a puppy mill, she raises her puppies in her home with her kids, husband and other animals.  My dog was very well socialized and nearly potty trained.  To any potential yorkie purchaser, please don't hesitate to trust Cheryl as a quality breeder who will handle the transaction in a professional manner.

     While I am sorry for your loss and understand how devastating that can be, I also feel that what you state is incorrect. I have also had the pleasure of buying my yorkie from Cheryl and do not believe I could have purchased my baby from a better breeder. I carefully selected my yorkie and spent almost a year researching different breeders. When I came across Yorkie Trails online, Cheryl took the time to answer my endless questions as she still does, although I now have my little girl.
     I have been very pleased and share her information with anyone that asks me and am proud to do so. I do not nor would I ever feel she is dishonest. I found her to be an amazing person who truly cares about her yorkies and I would buy from her again in a second and plan to the first chance I have. Not only did Cheryl take endless hours, she drove hours out of her way to meet me and my Annie is exactly what she showed to me and if anything, the pictures did not do her justice. As far as I am concerned, Cheryl is an amazing breeder who anyone should not hesitate for a second to buy a yorkie from.
     I also stumbled across this ad and felt I could not ignore what, to me, seems to be slander against a person who dedicates so much love and care to her yorkies.

It saddens me that anyone suffers a loss of this kind or any kind for that matter but I have a beutiful femail yorkie from Cheryl "Bailey" who is now 4 and a half years old. We have never had any problems health wise and we enjoy her immensely. A few month later we bought by impulse a little boy from a pet store. We named him max because he was so small. We immediately took him to the vet as we did Bailey he checked out fine. In spite of that my daughter found him one morning unconscious and we thought we had lost him. Because of Cheryl's instructions I immediately found the nutra-cal she had sent for Bailey and even though I didn't know if it would help I forced a small amount into his mouth with in seconds as we were driving to the vet hospital he started showing signs of life. The doctors hooked him up to an IV for liquids. We were told that small bred dogs run the risk of dehydration and sometimes seizures. Max made a full recovery no sighns of any brain damage in fact he and Bailey had two litters both times by accident. Max is now "retired" and the father of eight healthy puppies all of which went to family and friends. We send pictures and see each other all the time. I am both happy and lucky to report that there has not been a single health problem and all the puppie now at least two years some of them are just under three punds except for one who is 5.5 pounds named max his bunk mate is a blonde lab named mini. Again I'm sorry for any one's loss but I have had nothing but the best repore with Cheryl and because of her instructions it saved my Max. I am also going to buy two more puppies from Cheryl and I can't wait. Don't give up once you had and loved a yorkie its hard to switch. Your ange is out there waiting for you. God Bless.
Linda Pollack

It saddens me that anyone suffers a loss of this kind or any kind for that matter but I have a beutiful femail yorkie from Cheryl "Bailey" who is now 4 and a half years old. We have never had any problems health wise and we enjoy her immensely. A few month later we bought by impulse a little boy from a pet store. We named him max because he was so small. We immediately took him to the vet as we did Bailey he checked out fine. In spite of that my daughter found him one morning unconscious and we thought we had lost him. Because of Cheryl's instructions I immediately found the nutra-cal she had sent for Bailey and even though I didn't know if it would help I forced a small amount into his mouth with in seconds as we were driving to the vet hospital he started showing signs of life. The doctors hooked him up to an IV for liquids. We were told that small bred dogs run the risk of dehydration and sometimes seizures. Max made a full recovery no sighns of any brain damage in fact he and Bailey had two litters both times by accident. Max is now "retired" and the father of eight healthy puppies all of which went to family and friends. We send pictures and see each other all the time. I am both happy and lucky to report that there has not been a single health problem and all the puppie now at least two years some of them are just under three punds except for one who is 5.5 pounds named max his bunk mate is a blonde lab named mini. Again I'm sorry for any one's loss but I have had nothing but the best repore with Cheryl and because of her instructions it saved my Max. I am also going to buy two more puppies from Cheryl and I can't wait. Don't give up once you had and loved a yorkie its hard to switch. Your ange is out there waiting for you. God Bless.
Linda Pollack

