Sad

doodle-bug_2

How about an unfurry snake? I adopted one over a year ago, and it is the cheapest pet I've EVER had! My rabbit costs a small fortune to keep in fresh greens and fruit etc - the snake has one mouse every week/10 days at a grand cost of around 50p!

And (if you get a rat or corn, for example) these are easy to handle. My new snake (I got my original ratsnake a girlfriend) is very happy just snuggled around my neck like a scarf - no, they don't constrict!

If you're someone who is now shuddering with distaste at the thought - many apologies:rotfl:

twinklie

RSPCA. I live in Lancashire. They always say the volunteer co-ordinator will ring us back. We went in about 2 weeks ago and filled in forms for the 3rd time. Still nothing. It's the only one local to me...everything else would involve travel which isn't going to work for us.

I love snakes but I wouldnt be able to feed it. I LOVE rats and I couldn't cope with feeding it anything like a rat or mouse.

I've never had a problem with dogs and small furry animals, not least because we keep them separate so I'm not too concerned about that to be honest. My cat (before OH) on the other hand was a nightmare. He tried bringing down a seagull once as well...the nutty thing he was. It took him flying.

oystercatcher

Just wanted to point out that I found I am allergic to guinea pigs, best to check out OH if you do decide to go that route. I love guinea pigs and they are friendly companions but I go very sneezy and get an itchy rash. Might just be me though!

If you are home over the summer holidays I bet you could find dogs to look after while owners are on holiday. The going rate seems to be £10 a day for kennels or home boarding so you could start a fund towards your own dog as well!

I am shuddering at the thought of the snake , sorry !

twinklie

Ha ha ha....snakes are lovely.

OH isn't allergic to guinea pigs - we just looked after my friends while they went on holiday for 2 weeks. We don't want to get guinea pigs though because we have no outside space for them...I wouldn't feel right keeping them inside all year round. Poor piggys. Besides which they are even more effort than a hamster!

twinklie

Think it's likely we'll be petless in the near future then. Hmm...can't bring other peoples pets into our home for the same reasons we cant get the dog yet. Too much building work happening.

foreign_correspondent

twinklie wrote: »

I've never had a problem with dogs and small furry animals, not least because we keep them separate so I'm not too concerned about that to be honest. My cat (before OH) on the other hand was a nightmare. He tried bringing down a seagull once as well...the nutty thing he was. It took him flying.

... it depends on the dog - we had a rabbit, Sally, for years when I was a kid, she was kept in a hutch and the dog showed little interest in her, until she was recovering from a GA... Whilst she was dozy (and shut in her hutch), the dog somehow managed to inflict dreadful injuries on her, and she had to be put down. It was very sad, but we couldnt blame the dog - they are predators and a rabbit is no more than an opportunity for dinner to them.

My current dog is not too bothered by small furries, but my mum's dog has caught and killed squirrels, and as such could never be trusted around small furries (and I am pretty sure she would find a way to get to them if at all possible)

I am not saying that it is impossible to have the two together, but it is a risk you need to balance, and a consideration as it may impact on your choice of dog.

But.. if you dont want rats, hamsters etc, or cats, or snakes, I cant really think of many other options... how about stick insects or a fish?

If the OH is allergic to cats, is he not allergic to dogs too?

are any of these local to you? or Rochdale Dog Rescue http://www.rochdale-dog-rescue.com/ (Hethmar?)

