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No shooting the messenger here! I hope that the people who need to see it, do and remember it! I've met a lot of people who are convinced that THEIR dog won't be one of those who end up euthanized at the shelter. Sadly, there are soooo many dogs there.
There is nothing sadder than a person bringing in a Senior dog, often because they just got a bouncy new puppy and the older dog is annoyed by the pup. "But he's a nice friendly dog. Someone will take him." No, your dog is a senior citizen and, no matter how much of an angel he is, more than likely he won't find a home. Not many people want to take on the expense (and heartbreak) of an older dog.
Quote:
No shooting the messenger here! I hope that the people who need to see it, do and remember it! I've met a lot of people who are convinced that THEIR dog won't be one of those who end up euthanized at the shelter. Sadly, there are soooo many dogs there.
There is nothing sadder than a person bringing in a Senior dog, often because they just got a bouncy new puppy and the older dog is annoyed by the pup. "But he's a nice friendly dog. Someone will take him." No, your dog is a senior citizen and, no matter how much of an angel he is, more than likely he won't find a home. Not many people want to take on the expense (and heartbreak) of an older dog.
ok, I'll stop now, before I get off on a rant
And Senior Cats! It's just so sad
That is why when I adopt from a shelter I always ask if they have any senior pets first. I would rather have a few good years with an already trained senior animal than a wild & crazy youngster! They wear me out!!
My problem is with the VET'S! This wouldn't have to happen if it wasn't so durned EXPENSIVE to spay and nuter!
It costs over $100 for a large breed 6mo. to be fixed! I know it's based on their weight. I have assisted vet's in doing
cats and dogs and I think we did 6 in 30 mins!!! I found a group of German Shep. puppies (9 female's) dumped on the
road at 6 weeks of age. Found most a home, did my duty and kept 1, and took the rest to a no kill shelter. Donated
money to them also.
But like the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished... The vet charged me over $200 to get shots and fix her!
We are a country community, this is no 5 star facility, so over $200!!!! For adopting and taking care of a stray!!!!!
I should have taken her to the shelter, had them do it all, and then adopted her for $25!! STUPID!
I know it costs $ for the city to put them down, why not use that money to do free spay days???????
many communities have low cost spay/neuter clinics or programs. Here it is based on income, but due to budget problems, they only cover spays.
One vet in the community does "specials" every few months where a spay is $90.
Our new dog Bess is a breed rescue - a Black Russian Terrier from center city Brooklyn NYC apartment owned by a single young girl. She is 5 years old and now lives out in the country with chickens and 2 old folks. We shellshocked this poor gal with a lifestyle change that would throw any human into a tizzy.
She's hanging in there through the radical homelife change, a ( $600) spay, subsequent bladder infection, and then a hot spot- all in the last 8 weeks.
Our last girl Cleo was a humane society rescue BRT who introduced us to the breed. We think she was meant for us . After we lost her, we waited 9 months to get another BRT rescue because we fell in love with the breed and can't afford ( and neither do we want) $3000 for a breeder puppy.
Bess is a sweetheart, but we have learned a whole lot about rescue dogs from these two.
it will be at least a year yet before Bess will become the guard dog she was bred to be. She has to own the property first and this property is not a small city apartment. She has learned to love the chickens already so we have great hopes.
Mostly she is a velcro dog who is near panic when left alone. Fortunately DH is retired so he is mostly home. Still, we are thinking about adopting a cat to keep her company when we do go out. Has to be the right cat though. I'm fussy about the dog. I'm even fussier about a cat. Our last cat was 19 years old when we had to ease her way.
The shelters here are overflowing with cats. DO you think they will be truthful to me when I go in and ask for a year old ( or so) spayed female indoor/outdoor cat who doesn't mind dogs and who purrs when you look at her?