what's a dog worth??

[poppa smurf]

placed our two female K9's in to the vet to get "fixed", vaccinated, tattooed and wormed......quoted $700 including 7 days follow up pain med's.

picked them up yesterday and copped a bill of $2,350 following "complications during surgery".

what if we didn't have the money?, a lot of folks don't, what would happen.

just wondering, what would you have done.......no payment scheme that I could see, not that I asked.

how much would you be willing to put out for your little furry mates.

[raised by monkeys]

Dogs to some people are just material posessions and or security. However, not for other including myself. I'd go to the ends of the earth for my mate. Often clinics will have a payment plan of some sort, but i can imagine this sort of financial pressure leads to domestic pets being euthanised or left on the street.

I hate any form of animal cruelty and regarded as "cesar" at my work cause im constantly picking up strays.

[Giant Cranium]

hard question poppa, we just bought a miniature dachshund be cause it is a tough carpenters dog. cost us a grand but we are doing the same thing now thinking of the what if,
do we get pet insurance which is dearer than mine or do we run the risk of finding 4g

[Grippy]

I had the same conversation with the misses a couple of weeks ago about our 5 year old Kelpie cross who is like a child to us, where do you draw the line when it comes to money? What if your dog requires $7,000 surgery? I guess pet insurance is around for a reason.

[TheSneakiness]

It honestly would depend on how attached to the animal I am.

After a few bad experiences with dogs in my younger days I cannot seem to attach myself with them, they just don't do anything for me.

If you are asking no I wasn't attacked.

[galaxy xr8]

Personally I’d pay what ever it takes as our dog’s are part of the family, I grew up with animals (dog’s in particular) and they have always been a part of the family.

Last year our 12 year old did her hip joint jumping of the couch, I took one look at her as she was yelping all around the house and knew straight away what she had done, so straight to the vet’s we went, which they weren’t opened as it was easter Sun so we had to call them in but we have a good relationship with our local vet having known them for a while.
And as there was nothing they could do as she had popped it out twice before 2 week’s prior, our last and only option was specialist surgery down at Melbourne, so that same day we made her comfortable and our vet rang the specialists up in Melb to tell them we were on our way.
Three day’s latter we picked her up with no hip joint and a very expensive 3k bill, not to mention the bill for our local vet call out on easter Sun and the bill two week’s prior when she 1st done the deed.

[MercurySilver]

well firstly id grab the dog and once you have it say well no one asked if i could afford it, no one asked my opinion and also you dont have a payment plan
so im paying the 700 in cash (no credit card numbers) and ill see you later

[Nova 8]

We paid extreme amounts for our old girl, even paid extra to have the vet come to the house to put her down a couple years ago to make her passing as comfortable as can be. How can you have a pet for years and not do all you can for then, our boxer (Kiowa) was 13 and current boxer (D'Artagnan) is also currently 13 and going strong.

They'd give their lives for us so what's money in the scheme of things.

[LoudPipes]

Ours is family, whatever it costs.

[poppa smurf]

thank bloody christ for that........I'm not the only one who would move heaven and earth for our little furry family members.

I asked a couple of folks this morning, they were dropping off some knives to be sharpened and we had the usual yak, their answer is the same as our's.

a resounding "whatever it takes"........it is not an "age thing" either youngsters are just as keen to have their pets in good knick.

our girls spent the night with us last night and are currently curled up on the lounge in peaceful, drug induced rest.......first sign of a whimper and I'm there.

the vet has rang twice this morning to see how they are, my doctor doesn't do that.

I've heard of $5,000 plus op's for hip's and a few others who had bulldogs with inverted eyelashes that cost the earth and simply wondered how many of us are out there, good to see there are a lot.

[Nova 8]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

thank bloody christ for that........I'm not the only one who would move heaven and earth for our little furry family members.

I spent 10 times what it cost to buy my ferret to fix his leg even though people told me just to buy another one....

And without fur but scales Ive spent big bucks saving fish over the years. I'm not even sure of the end result of the costs but there has also been sleepless nights holding a fish up right and in front of filters. First sleepless night was with a Saratoga Jardini which had jumped out the tank and was unable to hold himself up and was gasping. That was when I was 16.

[cheap]

We re-homed our "baby", a pedigree, young Doberman, she's had all the "work" done. Sadly the original owner could no longer look after her. Cost Zero dollars.

Instant dog. She is awesome! Do not come into her back yard as you'll have a very bad day.

My kids adore her and likewise she's totally bonded and protective for the family. There are many good young dogs seeking homes, as much as raising a puppy is an experience, a near grown up dog sure beat all the dramas associated with the puppy months. Sad fate for a lot of good dogs unable to find a new home...

