Rehoming Two or More Yorkies Together
You have three, four, or more Yorkies — and circumstances have changed so you can no longer care for all of them. This situation is more common than people realise, especially with older owners, breeders exiting the industry, or families who accumulated dogs over time. SA Yorkie Rescue can help — with practical, non-judgemental guidance.
Complete the surrender form with details about each dog — names, ages, health, whether any are bonded pairs, and the urgency. The more information you provide upfront, the better the team can plan.
This is not hoarding. It is life catching up.
People end up with multiple Yorkies for many reasons: a beloved pair had puppies they could not part with, an elderly relative passed away and left their dogs, a small breeding programme wound down but the breeding dogs stayed as pets, or dogs were taken in from friends and family over the years with the best intentions.
Whatever the path that brought you here, the present reality is the same: you have more dogs than you can sustainably care for, and you are looking for a responsible way forward. That takes courage. It also takes honesty — about what you can manage and what the dogs need.
How SAYR assesses multi-dog situations
The team approaches multi-dog cases practically. The goal is not to place every dog through SAYR — it is to find the safest, most realistic outcome for each dog. This might mean:
- Placing bonded pairs or groups together where separation would cause welfare harm
- Placing individual dogs separately where they are not bonded and can adjust
- Coordinating with partner rescues (LDR, Maltese Rescue, FBR) if SAYR cannot take all the dogs at once
- Prioritising the most urgent or vulnerable dogs first while planning a staged intake
What NOT to do
- Do not post a bulk rehoming ad. “Six Yorkies need homes” posts attract backyard breeders, resellers, and hoarders faster than genuine adopters.
- Do not give dogs away individually to whoever responds first. Without screening, you have no way to know whether the person taking one dog has five more at home and is collecting small breeds.
- Do not split bonded pairs to speed things up. A bonded pair separated for convenience will both suffer — and the rescue will likely end up dealing with the behavioural fallout later.
- Do not wait until a crisis forces your hand. Multi-dog situations take time to resolve. Reach out early.
How SAYR helps
List each Yorkie: name, age, sex, sterilisation status, health, temperament, and whether they are bonded to another dog in the group. Include clear photos if possible.
The team reviews the group as a whole, identifies bonded relationships, and plans a staged intake — bringing in the most urgent or vulnerable dogs first.
Dogs go to foster homes as space becomes available — bonded pairs stay together, individuals may be placed separately.
Each dog or pair is matched to a screened adopter. Multi-dog intakes take time — weeks to months rather than days — but the team prioritises welfare over speed.
What to expect
Frequently asked questions
Can SAYR take all my Yorkies at once?
It depends on current foster capacity, urgency, and the number of dogs. The team will be honest about what is possible. Staged intake — bringing in a few dogs at a time — is more common than taking all at once.
What if some are Yorkies and some are not?
SAYR focuses on Yorkies and Yorkie crosses. For non-Yorkie small breeds, the team can suggest partner rescues — Little Doggy Rescue for general small breeds, Maltese Rescue for Maltese, or French Bulldog Rescue for Frenchies.
What if I am a breeder exiting the industry?
Be upfront about this. The team may ask additional questions about the dogs' breeding history, health testing, and living conditions. SAYR's focus is on the dogs' welfare during transition — not on judging your past decisions.
Is there a limit to how many Yorkies SAYR will take?
There is no fixed limit, but practical capacity constraints apply. The team assesses each multi-dog case individually and will be transparent about what is feasible.
Start the process now — do not wait until it becomes urgent
Complete the surrender form with details about every dog. The sooner SAYR knows about the situation, the more time the team has to plan a safe, staged intake that works for everyone.