How much does it cost to care for a dog?

gloriouslyhappy

Best tip of all: join the Dogs Trust. Membership costs £25 per year, you get access to a free 24 hour vet phone where they give you sensible and free advice so you know if you can wait or self-medicate, or need to see your vet immediately. You also get free third party liability insurance which covers the dog should it injure someone or damage property or is itself injured while out of the home. This insurance follows the dog not you, so anyone walking or looking after your dog is also covered, and they can also phone the vetline free if concerned.

And sign their form so in the event something happens to you, they will take in your dog and look after him until they can rehome him.

Really good value for £25, or £12.50 if you're age 60+.

sheramber

gloriouslyhappy wrote: »

Best tip of all: join the Dogs Trust. Membership costs £25 per year, you get access to a free 24 hour vet phone where they give you sensible and free advice so you know if you can wait or self-medicate, or need to see your vet immediately. You also get free third party liability insurance which covers the dog should it injure someone or damage property or is itself injured while out of the home. This insurance follows the dog not you, so anyone walking or looking after your dog is also covered, and they can also phone the vetline free if concerned.

And sign their form so in the event something happens to you, they will take in your dog and look after him until they can rehome him.

Really good value for £25, or £12.50 if you're age 60+.

Dogs Trust membership does not cover injury to your own dog.

If a dog comes from a rescue then you may be required to return the dog to the rescue if you are no longer able to continue to look after it.

My dogs would be returned to the rescue they came from in that event.

gloriouslyhappy

sheramber wrote: »

Dogs Trust membership does not cover injury to your own dog.
If a dog comes from a rescue then you may be required to return the dog to the rescue if you are no longer able to continue to look after it. My dogs would be returned to the rescue they came from in that event.

You're right, Dogs Trust membership 3rd party insurance does not cover injury to your own dog:

'Benefits include:

3rd party public liability insurance for your dog – up to £1,000,000 per claim if your dog causes damage or injury to another person, their property or pets (an excess of £200 applies for the UK and £500 in the Republic of Ireland)
Peace of mind with our Canine Care Card. The guarantee that Dogs Trust will take care of your dog should you pass away.
Unlimited access to VetfoneTM – a 24 hour emergency advice service from veterinary professionals'

But does provide care for your dog whether or not it came from them, in the event you pass away.
A bargain at £25! Oh, and the Vetfone is for any species, not just dogs.

Rosieandjim

I have always said the vets have taken my foreign holidays as the cost of pet ownership prohibited my being able to go abroad. However, we took many walking holidays in this country and would not change it for the world.


My last dog who I lost over 2 years ago lived with us in a home with no garden for about 5 years and it was difficult as others have said. In all weathers you have to take them out and allow multiple toilet breaks (more so when they age we found) As we are now retirement age it did get harder and harder to want to go out in the middle of winter and late at night.


I would love another small dog but only if I could train them to use a litter tray and afford the veterinary costs. Also there is the worry of what would happen if anything happened to us.
I do miss the company of a furry friend and this is the first time in over 40 years that we have been without one.