Lancs

• Animal Care
  Blea Tarn Road, Scotforth, Lancaster LA2 0RD
  Tel: 01524 65495 Fax: 01524 841819 Email: [EMAIL="vanessa@animalcare-lancaster.co.uk"]vanessa@animalcare-lancaster.co.uk[/EMAIL] http://www.animalcare-lancaster.co.uk
• Animals in Distress
  Leach Farm, Swaindrod Lane, Blackstone Edge,
  Littleborough, Lancs, OL15 0LE Tel: 01706 371 731
  and
  Pennisfield Farm, 55 Silver St, Irlam,
  Manchester, M44 6HT Tel: 0906 680 1215
  www.animals-in-distress.net
• Bolton Destitute Animal Shelter
  1 Northolt Drive, Great Lever, Bolton, BL3 6NJ
  Tel: 01204 526486
  www.animalshelter.org.uk
• Burnley Dog Rescue
  Joan Taylor 01282 605062
  Pat Lawler 01772 792768
  Email: [EMAIL="contact@burnleydogrescue.org"]contact@burnleydogrescue.org[/EMAIL]
• Manchester and District Home For Lost Dogs
  Crofters House, Moss Brook Road, Harpurhey, Manchester M9 5PG
  Tel: 0161 205 2205 or 0161 205 7136.
  www.dogshome.net
• Millstream Animal Shelter
  Millstream Lane, Clayton Bridge, Manchester M40 1QT
  Tel: 0161 6834194.
• Pike View Animal Rescue
  Heaton Farm, Middleton, Manchester, M24 4RP
  Tel: 07740 174 604
• Prevent Unwanted Pets (PUP)
  Leigh, Lancs
  Tel: 01942 671612 Email: [EMAIL="ragman666@blueyonder.co.uk"]ragman666@blueyonder.co.uk[/EMAIL]
• RSPCA Manchester and Salford Branch
  565 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-!!!-Hardy,
  Manchester, M21 9AN
  Tel: 0161 881 3464 Email: [EMAIL="info@rspca-man-sal.org.uk"]info@rspca-man-sal.org.uk[/EMAIL]
  www.rspca-man-sal.org.uk
• RSPCA - Stockport, East Cheshire and West Derbyshire Branch
  Tel: 0161 221 2607
  www.rspca.org.uk
• RSPCA Tameside and Glossop Branch
  c/o Volunteer Centre Tameside, 95-97 Penny Meadow,
  Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6EP
  (Dogs in the care of MyPetStop Kennels, Parkway, Denton, Manchester
  M34 3SG . Tel branch: 07050 264 531 for appointment.)
  Email: [EMAIL="office@rspca-tameside-glossop.org.uk"]office@rspca-tameside-glossop.org.uk[/EMAIL]
  www.rspca-tameside-glossop.org.uk
• RSPCA Animal Home
  1 Red Cross Street, Rochdale, Lancs OL12 0NZ
  Tel: 01706 645000.
  www.rspca.org.uk
• RSPCA John MacDonald Animal Centre
  2la Rhodes Bank, Oldham, Lancs OL1 1UA
  Tel: 0161 624 4725.
  www.rspca.org.uk
• RSPCA Harold Hallwood Home for Animals
  Slutchers Lane, Bank Quay, Warrington, Lancs WA1 1NA
  Tel: 01925 632944.
  www.rspca.org.uk
• RSPCA Longview Kennels
  Division Lane, Marton, Blackpool, Lancs FY4 5EB
  Tel: 01253 763991.
  www.rspca.org.uk
• RSPCA Animal Shelter
  Nearer Holker House Farm, Altham, Huncoat, Nr Accrington, Lancs BB5 5UU
  Tel: 01254 231118.
  www.rspca.org.uk
• RSPCA Animals' Home
  Slack Cottage, Ribbleton Avenue, Preston, Lancs PR2 6QL
  Tel: 01772 792553.
  www.rspca.org.uk
• RSPCA Southport Birkdale and District Animal Shelter
  New Cut Lane, Birkdale, Southport, Lancs PR8 3DW
  Tel: 01704 567624.
  www.rspca.org.uk
• Wolfwood
  Haverigg Lane, Lancaster, LA2 0PL
  Phone: 07931220094 Email: [EMAIL="dogs@wolfwood.co.uk"]dogs@wolfwood.co.uk[/EMAIL]
  www.wolfwood.co.uk

twinklie

Cheers FC. The Preston one is my local one. The others are all further than I'd care to travel. i live smack in the rubbish bit of the M6 - and I have a 40 minute commute to work each way anyway so it's not likely that I'd ever get to any of these regularly.

Looks like I'm stuck dog stealing when I can! BTW- OH is just allergic to cats and horses. He's fine with ALL dogs.

hethmar

You may want to try boarding kennels who take stray dogs from the dog warden - they are always keen to get volunteers.

Just one thing, when you are working, who will look after the proposed dog?

If you want to help out with the pound dogs -

http://www.rochdale-dog-rescue.com/needs.html

Pee

How about a goldfish? Cute and something to look after a bit...

twinklie

My OH only works 3 days a week and we live about 5 mins from both sets of parents. Who have said that they will help out on those 3 days. My parents are the first line of defence...his the second and then his brother is the 3rd - he's a house husband. Failing that I would have to drive the dog to my cousins on the way to work and pick it up again on my way home.

I promise you we really have thought it through.