I think it is too hard to rehome an animal

[SuperHans]

I bought a puppy a few months ago and I really love him - he was the right choice for us. He cost £100.

He was vacc's and I will pay to have him castrated soon.

He has been such a success that I have been looking into getting him a companion. I would like to help a dog and rescue them but they want stupid amounts of money and loads of home vists.

I am just put off, and it is a shame because I could easily home another dog and give him a good life.

I think I will just buy another puppy I am afraid.

But do you not see that by saying "oh well I can get it treated cheaply at somewhere that I can get a reduced cost service" that you are costing another Charity (I know it's one that's not particularly popular - for good reason - but still it is a charity) money?

SugarPasteFrog - I am a good dog owner - I am just broke. I am being overlooked as a source of looking after dogs who need a new home - that is what I am saying.

If you are broke then you shoudln't be taking on more pets - its irresponsible

Baroque - sure - but to have the dog treated from kennels or as a much loved pet from home?

TheArmadillo - the animals are already there - why not let them be in a home where they are loved?

yes you're being overlooked because you're broke! Animals cost money to be looked after properly and have a good home. Not stack loads of money - but being "broke" not really a good time to get another pet.

I know what the waiting is like - I have wanted a cat for the last 4 or 5yrs - but until this year was unable to afford it, I wanted to be able to ensure that I could pay for insurance,that I could pay for food, and the excess on any vets bills that I may have to pay.

Far too many animals are abandoned for that very reason - because their owners are broke and can't afford them.

Beertricks - my own dog is deliriously happy - I could do that for another dog.

But the point is that it's not a case of any home is better than no home. There's every chance that someone who isn't so cash-strapped will rehome that dog and pay for insurance/ behavioural therapy etc.

I see so many people who love their dogs, but who can't afford to pay for treatment, especially longterm. The love they have for the dog won't fix its compound fracture/ pay for an MRI scan, so the dog suffers sometimes because the owner has taken on an animal out of love, but which they can't really afford.

Charity clinics are all well and good, but if the dog needs a specialist, tough. We see lots of people who don't qualify for the PDSA for one reason or another, despite being on low earnings- it's horrible being involved in PTS decisions which have to be made on the basis of finances (although I never judge the owners in question- many people's circumstances can change after they get a pet, and there is no point in judging at that point- it needs to be a practical decision with the welfare of the animal at the heart of it)

If people have to pay costs upfront at rehoming, it makes them think twice about the potential cost of owning a dog (or cat) If you are hard-up, it would be easy to say, yeah we'll get it vaccinated/ chipped/ wormed/ neutered, but the reality is people often don't-usually down to cost. I understand it is annoying, but rescues are sadly all too experienced with these scenarios, so they are trying to make sure the animal gets the best home possible, that's all

SugarPaste - I can afford to feed and love and walk them. I just need help with vets fees. Better than leaving them in kennels?

that would be fine if animals could live off love alone.

As they also need food, vets bills etc then it really isn't good enough.

How can you claim to be a responsible pet owner if you can't even see that

I'd love a pet rat or 2 for my ds who is desperate for a pet. Dh is experienced in training and looking after them. However we have fuck all money so it would be irresponsible of us to get them no matter how nice it would be. We cannot afford to look after them properly if anything went wrong - what if one of them developed a tumour like many rats do?

Its called being a grown up.

That wasn't what you were saying though, is it? You were saying that you were "put off" by "loads of home visits".

As I said, rescue doesn't do "loads of home visits". Unless there is good reason, rescue only does ONE home visit - and VERY, VERY important that is too, for YOUR sake as well as the dogs.

You want your kids sobbing because your new dog has got out of a hole in your garden fence and been killed under the wheels of a car in front of them? Don't have a home visit and it could happen. How the feck are we to know about the hole and ensure you get it fixed before taking the dog on if we don't do a home visit?

How are we to know that your "delightful" 3 yo is actually a brat who is likely to tease the dog mercilessly and risk getting bitten? How are we to know that you haven't got 14 dog crammed into crates in your front room already unless we do a home visit?

You want to risk your kids' happiness and welfare that's your call... but don't expect us to risk OUR dogs on your say-so.

And btw, you didn't get your pup from a responsible breeder, you got him from a back yard breeder, which is one step up from a puppy farmer.

A belief held by many of us in rescue, when it comes to money, is that most people tend to care a little more for something they've spent money on and are less likely to view it as disposable. That includes dogs, which is why even if we won the lottery we would continue to charge adopters.

And yes, we are handing you over a life, a sentient being, we have every right to want to be sure that you can afford to treat him when he is ill.

Re cost of vet treatment - I took 2 cats to the vets today. One spay, one neuter and a tooth extraction and polish.

Cost... £194.83 plus VAT

And that's just for CATS!

SugartPasteFrog... Un MN-ly hugs Matey.

We lost one of our residents today, a very small Rott who came in a year or so ago, unwanted, close to PTS, thin as a rake with ribs showing and covered in sores with a coat like bark.

She was PTS today because her kidneys finally packed up... she was only 5.

Days like this I know why I prefer dogs to most people.

As an aside- val and sugarpaste- your vets do give you a discount for being an animal/ rescue charity, don't they? Because they should!

YOu paid cheeply for your puppy. My dog cost in excess of £300 without Vacs, but then he is a Westie.

So what if god forbid your puppy needed a simple operation OP. A simple operation and aftercare can cost around £1000. How would you pay for it?