It saddens me that anyone suffers a loss of this kind or any kind for that matter but I have a beutiful femail yorkie from Cheryl "Bailey" who is now 4 and a half years old. We have never had any problems health wise and we enjoy her immensely. A few month later we bought by impulse a little boy from a pet store. We named him max because he was so small. We immediately took him to the vet as we did Bailey he checked out fine. In spite of that my daughter found him one morning unconscious and we thought we had lost him. Because of Cheryl's instructions I immediately found the nutra-cal she had sent for Bailey and even though I didn't know if it would help I forced a small amount into his mouth with in seconds as we were driving to the vet hospital he started showing signs of life. The doctors hooked him up to an IV for liquids. We were told that small bred dogs run the risk of dehydration and sometimes seizures. Max made a full recovery no sighns of any brain damage in fact he and Bailey had two litters both times by accident. Max is now "retired" and the father of eight healthy puppies all of which went to family and friends. We send pictures and see each other all the time. I am both happy and lucky to report that there has not been a single health problem and all the puppie now at least two years some of them are just under three punds except for one who is 5.5 pounds named max his bunk mate is a blonde lab named mini. Again I'm sorry for any one's loss but I have had nothing but the best repore with Cheryl and because of her instructions it saved my Max. I am also going to buy two more puppies from Cheryl and I can't wait. Don't give up once you had and loved a yorkie its hard to switch. Your ange is out there waiting for you. God Bless.
Linda Pollack

We are overwhelmingly happy about purchasing our Yorkshire Terrier from Cheryl Lucas of Yorkie Trails . We are glad that careful precautions were taken to preserve the pureness of the breed. The whole process has been easy and we received our puppy without any problems. We were especially pleased at the care Cheryl showed by accommodating Shani with toys during her flight. There have been absolutely no issues or complications with our dog, and we are currently deeply satisfied with this new addition to our family.

We are overwhelmingly happy about purchasing our Yorkshire Terrier from Cheryl Lucas of Yorkie Trails . We are glad that careful precautions were taken to preserve the pureness of the breed. The whole process has been easy and we received our puppy without any problems. We were especially pleased at the care Cheryl showed by accommodating Shani with toys during her flight. There have been absolutely no issues or complications with our dog, and we are currently deeply satisfied with this new addition to our family.

We are overwhelmingly happy about purchasing our Yorkshire Terrier from Cheryl Lucas of Yorkie Trails . We are glad that careful precautions were taken to preserve the pureness of the breed. The whole process has been easy and we received our puppy without any problems. We were especially pleased at the care Cheryl showed by accommodating Shani with toys during her flight. There have been absolutely no issues or complications with our dog, and we are currently deeply satisfied with this new addition to our family.

We are overwhelmingly happy about purchasing our Yorkshire Terrier from Cheryl Lucas of Yorkie Trails . We are glad that careful precautions were taken to preserve the pureness of the breed. The whole process has been easy and we received our puppy without any problems. We were especially pleased at the care Cheryl showed by accommodating Shani with toys during her flight. There have been absolutely no issues or complications with our dog, and we are currently deeply satisfied with this new addition to our family.

First of all, I must offer my sincere condolences to the owner of this yorkie and its untimely death. I myself lost my first yorkie two weeks short of his 3rd birthday due to congenital kidney disease (this puppy was from a Pennsylvania "back yard breeder" who had no concern of his congenital problem) and so therefore I do understand your heartbreak and feel your pain. It is like loosing a child.
Now I would like to tell you that I have purchased two beautiful yorkies from Cheryl. My male, MoJo turned 1 in August, and my female, Angel, will be 1 in February. They are very healthy and extremely happy. They joined my other 4 yorkies, which includes a rescue. I have had contact with Cheryl numerous times, and I have always been very pleased with her response. She has been very helpful with any questions that I may have, and I have always been able to count on her for any advice.
I would like to tell everyone that portosysstemic shunt is usually diagnosed under one year of age, usually from symptoms such as poor growth, head pushing, depressed like symptoms, and irritability that usually would happen after digesting a meal. This problem is not always inherited. It is occasionally seen in an older dog, but is most commonly diagnosed in the young adult.
This abnormality can often be cured with surgery with an 85% cure rate. It is unfortunate that this poor yorkie was not diagnosed sooner or the outcome may have been different.
Yorkies adult size can NEVER be guaranteed. I do speak this from experience! The first yorkie that I purchased from an Ohio breeder was estimated to be about 5 pounds, since the mother was 6 pounds and the father was 4 pounds and he was the smaller of the two males.

