I have covered the first part of my query on another thread but briefly, Lost a 12 year old very large hound about a month ago. We are grieving, but my dog-girl is devastated. And as a committed hermit I rarely leave the house. Have been getting out more recently, and she looks reproachfully at me as I leave. Can’t take her anywhere in 100 degree weather. I could take her to my sister’s. Sister loves my dog and her two get along pretty well but whenever we go over there, she clings to me like a limpet, terrified of my leaving her there.
I would like to get a buddy for her. She is around 12ish, but still excitable and full of energy. I never go for puppies but two dogs have popped up on my radar. One a 12 yr old corgi that is about 200 miles away. I would like to dip my toe into corgi land, but this is a dog with an expected life span of 12-14 years. I am simply not going to pay $150 in that instance. I sent in the paper work, but from what I can tell, I haven’t heard back. Another popped up on FB from a friend who is strong in the animal rescue mold. Looks like an Aussie Shepard, has always lived out doors, is about 30 miles away and is 14. This dog has apparently also been abandoned. I know not to trust FB, but I do trust my friend.
OK Coth, what should I do? (enablers out there)
I would take whichever dog I thought would be most suitable as a companion for my dog and me. I wouldn’t think twice about the rehoming fee. Rescues spend much more money than they ever get back in adoption fees. For an older, already fixed dog with shots, maybe they could consider the $150 a donation.
That’s tough…I do wonder how old your current dog is? Just because my 18 year old Snoopy died Jan 4th, and my other dog is atleast 13 with 2 types of cancer, so…could be a very rough year.
I don’t know if I could do it after my 12 year old died, but they need homes too. They have many perks. To me, it’s not so much the money, and people may be willing to negotiate. Many people just want to advertise “free dog here”.
Clint I appreciate your comment but I am not wealthy. I do realize I will probably have vet bills with both dogs. And at the age of the 12 year old, it is just too much for me. I have no problem with that amount for a dog under 12-12 but the expected life span is so short. I would pay less but not that much.
Callista, Toffee is 12 ish. We are pretty laid back around here, But if I take Toff for a car ride, she gets excited and frisks about. She isn’t even arthritic. But she HATES going out side. If I made her a litter box she would never go out. Jethro loved going out. Spent most of his time out side. She would go out with him but not stay as long. When she would follow Jethro on his runaways,:mad: she was FAST. She loves to run but won’t do it at a dog park. She is convinced I will abandon her there.:no:
wait … look some more … be patient
make sure the dog is cat tested and house tested … dog tested … car tested … leash tested … and close by … not 200 miles away … in case it has to be returned
- make sure the dog is housebroken esp if it’s lived outside for its entire life
be sure you really want : need another dog
For a dog updated on its health and neutered, $150.00 is less money than you would spend doing that. If it fits in with your current dog and they get along, I would definitely look at an older dog that is good in all the areas ZuZu said.
I’ve got passed the idea of mourning when I loose a dog, knowing that in life, that is the order of things, sad though I might be and I always miss the recently departed…then another dog appears to fill the void.
I guess I don’t really understand why $150 is considered “too high” because the dog is 12 with what seems to be a normal life expectancy. Do you think they should give their seniors away for nothing? The rescue still does the same amount of work no matter how young/old the dog is…and possibly more work for seniors.
Maybe the real issue for you is the age; in which case I guess you should keep looking.
Like others said, $150 is a drop in the bucket for an older dog, considering the vet bills that can and will come.
If finances are such a big consideration, I would probably see if i could find a rescue to work with as a foster home for an older dog. I know a few rescues that are desperately looking to place older dogs that have little chances of getting adopted, and they will contribute to vet bills.
Were I in your position, I’d look for a second dog too. I bet that your girl misses the companionship (security?) of a packmate. That said, I’d look for a younger dog. Not a puppy, but something say between 3 and 8 years, who’s compatible with your girl — compatibility being more important than age. Perhaps I’m overly sensitive but 3 years ago I lost 2 of my 3 animals, both seniors, within a week of one another. That was really rough. There are no guarantees, of course, but your odds are better (IMO) with a slightly younger animal.