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by cheap

We re-homed our "baby", a pedigree, young Doberman, she's had all the "work" done. Sadly the original owner could no longer look after her. Cost Zero dollars.

Instant dog. She is awesome!

My kids adore her and likewise she's totally bonded and protective for the family. There are many good young dogs seeking homes, as much as raising a puppy is an experience, a near grown up dog sure beat all the dramas associated with the puppy months.

well done you, we have had two "rescue" dogs, one, full grown, from the pound (fantastic little wire haired mongrel) and 'Fugly", a mongrel puppy, rescued from the B.I.L..

both fantastic animals and quickly became members of our family.

many dogs out there that could do with a good home, just waiting patiently in the pound.

I just wonder where the "cut off" would be, $5,000 --- $10,000 ----

I guess it would be an individual choice and would depend a lot on financial stability of the family/ individual involved.

I would hate to be in the position of not being able to afford to have the little fellers in the peak of health.

[tut0r]

Originally Posted by Nova 8

I spent 10 times what it cost to buy my ferret to fix his leg even though people told me just to buy another one....

And without fur but scales Ive spent big bucks saving fish over the years. I'm not even sure of the end result of the costs but there has also been sleepless nights holding a fish up right and in front of filters. First sleepless night was with a Saratoga Jardini which had jumped out the tank and was unable to hold himself up and was gasping. That was when I was 16.

I don't get some people, 'get another one'? Its not a damn blender that's stopped working its your pet, which we should take care of as they put their 100% trust in us, don't know about cats haha they are ***** but love them just as much.

I grew up with dogs scottish aussie terrier, a big black lab and two cats. My terrier got put down a few years ago he was 17, I had him since i was 5 I just don't know how people don't think of them as family after so long. Not to mention they have their own personality, so life like and its so true that a dog is a mans best friend pure love and devotion don't even get that from my girlfriend!

[The Yeti]

We had a little mini foxy when we first got married, she was a great dog and 18 years later she suffered a stroke and had to be euthanased

a few months later we got a pair of black Labradors (great family dogs if you've got the space and have no desire for gardens)

they were brother and sister from the same liter come the 6 month mark we took them to get desexted and were quoted something like $350 for the girl and $120 for the boy

2 hours later we get a phone call saying only one of the boys testis had doped and it was advisable to do searching for it, and it was pretty much an open cheque book to go looking

we agreed and $1300 later for the pair we took them home, man I swear I've seen mortitions make less cuts, and the poor buger was in pain for over a week

8 weeks later the girl got out and cleaned up by a car

you cant look at a dog with costs in mind (that should be done before you decide to get them) once you have them they are part of the family other wise

I'd have to say

Dog = $1100
Vacsinations $600
Desexing $350
+ the cost of food petcare supplies and so on and you would go crazy

on the up side, becasue george the boy was beside himself and lonely we went looking for anotehr dog, we rang the breader who wasnt doing it any more, we looked at Lab rescue and they didnt have a suitable dog

So we went to the RSPCA shop at Rouse Hill and for $375 we got a 6month old Lab/Staffy Cross who came desexted vacinated and microchipped hes also a great dog and the pair of them get on like a house on fire (you know load bangs crashes smoke and destruction at the end)

[Sox]

I'm with most of the others here, I would do and spend whatever it takes to keep my hounds in the loop.

They mean everything to us.

<<<<Particularly when they're watching everything I type...

[tut0r]

Mind if I ad lib on this thread a little poppa, but I am curious on peoples thoughts when it comes to buying or getting a dog, do you only go to breeders, pet shops, RSPCA or any other type of animal rescue?

[Sox]

Originally Posted by tut0r

Mind if I ad lib on this thread a little poppa, but I am curious on peoples thoughts when it comes to buying or getting a dog, do you only go to breeders, pet shops, RSPCA or any other type of animal rescue?

I generally go to pounds/shelters or take strays.

But any way is ok so long as you have a loving friend and give it a good home for life.

[cheap]

Originally Posted by tut0r

Mind if I ad lib on this thread a little poppa, but I am curious on peoples thoughts when it comes to buying or getting a dog, do you only go to breeders, pet shops, RSPCA or any other type of animal rescue?

Many dog breeds/clubs have re-home program, better to re-home a great dog than the alternative

[Grippy]

Originally Posted by tut0r

Mind if I ad lib on this thread a little poppa, but I am curious on peoples thoughts when it comes to buying or getting a dog, do you only go to breeders, pet shops, RSPCA or any other type of animal rescue?