Well, my beautiful Nugget, who will be 2 in January, is 16 pounds! Now I must admit, he needs to loose a little weight from overeating, but certainly not 11 pounds! But this does not bother me in the least. He is the most loving, devoted yorkie that you could ever ask for, and I would not want him any different. Breeders can give a good estimate based on the parents and the line, but there can always be one that can grow larger/smaller than expected.
Now, getting back to Chery and yorkietrail. I have NEVER had any problems with my yorkies. They have been to the vet numerous times, and have not had any problems at all. I would not consider a remaining dewclaw a problem. Yorkies can be suseptible to certain maladies that is more common in the breed, i.e. liver shunt, knee cap issues, etc. All breeds of dogs have certain problems to watch for. I too, would question why this vet did not further investigate these seizures and run more blood work studies that may have led to a suspicion of portosystemic shunt, which can be diagnosed through diagnostic testing. Had this puppy been diagnosed when it started to have symptoms, it may have had surgery that could have possibly saved it. Please do not always put the blame on the breeder. It is always good to inform the breeder of a problem, but it is not always a genetic factor. This person may have had problems getting in contact with Cheryl when she was moving, and that may have been why she could not get to talk with her.
So, please( from a very satisfied customer who will gladly talk to anyone about how pleased we are with our yorkies), understand that I have two of the most healthy, beautiful yorkies from cheryl "yorkietrail", and I could not be more pleased!

Laurie, you are absolutely correct. It is my own naivety and ignorance for purchasing from a puppy mill/backyard breeder. I have rescued dogs, cats, horses, and even two little abused piggies and they have all lived ripe, healthy, happy lives (well, all are still living, in fact.) It was foolishness on my part to purchase such an expensive pup. The photo on Cheryl Lucas's website looked so much like my previous Yorkie, I let my heart speak instead of my head. I regularly donate to Animal Friends and The Hooved Animal Society, but it is not enough. I should have adopted a Yorkie or another small breed from there or similar shelter as well. One learns through education, and I have learned a valuable but sad lesson.

Terri, that is wonderful that you got two healthy Yorkies from Cheryl. I envy you, and hope you have many more years of pleasure and love with them!

I HAVE PURCHASE TWO YORKIES FROM CHERYL MY FIRST ONE 3 yrs ago and my second one 16 months ago. She was not only helpful but answered all questions i had concerning the dogs. At no time did she promise a weight size, how could she know what I was going to feed the dogs and how much. Cheryl help me by taking care of the dogs while I was sick so that I knew they would be taken care of the way I would care for them. I only met her through her website and have had no reason to disbelieve anything she has said to me. I have seen her home recently when I went to pick of the dogs and she welcomed me and allowed me to see how my dogs were cared for. SHE IS NOT A PUPPY MILL!!!! I actually saw her 100% score from the AKC that she received just last month.

When I purchased my second dog she proved to be a little bit of a challenge and because of my heath I was uncertain if she would be a fit. I contacted Cheryl on several occasions and she not only gave me advise on how to fix things but also said she would take her back.

Its true that once you have fallen in love with the dog it would be hard to send him or her back but if I knew my puppy was going to need constant medical care I would have contacted whomever I purchased the puppy from to make them aware of the problem.

Tina I am sorry for your lose as I too purchased my second yorkie from Cheryl to replace Tinker who was a ripe old age of 13. I however am unable to see what the
purpose of your harsh words will accomplish. In todays world it will always be a he said she said.

go the animal shelter - you will find loving HEALTHY pets in need of loving homes.

Particularly in this economy when people have to give up their pets because they have lost their home and cannot take the pets with them. Its as hard to give up a pet because you have no choice - worse then the death of a loving pet.


I have rescued cats and dogs and they are the most loving loyal pets you could ever find.

If it has to be a specific breed - look for that breed's rescue shelters.

STOP PAYING FOR OVERPRICED PUPPYMILL PUPPIES

Cheryl Lucas is regrettably the furthest thing from "an honest person" that I have ever encountered. The website is pretty, she seemed nice, but I feel compelled to detail the truth as a warning to be extremely careful to prospective Yorkshire Terrier families.