Aly
In our area older dogs go for considerably less money than a regular adoption - but then, again, it is not about the $$, it ia about caring enough to gie a dog a home that needs one.
Any dog would love to come here. But I do not know how to make sure he/she/it will not only get along with Toffee but actually like her. Jethro just ignored her. Maybe fostering would be a better deal.
I volunteer at a shelter, we adopt out dogs, spayed or neutered, with all their shots for 70 dollars.
Most shelters now have all their pets listed online so you do not even have to leave your house to look.
Considering how hard it is to find a home for a 12 year old dog, I think it’s worth contacting them to see if they would waive the fee, if you are interested in that dog.
A dog that has lived outside it’s whole life, I wouldn’t take it as a house dog. Good luck in your search!
I lost my 18 year old Beagle 6 months ago. The Kelpie I have we got four years ago to be his old age companion. Now I am looking for her companion.
I find the rescues way out of line. Some here are going $400 to $600. And having fostered a lot of dogs for them, I’m not happy. It seems a money making scheme for a lot of them. The shelters around here are $150 maximum. A lot of older and less than ideal dogs are much less or free because they are sponsored. I have seen a rescue here charge $400 for older dogs.
The dog we might take is a private party who can no longer keep her, which is exactly the way I got the Kelpie. They will bring her here to see if they like the situation, and we will see if my dog and the new one are a match.
The rescues leave a bad taste in my mouth. The dog we are not going to take from the shelter was sponsored by a group and free. (We decided against a 4 year old mostly GSD brought in to the shelter unneutered who was sweet, but majorly anxious and not handled well at the shelter. Our shelters are full of pit bulls, Chihuahuas, GSD’s, and huskies.)
Gram and SG thanks so much for the encouragement. Please understand I am not against a charge of about $150 for a dog say, under 10 but with the one at 12. His picture was cute but he looked so sad. I have a comfy home a leafy well fenced back yard The dog will spend as much or as little time as they wish out there. I realize they do have to vet people and I am OK with that. But it so far looks like they don’t want me. And that is OK too. I was just larkin about online looking at dogs when I shouldn’t really be doing that.
Maybe I will look into being a foster at Great Plains/
Note to Zuzu, your mailbox is full…
ZuZus mailbox is broken, I believe.
I think offering to foster might be a great idea. There never seem to be enough. And I don’t know about there, but some of these dogs stay in fosters for a very long time. You can offer a soft landing for a dog as long as needed, and maybe end up keeping it.
Like I said, some of these people leave a bad taste. I think it’s a money making scheme for some people. I know there are some people on craigslist who get pets and then “rehome” them for more money.
Would you consider 150 fair if the dog lived to 16? Just asking…because both my friends corgi’s are well at 16 years old!
But honestly - the rescue likely had this dog vaccinated, dewormed, maybe dental and checked out - the $150 is likely to cover that. You’d be pretty hard pressed to get all that done on any age year dog for $150.
Ultimately its up to you. If you dont feel a 12 year old dog is worth a $150 donation to the rescue, then maybe consider fostering or consider adopting a younger one. Most reputable rescues do have fees so they can spend the $ on animals who need it. But, it could also be a scummy cash grab rescue. Do your research. Theres lots of “foster” dogs needing temporary homes as well.
you know I am sure I will be raked over the coals for this but I do think that. I know there are no guarantees. I totally understand about all these costs by the rescues but I do think it is beginning to border on a mania. There are some things I will pay for and some things I won’t I have no problem with the fees and I am not opposed to paying that much but not for that dog. But I would never pay $700 for a phone either! I see a dog as a pet nothing more. I went to my vet today to get this science diet cat food that has wonderfully transformed my cat. They had a sign up for GSD pups for $700. I suspect that is a person you would call a backyard breeder. I am just wondering where it will all end. Will the ‘poor’ not be able to have pets anymore?
BTW I did go to see the local shelter and made arrangements to try to foster a dog with a bad skin problem (not contagious.) I was supposed to pick her up today but the foster person had an emergency and had to leave. I am doing this for my dog and hope it will work. I am not sure how she will react. I got the crate out it is giant and got a furry new pad. I didn’t want furry but that was all they had. Toffee is still lonely and so I hope it will go well.
Good luck!
StG