We're thinking about getting another dog, there is no way we'd go to a pet shop, have heard too many horror stories about puppy farms. We will be going straight to the RSPCA or a rescue shelter, there are so many great dogs available for rescue and we'd prefer to not get a pup this time.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by tut0r

Mind if I ad lib on this thread a little poppa, but I am curious on peoples thoughts when it comes to buying or getting a dog, do you only go to breeders, pet shops, RSPCA or any other type of animal rescue?

you know my threads mate, they go everywhere and I love it.........go right ahead.

we went to a breeder for "Gidget".....Yorkeshire terrier ($1200 and worth every cent).

"wimpie" we got from a family friend for $100 who knew a person who had trouble selling their pups (so we bought them both and gave one to the B.I.L.)

"Fuggles" a little mongrel we rescued.

I don't think it matters where they come from as long as they have a good home to go to.

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by tut0r

Mind if I ad lib on this thread a little poppa, but I am curious on peoples thoughts when it comes to buying or getting a dog, do you only go to breeders, pet shops, RSPCA or any other type of animal rescue?

I’d be suss on some pet shops, as some are connected with illegal puppy farming and anyone supporting them should be shot in my mind.
RSPCA should be one of the 1st port of call’s and authorised breeders.

[Whitey-AMG]

Like anything in life at the moment - everything has a cost unfortunately
You care - you protect them and yourself from the unexpected.
http://www.rspcapetinsurance.org.au/

[Franco Cozzo]

Any pet is part of the family, spent $800 on our cat to get it pumped up with steroids but it ended up having to be put down anyway as its kidneys were too far gone.

All our cats died from kidney failure around the 15 years old mark.

Now we've got a bunch of strays we adopted, they hang around all the time and we feed them.

There was a period in this neighbourhood when no one had cats, and we had heaps of rabbits around, now theres cats everywhere and no rabbits which is good.

[In Focus]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Any pet is part of the family, spent $800 on our cat to get it pumped up with steroids but it ended up having to be put down anyway as its kidneys were too far gone.

All our cats died from kidney failure around the 15 years old mark.

Now we've got a bunch of strays we adopted, they hang around all the time and we feed them.

There was a period in this neighbourhood when no one had cats, and we had heaps of rabbits around, now theres cats everywhere and no rabbits which is good.

You don't happen to feed them a lot of dry food, do you? I remember reading somewhere that the kibble feeds are often full of salt, which affects the kidneys.

I have a 19 year old cat, which lives inside at night, which I think has helped keep it alive - no stress over fighting with other cats, cold nights etc.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by In Focus

You don't happen to feed them a lot of dry food, do you? I remember reading somewhere that the kibble feeds are often full of salt, which affects the kidneys.

I have a 19 year old cat, which lives inside at night, which I think has helped keep it alive - no stress over fighting with other cats, cold nights etc.

Yeah we did, we know not to do that now, we used to give them dry food and canned stuff.

This is one of my cats, "Martin":



He was a bit concerned with me trying to pat him while he was on his chair.

Martin and Nigel:



These two pretty much never leave each others side.



The one on the left is also one of ours, the one on the right is neighbours cat.

They all pretty much get along with each other, except for one of the neighbours cats, big black bastard but all he does is come around to eat any food lying about, he has never actually been in a fight with any of them, but they dont like him for some reason.

[Nova 8]

It depends on the dog I want, if I don't want some specific I will check any where until I find a dog I want. Right now I'm starting to look for another boxer as mine is getting on and I gotta face the facts that he won't be around for all that much longer, 13 is old for a boxer. I want my new boxer to learn some habits off my current boy.

[tut0r]

My old scottish/aussie terrier was an RSPCA pup, my mother got him when I was 5 named him Bill, unfortunately Bill had a brotheri n there with him and she didn't have the heart to seperate them so home came two tiny rat looking things, named Bill and Burn. We had to give burn up as Bill kept acting the dominant male and beating him up no matter how much we tried to stop it.

We were lucky at the time an old couple we knew had just lost their shih tzu so we found the perfect home for burn, he grew quite fat after that and knew he was well loved so it wasn't to hard.

Now living in a flat and moving constantly animals are hard to have but my girlfriend has a cat called hamish....

Suffice to say shopping on ebay one day I was bored and bought something for the cat
for $5......Best money ever spent

[Sam_Boss260]

We have just gone through this recently.

I think we spent around the $3g mark between 2 surgeries (the first didn't take), emergency hospital visit and vet costs. We arched up about the second surgery with the vet and specialist because he had to be operated on again within 4 days of the first, and they came to the party financially, otherwise it would have been $5g.

But in answer to the OP's question.... one would think "anything to keep my little mate safe and healthy", but you couldn't jeopardise the family's financial security if you can't afford it.

Also, the dog in question was my dad's dog, who we have had for the last 4 years and having dad pass away 3 months ago makes the little fella even more special.

[290GTP]

How much would I spend on my dog? Well that depends on on whether he lets me have my beer back or not.



But seriously, I would spend whatever it takes.