The real cost of having pets

rising_from_the_ashes

Errrrrrr :eek: I'm visiting Friday in Oz!:rotfl:

Only joking ..... wish I was a bit closer & I'd love to have Zara visit for her hols!:)

gettingready

PasturesNew wrote: »

I wish I could poop scoop and wasn't petrified of dogs.... I'd definitely have become a dog walker.... loadsamoney!

No, not really - dog walkers around here only do 2 walks per day, lunchtime. Simply because that is when people need their services, when they are working themselves, mid day.

Imagine a dog walker has 4 dogs from 11-12 and another 4 dogs 1-2. Between 12 and one needs to drop off the first 4 dogs and pick up the other 4 dogs

So £80 for that. Remember pick up/drop off time for the dogs for those 2 walks.

Remember the cost of insurance, treats/poo bags, petrol and other car running costs.

Also - remember that when it pours down with rain.. the dogwalker is out there with the dogs.

And do not forget when dog walker is sick - no money.

Oh - and income tax (they work as self emloyed) and NI as well....

It is NOT easy money, not at all..... and not much overall.

Wellyboots6

I pay £8 for half an hour, but my dog walker takes pooch out on his own due to his 'issues' with other dogs!

He is also the only dog walker locally who would even consider walking him after meeting him!

gettingready

gettingready wrote: »

Well, opened the 40litre of Oko Plus yesterday so timing starts now - how long will 40litre of Oko Plus last with 4 cats that despite going outside only ever pee/poo into their litter trays?

date of opening: 20/03/12 LOL

Posted in red so I can find this post easy later on.. when the bag finishes LOL

Just reminding myself when I opened the bag...

gettingready

Oh around here £8 for half an hour for individual walk is about the norm too but Zara likes the company of other dogs and I like her to be out for the whole hour - plus.. hardly anyone is interested in individually walking a dog for 30 min, they have the offer on their websites but prefer take gogs out in a group as individual walks are a hassle for them. If the do individual walks, they do them at "non peak" times and I need Zara to be able to go out mid day as I take her out around 6 am and I am back home at around 6 pm and take her out again so want her to be taken out in the middle...of the day

gettingready

Seriously thinking of cancelling the insurance for 3 cats.

Zara's and George's have to stay as both have pre-existing and Zara may need an op and George may have problems with his back legs again - the osts are massive.

Fred, Teddy and Macius - fingers crossed nothing wrong with them and £35 per month for those 3..... if I put it away?

Sigh....

The dog walker costs are killing me to be honest but this is not something I can do without.

Wellyboots6

I would prefer Tys to be able to be walked with other dogs, but until he has met them and been introduced properly he is a bit of a muppet.

It would be too much trouble for the dog walker to have to go through the whole introduction routine each time he had a new dog.

Also, Tys is not entirely to be trusted when off his lead. He has very selective hearing and so needs full concentration on him at all times, so you can spot the cheeky glint in his eye before he disappears in to the distance!

gettingready

Zara is easy to walk, she never wanders off, her recall is brilliant.. BUT she is a big dog so not anyone can walk her.

calicocat

Any luck today GR with prospective new dog walkers? Didn't know where else to ask this?

gettingready

Spoke to one - he did not have any way opf proving his address as (he says) he lives on the basis of house sitting for people so a definite no no. I need to know who I give my flat keys too as well as who is going to be in charge of my 40kg of fur.

Seen one lady, lots of pluses as local/knows the area/right age etc but she herself has some health issues and for this reason not really sure as I need someone who himself/herself will be able to arrange a cover when he/she can not take Zara out for any reason.

Seeing the third person on Thursday.

Reposted my add on Gumtree (Pets Section, East London, Under dog walkers), had some response but again - mums of small kids, foreign students on teporary basis in Uk etc etc.

I really need someone who may sometimes be able to have Zara overnight (very ocassionally) and possibly pop in to see the cat if I ever (yeah rite that will be the day) go away anywhere, someone who drives and preferably lives locally, 30 + age wise....

Cancelled my current walker anyway, told her from the 30th April (Monday) I do not need her to take Zara out any longer so got a bit of time...

Will see, thanks for asking - the original thread got deleted for some reason.

Would have been nice to get a PM about it, a reason for deleting?

Sighhhh