what if you can't afford your pets?

spike7451

SnowyOwl wrote: »

What a nightmare for you losing your job before you've even started.

You're a big softie though, aren't you? The things you have said about your little cat and about animals in general speak volumes about you and the goodness in you.

I hope Assisi accept your services. If they don't, perhaps the local dog pound could use your services - they always have so many dogs in, it'd be wonderful for them to have someone interact with them and exercise them while they are between homes or before they get shipped off to rescue centres in England where there may be a bit more hope for them.

Awww shucks...
Unfortunatly,the only dog pounds (dogs trust) are about 40-50 miles away from me in Ballymena & I've not heard good things about them.
Certainly when I reported a dog in distress they told me to call the PSNI.
It's just I'd like to give something back to where I got my little girl from.

Rev

Bubby wrote: »

I didn't delve into their monthly income and outgoings as I am more of an neighbour than a friend iyswim but I have dogs so they asked for my advice. She told me that PDSA can't help and that they are on a dmp so they have NO access to any credit facilities. They don't have any family or friends they could ask (her words not mine) and she wanted to know what I thought would be the best option. They certainly wouldn't even consider having their pet pts and I would be amazed to know a vet would do this if an animal wasn't sick:mad:, the dog needs dental treatment which is apparently quite common for the breed but it costs a fortune and is NOT covered by insurance, if the dog doesn't have it then I assume the teeth will rot or fall out so it could become medical.

I have volunteered many times in rescue and whilst I am horrified at the thought of someone even considering their animals being pts for anything other than a medical reason I can assure you that there are definately worse things that can happen to animals than being pts!

Where did I mention having the animal pts?

I didn't say credit facilities, I said to call all local/reachable vets and see if they offer payment plans.

To be absolutely honest, there doesn't actually seem to be an issue here (I'll probably get slated for being harsh now).

It seems they have a decision to make, one nobody else can make for them. If they can't afford the treatment for the dog, they either let it suffer or re-home it to someone/a rescue that can get the treatment.

orlao

If the dog referred to in the OP only needs a dental, there might be some help out there for the owners or a charity should be able to rehome after treatment, difficult as that would be for the owners.

However, I am amazed that some people on this thread think that it would be viable or fair to pass on elderly, ill pets to a charity which, in all honesty would struggle to rehome them rather than take the ultimate responsibility for their wellbeing and welfare. Remember that animals don't "know" they are going to be PTS nor do they know that they are only going to be in a strange kennel, being handled by strangers for a short period of time (in theory).

Yes, call me a killer if you will :cool: but I have some animals that will never be rehomed elsewhere - if I cannot afford them, they will be PTS in familiar surroundings as it wouldn't be fair to THEM to rehomed. Not an easy thing to do, after all it's much easier to shed a little tear as you drop them off to a shelter and to live with a fluffy thought that they'll be ok....rather than secure their future in the most permanent way possible?

foreign_correspondent

People are getting very het up here - I think the logical things to do are:

explore all the options -

I would start with freeing up funds:

eg. seeing if any cuts to expenditure can be made, anything sold on ebay, car boots etc, any favours called in, anything borrowed?

than look at making extra cash:

seeing if any work or part time work can be gained, a lodger taken in, can any existing skills be utilised to make money (even mundane little jobs, like babysitting, cake baking, grass cutting)? - I also wouldnt be too proud to tell people why I was trying to raise funds - many people would perhaps like to help if they understand your situation.

then I would look at options with the vet:

eg. cheapest streatment option (ask around if necessary), payment plans, credit agreements etc

then I would look into other (charitable) help:

eg. PDSA, tailwaggers trust etc - also ask the vet, they may know of more. I dont know what them being on a DMP has to do with PDSA eligability - I have never heard of this as being a criteria - this needs checking out.

Then, if all else had failed, I would have to consider whether the fact I am unable to address my pets most basic needs, whether I should keep them... if they were suffering, or likely to suffer, I would have to reluctantly look at letting them go.

If my dog was a young, easily homeable dog then of course I would look into finding a rescue for them.

BUT - if my dog was a hard to rehome dog, perhaps an older dog, of a less desirable breed, who I knew (even if I could find a rescue that would take them) would most likely end up in kennels for months and months, becoming miserable and neurotic - well, I would rather take him on that final journey to the vets myself rather than let him go later, distressed and with strangers.

