dog advice?

[marycatherine]

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I'm gonna come here to ask you all for a little personal advice, because I feel like pre-vets are good people to ask in this situation.

I've worked at my shelter for a little over a year, and I love a lot of the animals and I have my favorites, but I get really excited for my favorites to go home to new families, I've been really good about not wanting to take every animal home with me. however every once in a while one of the animals just feels right-- in the whole year I've been here, I've had one dog and one cat with whom I really connected, however being in a dorm and having parents unwilling to help with animals made the decision. luckily both of these animals found amazing homes, so it's not so bad.

however right now we've got a little bull terrier with an awful case of mange and she is just everything I want in a dog. I play with her and take her outside-- even though I have to suit up in the plastic clothes-- and she's pretty housebroken, got a great personality, and likes cats. (my requirements for a dog!)

my current situation is tough, as I'm going to graduate at the beginning of may and move back in with my family (who live in the same town as my college and shelter) and continue working and going to school for probably two years to get my pre-reqs. if I live with my parents I can bank a lot of money, which is great. however my parents don't like dogs and will not let me have one while I'm living there.

I've been trying to crunch numbers and see whether I can afford to live on my own and care for this little dog, and I think I can make it work, though it will be pretty hard and a lot less financially secure. I'm hoping if I explain this to my parents they might call my bluff and let me live with them and adopt the little piglet (when she came in she was pink because her hair was gone, and she snorts! adorable). I have some money banked (emergency vet fund) and can get food/crate/toys very cheap (or free) because of my job.

I know this is more of a personal decision, but has anyone been through something similar? I know I can probably assure she'll get a good home, but there's just something about her. any suggestions?

 

[lalzi22]

Think about how much debt you will be in for vet school.

Now that you have awakened from your fainting spell, it seems, sorry to say, INSANE to not move in with your rents and pocket cash for 2 years. That pocketed cash can mean two years of rent in vet school, or at least books and some food in vet school. Seriously, the economy sucks, save as much money as you can and bunker down for the tsunami that is the cost of vet school education.

As much as you may love this little man, you can always find another one that you connect with, ESP in vet school. From what I hear, vet students are often adopting animals from the vet school hospital that are shelter dogs.

As always, it is a personal decision, but I know that I am living with my mom now just to save an extra thousand bucks or so for vet school.

 

[BlacKAT33]

I know this is a super hard decision, and sometimes you can't help but let your heart make the decision for you. But really think about yourself, and your future. I wouldnt let this animal get in the way of your financials, and completely affect your life. Money is a serious thing, and why cause more worries now when you aren't in a stable area of your life? If your parents cave in, that would be great. But i wouldnt take him in if you can't live with your parents. Just think about yourself and your future and see how much it will be impacted and how much further you can push yourself without another addition to your family. But, like i said in the beginning...sometimes you cant help but follow your heart. Just think reallllly hard about the outcome from this a couple years from now and picture the most extreme circumstances that could possibly happen.

 

[sumstorm]

I personally think it is fair to ask your parents once if you can obtain this dog (and go in with a plan on dog staying with you or crated all times you aren't there, cleaning yard, plan for the additional house cleanig, walking, how you will cover costs of dog, etc...and maybe even offer to pay a small rent or take over a distasteful chore if that will facilitate the dog) but if they still say no, it isn't fair to pressure them. People pressured to live with animals they don't like may be resentful.

 

[marycatherine]

thanks. I know I wouldn't put her over my financial security-- because then I wouldn't be the best possible home for her, and it'd be much better to let her go to someone else. I guess it's going to have to be a wait-and-see situation (waiting and seeing if my parents will give in...)

I appreciate the advice though, I know she'll get a great home even if it's not with me, it's just so hard to not do everything to try and adopt her? it sounds silly but something about her just feels right? I don't get this feeling about every animal, so it makes me stop and think, but I definitely appreciate the practical-thinking.

 

[marycatherine]

I personally think it is fair to ask your parents once if you can obtain this dog (and go in with a plan on dog staying with you or crated all times you aren't there, cleaning yard, plan for the additional house cleanig, walking, how you will cover costs of dog, etc...and maybe even offer to pay a small rent or take over a distasteful chore if that will facilitate the dog) but if they still say no, it isn't fair to pressure them. People pressured to live with animals they don't like may be resentful.

yes, this is a good reminder, thank you. I definitely don't want to pressure them. My dad and I are very close (I'm an only child) and I don't want to force him into being unhappy just to make myself happy. I am excited for the next two years just to get to spend more time with my dad, so I will definitely be treading carefully when I see how he reacts to her.

 

[rileydog]

Maybe a gift would help them decide to adopt "Piglet"?

https://shop.theanimalrescuesite.co...&sourceId=310&sourceClass=StoreSearch&index=2

 

[marycatherine]

Maybe a gift would help them decide to adopt "Piglet"?

https://shop.theanimalrescuesite.co...&sourceId=310&sourceClass=StoreSearch&index=2

hahahaha I love it!

 

[Bearby]

I definitely understand your dilemma. I brought home a kitten without telling my parents almost 3 years ago. We already had one cat but I fell in love with this little runt and I couldn't let him to someone else. I took him home and after a day of complaining from my parents it all worked out. Dogs are a completely different story though as they require more time and work in most situations. Fortunately, the problems that my cat has had I have been able to afford to fix. Steroids for asthma is cheap, working for a vet helped with the cost of all the x-rays and the anal gland rupture that I had to treat. He may eventually have to have an FHO and that's definitely going to be the biggest financial burden. For that reason, even though there's a 9 year old cocker that I would like to adopt from a client at my work, I know that I wouldn't be able to give my cat the medical care I feel he deserves and the same would go for the cocker. If I were to win the lottery or something in the near future, I would take him but until then, I'm just going to help the client find the dog a new home

and for those who are curious as to why the dog needs a new home, it's because one of the other dogs beats him up and broke his jaw most recently. he's the sweetest dog and deserves to be in a household where he'll be safer.

