Desperate. No Money. Big Problems.

John_In_Lincs

antrobus: Unfortunately my insurance has conditions that I have to pay a large fee if I cancel. I went for one of those policies where you a black box which monitors your driving. This halved the cost of insurance.

John_In_Lincs

Thanks for the tips Loz01.

I didn't know about dog food at the food bank. I ought to know this as I have been doing some voluntary work there recently and will be doing a lot more. I only saw cat food, but I guess it depends on what they receive in donations.

Ebay may be a possibility. I have rescued my account. It was about to be closed as I didn't think I would have enough money to pay the fees when I sold something last month. The bank has allowed them but it's put my 'good account' into an unplanned overdraft. I don't really have anything to sell. I sold my camera so I could buy this car. I have some crystal glassware, that's about it. It probably wouldn't even fetch more than a tenner. The only other things are lots of stamps from my father's stamp collection. I looked at the prices these were fetching the other week and it's pennies.

Ah - Freecycle. I had forgotten about them.

Thanks again.

teddysmum

sheramber wrote: »

I you own vet operates a PDSA Pet Service it is only one dog and you must be registered for 6 months before claiming.

You will be eligible to use this service if you are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

Housing Benefit (means-tested help with your rent)
Council Tax Support/Reduction Scheme (means-tested help with your Council Tax liability)
Universal Credit with a housing element


They do not cover routine treatment

There is no information on numbers on the PDSA website (though there may be in the application section).However, on another forum it says you can register up to three pets only one of which can be pedigree (where they really mean known breed as they include greyhounds and JRTs).


However, the eligibility of numbers depends on whether you use a local vet or PDSA's own service.


Apparently the idea is that if you can afford a pedigree dog, then you should be able to afford its keep, but this is flawed as many dogs of known breed are rescues or left by a relative.


There is a large question over so called designer breeds, as some of these cost a lot more than breeds (thanks to stupid people wanting a status symbol),yet really are cross breeds.

w06

many of them also have the worst health traits of both breeds

apols if it's already been posted, have you put your postcode into this site John?

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/vet-services/eligibility

John_In_Lincs

Yes, thanks teddysmum and w06.

I checked the site. The local vet will take one dog, irrespective of breed. It's the cost of a £7.50 postal order (didn't know they still existed!) and up to two month's wait to be accepted. The dog may need to have a £10 health check, but whether that's a condition of acceptance I cannot remember.

I can't remember if I mentioned it, but my two are Rottweilers. I never used to like dogs, especially something like a Rottweiler, but that's what my wife had when we met and I fell in love with them. Such a gentle and misunderstood breed, only feared thanks to their portrayal as fearsome dogs in films. Gentle giants! I love them to bits.

w06

for some reason I thought you'd said you had labs, agree well loved rotties are lovely. Keeping their weight healthy and muscle bulk up with plenty of joint-gentle exercise will probably help keep their hips good as long as poss (swimming and beach play like you mentioned earlier good for that)

w06

JOhn if you're on reasonablish terms with your ex ask her for help towards looking after the dogs. Worst case scenario she says no, but if she cares for them she might help towards their food at least, caring for an animal doesn't stop with the end of a human relationship.

John_In_Lincs

My ex has been helping me with the cost of their food, so that's one good thing, though she may not always be in a position to do this.

The dogs would have gone with her had she been able to take them. They were not allowed. I am glad though as they are such wonderful company. They get more exercise and attention now and it's good to see that they have benefited from this. A walk around the block is more than enough, but they had a treat this evening on the beach. :O)

Loz01

What type of dog food do they eat? Have you considered switching them to a cheaper brand or forking out a big huge bag of food to get more for your pound?

As for treats and biscuits, my Labrador puppy has Aldi dog gravy bones, they're about 89p for a decent sized box and they last her weeks, especially as I'm a cheapskate and I snap them in half before I give her them!!

As for raising a bit of money - have any old mobile phones lying around? Even years old iPhones you can swap for cash in places like Game or if you have a few terrible ones theyll bundle them up and offer you £20 or something.

martinbuckley

Does your wife not pay you maintenance - there's plenty of women in your position who would be getting a few quid from their ex-husband.