Discretionary Housing Payment - dogs classed as assets?

LittleMax

Dunroamin wrote: »

I don't think that anyone can feed 4 dogs (however miniscule) for £5 a week on Royal Canin - it costs a fortune! I think someobody is winding somebody else up!

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/royal-canin-mini-mature-complete-dog-food-with-poultry-2kg-12831

It costs me more than £5 per week to feed one small cat!

chelle_bell

This is crazy -

If they aren't applying for discretionary housing benefit, then why is anyone bothered about dogs being seized....they wont be seized because they wont be applying.

LittleMax

harveybobbles wrote: »

4 small dogs. No insurance. Cost around £5 per week in food to feed all of them. If a trip to the vets is needed there are places like RSPCA/PDSA where you just pay the consult fee.

Attitudes like that are what stop me giving money to the PDSA. I have no problem with people using the PDSA if they have fallen on hard times and their animal needs treatment, or even for people to be able to afford to have a companion pet. However having more than one cat or dog when you cannot afford the vet bills is wholly irresponsible. PDSA is charity and not a right.

butler_helen

LittleMax wrote: »

Attitudes like that are what stop me giving money to the PDSA. I have no problem with people using the PDSA if they have fallen on hard times and their animal needs treatment, or even for people to be able to afford to have a companion pet. However having more than one cat or dog when you cannot afford the vet bills is wholly irresponsible. PDSA is charity and not a right.

Same here.

However, the OP's relatives might have had the dogs before they fell on harder times. I like to think there are few people who get pets without knowing how they would pay for their care and rely on a charity.

charlearose

harveybobbles wrote: »

they aren't asking. the housing came to them to discuss it.

As for dog food - they have Royal Canin. As its good quality, they eat less.

You could feed them on Bakers but as its full of crap they will eat more.

```Royal Canine !!!! that's like me eating Cavier. I have seven dog ( yes they are very big ones) but i wish they could be fed for a fiver a week

w0lfm0ther

Is this thread a joke?

If the OP is not a troll and is serious then it is a terrible state to be in. This thread embodies everything that is wrong with the benefits system.

Seriously, if I had my way then all benefits would stop after 12 months, if you cant get back on your feet after 12 months then you never will.

HappyMJ

£5 a week...OK...Royal Canin at £6/kg....so £5 buys 840 grams...divvy that by 4 dogs and that's 210 grams then divide that by 7 days and that's 30 grams per dog per day. They must be very small dogs....smaller than my cat..and my cat is very small at only 2.3kg in weight but still gets through £3.50 worth of food each week.

kingfisherblue

w0lfm0ther wrote: »

Is this thread a joke?

If the OP is not a troll and is serious then it is a terrible state to be in. This thread embodies everything that is wrong with the benefits system.

Seriously, if I had my way then all benefits would stop after 12 months, if you cant get back on your feet after 12 months then you never will.

Be fair, some people can't help relying on benefits long term, as they have no other choice. The OP said that one of the couple is disabled and the other is their carer.

I am also on benefits, as my son is severely disabled. I was married and working when my children were born, but gave up work after my son was born with Down's Syndrome and a list of medical problems. My husband decided to leave us and start a new family elsewhere when the children were 5, 6 and 13. I had no option but to claim benefits, and I still do. We don't know the exact circumstances of the couple in the OP, but as one is disabled and the other is their carer, it may be reasonable that they rely on benefits.

Having said that, four dogs sounds a bit excessive to me, and I doubt that they cost a fiver a week to feed.

emsywoo123

w0lfm0ther wrote: »

Seriously, if I had my way then all benefits would stop after 12 months, if you cant get back on your feet after 12 months then you never will.

And then what happens?........

zaksmum

Maybe they get free scraps from the butcher for their dogs to supplement the Royal Canin. My butcher always gives me scraps from the cooked meats or steak trimmings for my dogs, and bones as well.

I agree that it would be difficult to feed the 4 dogs on a fiver a week but I'm not about to suggest the OP is lying!

I have two big dogs and feed them on CSJ Complete Dry Food to which I add the scraps or any of our suitable leftovers. This costs £15 for 15kg and lasts for ages.