This year's Little Yellow Dog fulfills two of the characteristics of its moniker.

Holly Berry is little.

She's a dog.

But not so yellow.

The Yorkshire Terrier with the Christmasy name and furry shades of black, browns and tans is the 2009 puppy for the 74th Annual Little Yellow Dog Auction. The auction benefits the Journal's Mr. Goodfellow Charities, which gives toys and books to needy children each Christmas season.

Holly Berry was born Aug. 31 and weighs 2 pounds 10 ounces, according to Kathy Salmon office manager for Roach Animal Hospital, where Dr. Bradley Benson -- the veterinarian who chose the dog -- practices.

With the focus in this year's news on pit bulls and Labrador retrievers, was no thought given to one of those breeds?

"Somebody did suggest a golden lab," Salmon said with a hearty laugh. "But these last few years, we've gone with the smaller breeds. They seem to work better."

This year's donors prefer to remain anonymous, Salmon said, "although I can tell you the dog was born in Iowa."

The holiday name was part of a vote at the veterinarian office, Salmon noted.

"If Holly was a boy, she'd be Rudy Reindeer," she said.

Full-grown, Holly Berry will weigh under seven pounds and stand about nine inches.

"She has the best disposition," said Salmon, who brought the dog to the Journal Friday for a video and photo shoot.

Holly Berry took most staff members away from their desks and got as much attention as actress Halle Berry. She even patiently posed for the photos in her red jacket with silver Ho, Ho, Ho lettering and white trim.

"She is just precious," Salmon said, as people cooed and tickled the teacup puppy, who sniffed at fingers, then began lightly chewing them.

Holly Berry follows in the pawprints of previous Little Yellow Dogs. She stays at the veterinarian office during the day, becoming socialized through contact with a wide variety of people, including Jack the office cat, who is three times the dog's size, Salmon said.

"We keep an eye on folks who come in and want to play with the dog," she confessed. "They could easily slip her into a purse or a side coat pocket and we'd never know it."

The puppy goes home at night with Salmon, who has three dogs of her own.

"Holly has gotten along great with my three dogs and really connects with people," Salmon observed. "She watches Hawkeye football with me and she'll be tough to part with."

No behavior problems?

"We do have to watch it if the Sioux City Journal is on the floor," Salmon confessed. "She will shred it."

Yorkshire Terriers were in great demand by the wealthy families in Yorkshire, Salmon said. Originally called Broken-haired Scotch, the breed's name changed about 1879 and was promoted in the United Sates by Americans who adored the little sprite.

Last year's Little Yellow Dog was Boji, a cairn terrier that fetched $20,000 at the 73rd Annual Little Yellow Dog Auction. After nearly an hour of spirited bidding, auctioneer Bruce Brock declared Boji sold to John Goldsmith of Sergeant Bluff and Dave Marx of Sioux City.

A total of $96,000 was raised last year for Mr. Goodfellow Charities to ensure that 8,000 Siouxland children receive toys to enjoy for Christmas.