The OP says that the family have children and that they must be put first - whilst I agree, have the children been consulted on this decision? They may be bereft if the dog goes, and may even have some creative money saving / money making ideas to help... I don't know how old they are, but one enterprising ten year old lad I knew had quite a lucrative little business washing cars!

chris_n_tj

Anyone n the Suffolk area can call on the sevices of The Animal Health Trust in Newmarket. They have a deserving cases fund that helps people who are in difficulties. (You dont have to live in Suffolk by the way, but you would have to pay travel costs). I know a couple of people that have used this, its one of the charities that i donate to.
Chris n tJ

madget_2

If anyone is in such a situation, foreign correspondent has given some excellent advice. There are, however, some charities which will help with ill or old pets, so it's always best to ring around them first before making that final decision. I'd say that independent charities are more likely to help - though, as has been pointed out, they can't always afford to. Some charities even take on pets with serious medical conditions and place them in long-term foster homes, with the charity paying for their care until their condition starts to deteriorate so that they need to be put to sleep. Our charity has done this occasionally, even though we have very little money and it doesn't come under our remit of helping stray injured animals.

This is an absolute fantastic site which will often help with elderly or generally difficult to home dogs, and sometimes other pets: http://www.oldies.org.uk/ - I really can't recommend them highly enough. They've been a godsend to so many people and animals. They deserve a medal for all their fantastic work.

ali-t

orlao wrote: »

However, I am amazed that some people on this thread think that it would be viable or fair to pass on elderly, ill pets to a charity which, in all honesty would struggle to rehome them rather than take the ultimate responsibility for their wellbeing and welfare. Remember that animals don't "know" they are going to be PTS nor do they know that they are only going to be in a strange kennel, being handled by strangers for a short period of time (in theory).

Yes, call me a killer if you will :cool: but I have some animals that will never be rehomed elsewhere - if I cannot afford them, they will be PTS in familiar surroundings as it wouldn't be fair to THEM to rehomed. Not an easy thing to do, after all it's much easier to shed a little tear as you drop them off to a shelter and to live with a fluffy thought that they'll be ok....rather than secure their future in the most permanent way possible?

I am in total agreement with this. There are so many dogs needing rehomed that it seems in many ways to be unfair that charitable donations go to pay for ongoing medication when there are lots of healthy dogs being put down.

I believe people have to take personal responsibility for their animals as they chose to bring them into their homes so shouldn't put them into rescue at the first sign of problems (this is a general comment and not aimed at the OP).

In the OP's case, the dental work doesn't sound like an emergency or that it will be ongoing costs so it would be lovely if they were able to find the money and keep their pet. Fingers xed it all works out for them.

Frugalista

orlao wrote: »

However, I am amazed that some people on this thread think that it would be viable or fair to pass on elderly, ill pets to a charity which, in all honesty would struggle to rehome them rather than take the ultimate responsibility for their wellbeing and welfare. Remember that animals don't "know" they are going to be PTS nor do they know that they are only going to be in a strange kennel, being handled by strangers for a short period of time (in theory).

Yes, call me a killer if you will :cool: but I have some animals that will never be rehomed elsewhere - if I cannot afford them, they will be PTS in familiar surroundings as it wouldn't be fair to THEM to rehomed. Not an easy thing to do, after all it's much easier to shed a little tear as you drop them off to a shelter and to live with a fluffy thought that they'll be ok....rather than secure their future in the most permanent way possible?

ali-t wrote: »

I am in total agreement with this. There are so many dogs needing rehomed that it seems in many ways to be unfair that charitable donations go to pay for ongoing medication when there are lots of healthy dogs being put down.

I believe people have to take personal responsibility for their animals as they chose to bring them into their homes so shouldn't put them into rescue at the first sign of problems (this is a general comment and not aimed at the OP).

HOORAY!! Thank god there are some sane people on here :T.

Where do people think these shelters get their "bottomless pit" of money from?? And those of you who are advising people who can't be bothered to take responsibility for their own animals to hand them over to a shelter - I sincerely hope you are making regular donations to fund all this free medical care.

Whilst there are genuine cases of severe hardship lets not loose sight of the fact that the dog in the OP has a dental problem. It didn't happen overnight, did it?? Presumably, whilst the owner was buying all these "essential" toys and clothes for the children, this poor dogs teeth were going bad. Now they say the dog needs treatment????? Hmmm! :think:

By the way, I have left instructions with my sisters that, should my OH and I die together, certain of my elderly dogs will be PTS and others will be rehoused with friends. This is updated every so often. The majority of my "doggy" friends, with multi dog households, have all made similar arrangements. It's called taking responsibility and not expecting other people to clear up you mess.