Would-Be Pet Parent on Fixed Income Needs Way to Adopt
Are there any rescue groups who can help Joan become a pet parent? Please bark in!
Joan barked this message in to the blog. Joan, you didn’t say where you live. Please bark in and let us know your city or town.
Joan wrote:
We have found to much dismay that on a fixed income it is virtually impossible to adopt a dog unless it is from the ASPCA. Since they rarely have small dogs we are left no alternatives. We fostered a Maltese that was 12 yrs old will his family went to Hawaii for 6 months. Now that he has left there is a big void in our home that we can’t fill. Wish someone could help us, but don’t know where to look. Most rescues want $200 or more that we just don’t have.
Joan, being on a disability myself, I know how hard it is financialy to obtain a pup.
Many times a good breeder, if you explain your circumstances will let you pay over time. I know because I did with Rambo. Alternatively, many breeders have older pups or young adults that have not fulfilled expectations on confirmation, or are not compatable their breeding program.. These puppies and young adults sometimes are let go on the proviso that you will give the dog an excelent loving home.
Please check around your area, pick one or two, or three (or more) breeds you may be interested in, and surf your net for, breeders, kennel clubs, etc.
For veterinarian care, many links out for helping people on limited income pay the vet bills for emergencies.
Best of luck, will pray for you…
Joan, If you would say where you live you amight be just the right person to adopt (FREE)a darling mix of jack russell and chijuajua (sp?) that was found on the highway next to her dead litter mate…The sweetest little face and goes belly up for extra love. Just met her the other day, might be gone, might not…Or are you only interested in pure bred?
Joan,
I understand your desire to rescue and rehome a dog in need. It is a wonderful experience and you are truly a caring person and dog lover. I do worry that you are not fully aware of the often unexpected expenses involved with dog ownership. Besides the monthly costs of food and heartworm/flea treatments, annual shots and check-ups, there are many unexpected costs that come up all the time. What if your precious dog was to get sick and need an operation? Could you afford it? Would you be able to give it the veterinary care it needed and deserved? Last year, my friend found out one of her dogs needed a hip replacement. I believe it cost upward of $2000. She was also pregnant with her first baby and didn’t have that kind of money to spare. However, she was determined to do whatever necessary to get the hip replacement, and did manage to scrape together the funds. It put quite a strain on her already tight budget, but she felt that she wanted to do everything she could to care for her dogs medical needs.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
Check Petfinder.com. Actually some rescue groups can help you with deciding what pet is right for you and also there are financial assistance groups out there for pet parents on a limited fixed income. Not knowing your city or state makes it a little tough to give pertinent advice, but I say there are so many worthy furbabies in need of re-homing that there is definitely a baby out there just waiting for your love!
I’m on a very low/fixed income myself. I’d love to adopt a brother or sister for Romeo but I’ve had to accept that I can’t financially do it right now. For now, we are enjoying dog-sitting for neighbors and walking with other pups. Just like kids, dogs get sick, get injured, and end up costing more than you expect. Unless you can line up a lot of assitance for those expences (the ASPCA is a good place to start researching), you may want to stick to fostering/dog-sitting for now.
Best of luck to you. !!!
Many of the comments are understandable about expenses of owning a dog. I am well aware of them I have had a rescue poodle that was one yr. old and had her till she was 18. Had a shetland when a puppy that was 14 when she passed and our latest owned dog was a boston terrier that we got as a pup and we lost her to cancer at the age of 11. I think that makes me a little experienced in the possible pit falls of dog owner ship.
I live in NOrtheast Fl and continuely check aspca and other listings.
Thanks anyway for your comments
To the person wanting to adopt a dog on a fixed income: It is worth it to get pet health insurance when you finally do get a dog. I pay $11.50 each month through VPI pet insurance.. my dog got a cyst on his anal gland, which would have cost about $300 to treat, and the pet insurance paid all but $50 of it. That is one way to be prepared for medical expenses. Good luck finding a dog… I know it’s hard. Maybe one of the rescue groups would allow you to pay over time as well, if you have already been a foster parent.
We just got a free Chijaujau (8 weeks old) and we notice after a week that she had a ceasure at night and lost control of her bladder and body went stiff. Is this a common problem with the breed? Or could it be another medical issue we can deal with? Ant help would be apreciated.
Mike Bryan,
Please get your puppy to a vet IMMEDIATELY! It sounds as of she had a seizure. I don’t know that it is a common problem with chis but there are treatments to help her.