WEBlue

Hmmm, I assume she's had no health problems as of yet. Once again, you seem to lead a charmed life, Beaverstate. I'm remembering that you're the person who pays $1K for the 4 bed house with the landlord who wouldn't dream of raising your rent.

I believe it. It's a little daunting when you look at the bald figures up front like that. . . . .

This organization, the CT Humane Society, wants a six-month commitment for dog-walkers & cat-cuddlers, so I may have to wait till I know a bit more about where we'll be settling. But it's good to know they'll train me to walk & cuddle.

thinbrit

We had 4 large breed dogs, 5 indoor cats, 1 barn cat, 5 horses, and 1 mule. Had until this evening. We just acquired another large breed dog (puppy) that was dumped on our rural road.

We live on a small ranch with fenced acreage and a large farm house, so we made room for one more. My wife is a veterinarian, and still the cost is astounding. From regular preventive treatments to unexpected ailments, the costs just mount.

Consider a trip to the ER will run you anywhere from a few hundred to ten thousand in a heart beat.

Vacations involve finding a trusted vet tech who is willing to house sit the ranch and all the furries.

Expenses are all relative. Some people believe 'natural' (natural to what exactly??) feed should be fed and are willing to pay extra for the belief they are helping Fido. If you live in the country you should really vaccinate for rabies, we do but our neighbor does not. Some people naively think you don't need to use a heart worm preventative because Tiddles is an indoor cat (because mosquitos respect this and will not enter the house, right?).

Anyway, your expenses will vary. There is no fixed formula.

Some of our indoor pets have had little more than their FrontLine, Rabies vaccines, and yearly blood work; others have had thousands in work. Horses need shoes, teeth floats, supplements depending on whether they are in training or out to pasture. There is no guarantee what a pet could end up costing you. To my wife, the outlay is irrelevant compared to the immense rewards they bring. To me, I've had many a sleepless night knowing what we were spending. But thats marriage, she gets her way and I say "yes dear". Happy wife, happy life.

Beaverstate

Food and treats run about $75 per month which comes to $900 per year plus the extras = $1,100. Didn't want to seem misleading.

WEBlue

Yes, it strikes me that having a pet is very like having a child. Several of you have said this. The thing about having a child is that IF you were to look at the event in terms of a logical choice--balancing the pros & the cons--you might not be able to do it. In fact, I've had younger relatives who made up a pro-con list, but IMO that was because they *didn't* want children & wanted to show others that they'd "thought" their choice through.

Most of our past pets just came to us, no choice & no logic involved. Our first pet was actually my husband's family's ancient dog, which his father couldn't keep when the family house was sold. So in a way my husband started the whole pet thing!!! After that cranky old dog died, *I* found the second dog at the pet shelter because the kids & I missed a dog in the house. And all our cats (6 altogether) just arrived on the doorstep--no one ever "chose" them. All the pets were loved, some being special pals of one child or another, or me, & each contributed immensely to our family --even the extremely shy cat who spent the first year either under our daughter's bed or up on the roof. But they weren't "choices", just natural parts of life as it was then. . .

dollface

We are considering a move to TO, we have an almost 12 year old beautiful golden - if we moved maybe we could doggy sit for each other

dollface

Primula

Glad you've got that sorted.

Thanks Harry. What a wonderful thing you are doing with your new foster dog. For some unknown reason, I have always wanted to take care of a blind animal. My POV is that no matter what we spend on our critters, we are then rewarded a million times over with love and devotion.

You did the right thing, that's for sure.

I'd like to pistol-whip anyone who dumps an animal. (Not really, I'm not violent, but this really gets my goat.)

Ours too. Our cats just showed up in our backyard and never left.

Primula

I really respect people who can foster pets, but I could never do it. The pain of handing the animals back to someone else would be unbearable.

WEBlue

I know, I know!! That would be the horrible part of it.

But it may be the only alternative that my dear husband will accept. A non-expensive pet (because all vet expenses are paid) who will eventually leave. . . . It's dreadfully sad, but it may be the only alternative. We'll see.

N1cky

Or it could get you a full time dog. I have some friends, whose dog was bit by a rattlesnake and died. One of them wanted another dog, the other said no, it's too heartbreaking. They eventually decided to foster, and the first dog they got, they both fell in love with and adopted

Primula

Good point, but not all fosters are available for adoption. Sometimes the pet is adopted, but for a future date, and needs fostering temporarily.

WEBlue

This would be my secret hope.

This would be my secret fear.

Britishbees

This is the first time we have fostered. The last dog we got from the same Sanctuary we actually adopted and she was 13 years old. We came to love her dearly but unfortunately 6 months later she went downhill fast and within a week we found out she had stomach cancer and it was terminal - we had to make that awful decision to put her to sleep. Horrible. The Sanctuary we help takes in only older dogs and older dogs with special needs. It is always difficult for the rescues to adopt out older and special needs dogs because people don't want the expense, etc. So, as Harry the Spider said, we are now fostering for the first time, and at her age, we can't see anyone wanting to adopt her so she is probably with us until her end of days, so to speak. If someone comes forward to adopt then we will cross that bridge then.

Mrs H the S

Britishbees

We are generally lucky with our original three girls we brought over with us to the US Just the usual heartworm tablets, vaccinations annually; especially rabies (needed for licence). Food, a big bag lasts 2 months and costs us $48 from the Vet (it is a weight control one).

Having said this, the one we adopted last year suddenly had all sorts go wrong. Eye problem, not eating, then stomach cancer diagnosis (ultrasounds, hospital admissions, etc). We do not have insurance coverage; instead we have something called Care Credit which we find very useful. At least then you are not paying out premiums for insurance you either (a) never use or (b) something happens and the company refuses to pay out, grr.

All in all I would say the veterinary costs are pretty much on a par with back in the UK.

Mrs H the S

Primula

Can you tell us something about Care Credit if you have time?

I do think what you and Harry are doing is pretty amazing.