 

[jmcgintee]

Please think long a hard before getting a dog. I am living at home and finally convinced my dad to let me get my own dog (even though we already have 2). I just really wanted my own dog and wanted her trained before school. So, you could say I got the best of both worlds, my english mastiff pup AND living at home to save money...ummm...except for the saving money part. Some unforseen chronic vomiting problem came up and I have spent close to $2000 on my pup trying to figure out what is wrong. Still do not know the exact cause (would need a $1200 endoscopy for that) but the meds she is on are finally controlling the problem. I'm not saying this will happen to you but the costs of keeping my girl healthy have been huge.

Also, I know that if your parents say yes, you will need to figure this out for yourself as I did 😀. Just thought I'd throw it out there though. Good luck on your decision and one way or another, I hope "piglet" finds a good home

 

[marycatherine]

Please think long a hard before getting a dog. I am living at home and finally convinced my dad to let me get my own dog (even though we already have 2). I just really wanted my own dog and wanted her trained before school. So, you could say I got the best of both worlds, my english mastiff pup AND living at home to save money...ummm...except for the saving money part. Some unforseen chronic vomiting problem came up and I have spent close to $2000 on my pup trying to figure out what is wrong. Still do not know the exact cause (would need a $1200 endoscopy for that) but the meds she is on are finally controlling the problem. I'm not saying this will happen to you but the costs of keeping my girl healthy have been huge.

Also, I know that if your parents say yes, you will need to figure this out for yourself as I did 😀. Just thought I'd throw it out there though. Good luck on your decision and one way or another, I hope "piglet" finds a good home

Yeah, I have promised myself before I get any dog I will have at least 1500 or so put away just for an emergency vet fund, however I know that could get depleted pretty quickly.

I think I know the mature and responsible decision, it's just hard to give her up. She just popped heartworm positive today (luckily treatment is free at one of our clinics, I talked to the vet today). My dad and I spent a long time discussing her and we concluded that after she's clear from mange we'll have her over for some play days, just so she gets to roll in a yard and sleep on a bed. If my family doesn't fall in love with her the way I have, then I can at least give her a few great days and help her find a good home.

Thanks everyone for the advice. This has just been such a weird situation for me because I've always been so happy to see my favorite animals get adopted because I knew I couldn't provide the perfect home for them so it was a nonissue. But now that I'm about to graduate I feel like I could make this work, even if it'd be hard, so it's weird to not do everything I can to keep her.

 

[firelily]

I second what everyone else is saying about saving money being the best option for you in the long run. But it sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders and you realize what the responsible thing to do is already. It also seems like your dad is softening on the dog idea, so good luck with that!!

Also, if he decides he doesn't want the dog in the house, is there any chance at all that the shelter could somehow save the dog for you for a couple years until you're ready to go to school? I work at a cat shelter right now and our cats seem to hang around for a long time, but maybe it's very different where you work. But I just thought that might be an option. That way you could save money AND get to take him later on! Best of both worlds if it could work out that way.

I tried so hard not to fall in love with any animals at my shelter. I can't take any now because I do live with my parents and my mom is terribly allergic. But now that I'm going to school in the fall I realize that I'm totally in love with this one cat, Oreo. I cry when I think about not taking him with me, about possibly getting another cat instead of him. But I probably won't be able to take him...he pees on everything, and they've tried multiple things to get him to stop. So sadly I'll probably end up doing the responsible thing, even though I don't want to. It sucks when you know what the "right" choice is and it's really not the one you want.

 

[marycatherine]

I second what everyone else is saying about saving money being the best option for you in the long run. But it sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders and you realize what the responsible thing to do is already. It also seems like your dad is softening on the dog idea, so good luck with that!!

Also, if he decides he doesn't want the dog in the house, is there any chance at all that the shelter could somehow save the dog for you for a couple years until you're ready to go to school? I work at a cat shelter right now and our cats seem to hang around for a long time, but maybe it's very different where you work. But I just thought that might be an option. That way you could save money AND get to take him later on! Best of both worlds if it could work out that way.

I tried so hard not to fall in love with any animals at my shelter. I can't take any now because I do live with my parents and my mom is terribly allergic. But now that I'm going to school in the fall I realize that I'm totally in love with this one cat, Oreo. I cry when I think about not taking him with me, about possibly getting another cat instead of him. But I probably won't be able to take him...he pees on everything, and they've tried multiple things to get him to stop. So sadly I'll probably end up doing the responsible thing, even though I don't want to. It sucks when you know what the "right" choice is and it's really not the one you want.

I feel that since she's overcoming mange and might go through heartworm treatment, I could swing something for a few months that could keep her there until I graduate, however with summer coming up and our shelter's facilities, we just don't keep dogs that long. (Not because we euth for space or anything, but we're lucky that we work with different rescues and our animals get adopted fairly well out of the shelter.) I would feel bad keeping her there, too. Even though we take great care of them, it's so loud and such a stressful environment compared to a nice quiet home so I think I'd feel guilty if I forced her to stay just to wait on me.

I think if I don't get her I would definitely try to stay in contact with whoever adopts her, just to see if something happens in the long run that they might not be able to keep her or just so I can keep tabs on her-- or dogsit!