Or puppy, or kitten.
'The best things in life are free.' But puppies and kittens are not one of them.
So it's often at this time of year that people feel its a good idea to give a puppy or kitten or even an adult animal as a present. Also at this time of year, we're reminded that there are millions of animals In shelters waiting for homes that they will never receive because someone choose to purchase a cute puppy or kitten from a pet store or breeder instead.
I have no problem with breeders if they are well prepared and educated; what I have a problem with is people that have no business owning animals breeding animals. I also have no problem getting what you want because dogs are still property. Love them, care for them, you still own them. And do your research and be prepared. Nothing in life is free.
So let's think about that 'free' puppy.
Well, first, you need some supplies-crate, pee pads, collars and leashes (several because its growing), food and water bowls, blankets/dog bed, brushes, toys, poo bags, treats, food, etc.
Then you have to take the puppy to the vet two or three times for vaccine visits and get its shots. And fecal exams. And dewormer because if its a free puppy, it probably hasn't been dewormed. And you should also get some flea protection and probably some heartworm preventative.
And don't forget it's microchip and dog license.
Then you have to get your puppy spayed or neutered.
And you picked a fluffy breed so off to the groomers. And you're going out of town so it will need to be boarded.
So by now we're probably closing in on a thousand dollars. Not free by any means.
And that's if all goes well in the first year.
Now your puppy isn't well behaved and you need to take it to obedience school.
And you thought you'd save some money and not do all the vaccines like your good doctor recommended. So your dog gets parvo. OR because your puppy is bad, you realize that the vomiting and diarrhea may be linked to the pair of underwear you're missing. Ugh. I feel for you. Now you have a $500 hospital stay or surgery.
I do feel for you. And I understand if you don't have money for fixing your dog. I would be hard pressed to find it without being late to pay some other bill.
So now let's assume your dog made it safely out of the first year. Yearly check ups and vaccines, flea and tick control and heartworm meds probably run a couple hundred for the year. And dog food. So probably like $500 a year for your free dog for the rest of its life. Like 10-15 years easily.
So now it has made it safely through its first year. I hope you're prepared for the simple things-vomiting/diarrhea, itchy skin, a laceration, just ADR. A sick visit can be anywhere from $50 for the exam and meds to several hundred with diagnostics and hospitalization.
And what if your dog continues its puppy habits of eating what it shouldn't? Or if it gets really sick? Or gets diabetes? Or has seizures? Or gets hit by a car? A buggy or a train? What if it needs its leg amputated? Are you prepared for that? I understand if you're not but do you at least have a plan? A couple hundred somewhere? Someone to borrow from? Something to sell? Can you make promises and follow through? Can you at least keep calm and understand where the vet may be coming from when they need some money because they are paying people just like you. If you don't pay, then they don't get paid.
Several times, I've seen people that have purchased some purebred animal and think, 'we'll let her have one litter to pay for herself and then have her spayed.' It doesn't work that way. The too young dog gets bred by the neighbors mutt, the owner waits and she never gets bred so at about 9 she develops a pyometra, she gets breast cancer, etc, etc.
So I come to today's story.
At about 4:30, one of the techs comes back and says someone is on the phone and has a boxer that had one dead puppy three hours prior. She's still straining. I tell the tech that the dog should come straight in and probably needs a c-section-$400-600. A few minutes later the tech returns, they don't have that sort of money. Okay, plan b would be for less than $50, I'll wave my emergency fee (there goes $50 from
my pocket) and we'll see if we can get her to have the pups on her own. They don't even have that. So now because these people don't have any money, this dog will suffer.
At this point, I jump to a lot of conclusions about these people. I understand if they don't have money for the c-section. But to own a dog and not even have $35 for the exam. Come on. So I instantly think that these people probably bred this dog for the money from the pups but unfortunately will be lucky if their dog even lives. And I think that they probably are on some government handout which I paid for and that their drugs, booze, cigarettes and tattoos are more important than saving for their dog's life.
Be responsible people. I might be in charge of your dog's health but I am not your financial advisor.
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