Do i have to pay to have a dog from rescue centre ?

[ami_j 10]

I love how the op has asked if they have to pay and how much and people have assumed they cannot pay and have advised them agaisnt a dog. they have asked relevant questions about costs I think its a bit harsh to jump down their throats. yes dogs are expensive you dont have to be rockafeller to own one though

[chem1st 10]

The average lifetime cost of owning a dog today stands at around £16,900 and for a cat £17,200, according to research by Sainsbury’s pet insurance.

 

Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-2042014/How-does-cost-dog-cat.html#ixzz1oeNSa854

 

Surely not?

 

I know some people spend money like it is going out of fashion but you can feed a dog for under £10 a month. If it lives for 15 years that's ~£1800 (if your treating it to add up to £10/month). Vaccinations perhaps the same/bit less and one off fee to put it down towards the end.

 

More like £3k-4?

[Chez2 10]

Surely not?

 

I know some people spend money like it is going out of fashion but you can feed a dog for under £10 a month. If it lives for 15 years that's ~£1800 (if your treating it to add up to £10/month). Vaccinations perhaps the same/bit less and one off fee to put it down towards the end.

 

More like £3k-4?

 

I suppose it depends on what dog you have and how active it is. We have three German Shepherds who eat fresh raw food which isn't as expensive as tinned stuff (and much better for them) but they sometimes get good quality dried dog food. I think I worked it out at about £1 per dog per day only a few months ago.

[Scozzie 10]

Are you being serious, doesn't sound like your ready to own a pet I think you need to do some serious research before committing to anything, if you can afford it that is!!!!!

 

I think that is the purpose of this thread.

 

I think it is great that someone is asking the questions BEFORE buying a dog, rather than getting one, finding all this stuff out the hard way, then advertising a dog 'free to good home'

 

Good on her.

 

To the OP- you'll get some good advice on here. Don't pay attention to the people who only want to bring you down.

[smudge74 10]

amy20, the rescues in Sheffield are always after dog walkers or even volunteers to foster dogs. Maybe it would be better to go down that route first then you can see how much work goes into looking after one and how much food, exercise etc they need. It would be awful to get a dog, realise you can't cope and then have to give it up. At least this way you can test the water and see how you feel

[curriechick 10]

amy20, the rescues in Sheffield are always after dog walkers or even volunteers to foster dogs. Maybe it would be better to go down that route first then you can see how much work goes into looking after one and how much food, exercise etc they need. It would be awful to get a dog, realise you can't cope and then have to give it up. At least this way you can test the water and see how you feel

 

Much the same as I was saying in post 22, but with more detail. I think this would help the OP decide, the centre will tell her the basic things she will need for the comfort and care of the dog, and she can then work our herself whether she can afford the cost and the time needed to be a responsible pet owner.

[Bubble3082 10]

Theres also the cost of kennels if you go on holiday/into hospital unless you have someone to dogsit. For what its worth, the adoption fee is a bargain If you were to get a puppy and start from scratch, you could be paying up to £150 just to have a female spayed. Add to that the vaccinations, worming etc and you're saving yourself a small fortune. Plus you have a dog thats had its temperament, health etc assessed so you know exactly what you're dealing with, rather than an unknown dog

[suesimmons45 10]

i would take smudges advise and try before you buy !! you have to dedicate a lot to a dog even when you dont feel up to it..the dog still needs exersize ect

[curriechick 10]

Exactly when you are snuggled nice and cosy under the duvet on a Sunday morning and it is grey and raining outside, with a gale blowing, you want to stay there but with a dog you can't he will need to go out to toilet and also need walking.

[angel22 10]

Surely not?

 

I know some people spend money like it is going out of fashion but you can feed a dog for under £10 a month. If it lives for 15 years that's ~£1800 (if your treating it to add up to £10/month). Vaccinations perhaps the same/bit less and one off fee to put it down towards the end.

 

More like £3k-4?

 

I don't know. I didn't work it out myself, i just googled it and thats what i found.

 

They've probably worked out every little cost. Like leads, collars, beds, food bowls and toys. Obviously these things don't last forever and will need replacing a few times during a dogs life time.

 

Price of neutering, microchipping, vaccinations. Any other vets bills that may arise. Then there's flea treatment every month, worming treatment every 3 months. Insurance every month.

 

Then there's things like grooming, nail clipping etc.

 

Kennel fees when going on holiday.

 

I'm not saying every owner will have to pay out for all of the above. But thats probably what Sainsbury's Pet Insurance based their research on.

 

Yes, you can buy a big bag of dry food for around a tenner and it will last a month. But then you've got to consider things like, what if your dog develops a medical condition that requires a special diet. Specialist foods arn't as cheap as supermarket dog food.

[willman 10]

I don't know. I didn't work it out myself, i just googled it and thats what i found.

 

They've probably worked out every little cost. Like leads, collars, beds, food bowls and toys. Obviously these things don't last forever and will need replacing a few times during a dogs life time.

 

Price of neutering, microchipping, vaccinations. Any other vets bills that may arise. Then there's flea treatment every month, worming treatment every 3 months. Insurance every month.

 

Then there's things like grooming, nail clipping etc.

 

Kennel fees when going on holiday.

 

I'm not saying every owner will have to pay out for all of the above. But thats probably what Sainsbury's Pet Insurance based their research on.

Yes, you can buy a big bag of dry food for around a tenner and it will last a month. But then you've got to consider things like, what if your dog develops a medical condition that requires a special diet. Specialist foods arn't as cheap as supermarket dog food.

 

I'v bolded the part i'm commenting on - perhaps the way Sainsburys ascertain this figure is because they ask current customers i.e insurance paying dog owners who are more likely to partake in most of the things.

[angel22 10]

I'v bolded the part i'm commenting on - perhaps the way Sainsburys ascertain this figure is because they ask current customers i.e insurance paying dog owners who are more likely to partake in most of the things.

 

Probably. It's not my own opinion that a dog should cost that much during it's lifetime. As i said, I just googled it and thats what i found.

Edited March 10, 2012 by angel22