Cheryl, in response to your rebuttal, the poor dog had just turned 3 years old, not 4, which is absolutely irrelevant to what he suffered at ANY age due to liver shunt. He agonized no less whether at the age of 3 or 4. Additionally, his seizures are not the issue that I am bringing to the attention of prospective buyers. The seizures were treatable, and he had a happy, productive, high quality of life with his medications and precautions. I never asked for a replacement puppy or medical assistance for the seizures from you. It is a non-issue. This defense makes no sense, and does not address the issues.

At the time I spoke to you originally , you claimed to have over 20 years breeding experience. That was 3 years ago. Now your website states that you have 8 years breeding experience, which would have made only 5 years experience when I purchased from you. Which is the truth?

You told me you owned both dogs, which proved to be untrue. You said they both lived in your house with you and your family. You recently admitted to my husband that you did not own the sire, a friend did. What is the truth?

You said the mother dog was very petite and weighed only 2 1/2 pounds when I inquired before buying. Now you told my husband the female was "too chunky and oversized" to breed again, which is why you never bred her again. What is true?

The pup was of a different color, size, and bloodline than what you originally promised. What or whose puppy did you send?

When I asked, you claimed to have "No puppies right now, I'm sorry." Your website said you had 2 puppies ready to go. Besides those two, you also told my husband you had a litter due. Why were you dishonest with me?

You WERE emailed, and you WERE called, neither of which was returned. (I retained copies of the emails, which include dates and times.) We never received a response. When my husband asked you about your lack of response, you stated you were "too busy." The only reason you finally took our call is because your husband answered the phone and you were unaware it was us trying once again to reach you.

No, I did not pester you with the dog's early health problems. They were treatable, he remained happy and functional, and I just felt blessed to have a baby to love. You claim now you would have exchanged the puppy after 6 months. I would not have willingly given up my Nino for all the world, he was like my own child. I did not want another puppy. Nor did I confront you about the size discrepancy. He was a beloved family member, one in which a person does not just "give up" because of health issues or for being over twice the promised size. I had no intention of returning him at any age--I bought a baby for life, not for the amount of time in which it was convenient. I loved him dearly, treated him as well as I possibly could, and did not care that he was big or had health issues. I feel so sorry for you if you only love and keep your dogs when they are perfectly healthy or of a tiny size. It is not only about money, Cheryl. That is not what adopting a puppy is about. It is about loving them, keeping them healthy, and cherishing them--FOR LIFE.

Yes, after finally admitting that you did indeed have available puppies, you said you would "give me a break" on the price. Yes, I refused this. How could I trust you as an ethical breeder again? How could I even trust you as an honest person? The answer is-- I can not. I would not want a puppy from you even if it cost nothing--the heartache of this experience is not worth it.

You claim to be "a very honest person." If so, all I ask is that you please answer my above questions. You may email me privately, if you do not wish this to become an uglier and more embarrassing issue than it already is.

Why do you blame me for not telling you sooner? I tried contacting you after we got Nino stabilized. Was it not more important to have the dog treated immediately? Why do you blame the veterinarians, who did all they could to save his life? Please do not deny saying these things--I still have your emails which verify my claims. It was these accusatory emails, your lack of empathy, and continued dishonesty which finally prompted me to inform others about the realities of Yorkie Trail.

Cheryl, I am glad to read that you have "lifelong friends and customers." If they received healthy puppies that did not suffer as mine did, I am so very happy of that. One tragic life is one too many. I pray that anyone who has one of your pups has a healthy dog and that they bring each other many years of great joy.

First off:: If Tina would have notified me early on when the puppy was 6 months old I would have given her another puppy and this would have been worked out. Or even 6 months after that but she did NOT notify me until the dog was almost 4 years old and then tells me that is is having seizures. She informed me that the veterinarian they took the dog to did not find any problems until the dog was a lot older.

I am very sorry for her loss and offered them another puppy at a reduced price when they were ready but she said she didnt want another puppy. I never avoided there phone calls and spoke with her husband on the telephone and he was very nice.

I understand she is upset and hurt about her dog and is lashing out at me. If that makes her feel better then okay.

I am a very honest person and work hard at what i do and put all my time into my dogs and puppies. I have 100% approval rating from the AKC and have many many lifelong friends and customers that have bought my puppies.