My boyfriend has had his half chihuahuah, half shih-tzu mix for 7 years. They recently found out that his dog is A)Is blind in one eye B)Is going blind in the other and C)Is diabetic. Their dog is very sick, and the cost of medications is becoming overwhelming for them. They decided that they would try out the medications for a little while, but they eventually would put the dog to sleep. They don't want him to suffer. His birthday is coming up in September and I wanted to get him a puppy. Not something to replace his other dog, but he's just so used to having a dog, that maybe by getting him another would bring a new joy in his life. I am extremely low on budget for his birthday, so I'm not even sure I'll be able to get him a dog but I have it in mind for Christmas if I can't for his birthday. I was thinking of adopting a puppy or rescuing one from a local shelter. My only thing is, I know if I am to adopt one, the dog will be in MY name, so ultimately the dog is MY responsibility. But aside from that, exactly how much is it to adopt a dog or rescue one from a shelter? I was thinking of a small breed, a chihuahuah, shih-tzu, lasa apso or maybe a maltese. Something small though. Anyone know? Thanks in advance!
Actually, shelters usually charge more for puppies and smaller dogs, but that's besides the point that I want to make...
I DO NOT recommend getting him another dog. Have you ever mentioned this to him? Do you have any idea what it's like to lose a dog? ugg... there are a few things that I want to say about this question, I'll start with the dog...
Firstly, You say that the dog has a chance to take medicine and have a somewhat normal life? Is it just your boyfriends lack of money that gave him the idea to eventually put the dog to sleep?
If that is the case, then it is HIS responsability to find a new owner for the dog. One that will be able to afford the time and care that it will take to give this dog the life that it deserves. It's only seven years old. Dogs of that size will normally life for up to 18 years. With diabetes, if it's owner can give him the medicine that he needs, he can still life for well over ten years.
Your boyfriend should not put the poor dog to sleep without attempting to get him a proper home first.
I recently had to do this. I could not give my dog the time that he deserved. He was a seven year old rottweiler, and I tried for many months to find him the perfect home. One where he has plenty of room to run, and has an owner who can spend more time with him (I could not, because of school and work and other life things going on) It sucked, but I felt much better doing that, rather than simply taking the easy route and putting the poor animal down.
At least bring this option up to him. Tell him that his dog can live a happy life if he can find an owner who can give him the care that he needs.
Secondly... back to DO NOT GIVE HIM A NEW DOG. Again, do you have any idea what it's like to lose an animal. Especially an animal that your attatched to, as your boyfriend seems to be.
When I found my dog a new home, every dog I saw made me want to cry, because I only thought of MY dog. A new puppy will do this to your boyfriend. Recently My 15 year old dog passed away, and every animal I see reminds me of her. I know you think that getting a new dog will get his mind off of things and fill the space left by his old dog, but it won't work.
The new puppy will only depress him more. It will make him think of his old dog every time he sees it, and he may even end up hating the poor dog. Please, please, please don't do this.
If you want to give him a new dog, then take him with you, and have him pick it out.
But PLEASE PLEASE, talk to him about finding a new home for his dog instead of putting him down. To me, that is a selfish way to get rid of a dog. He may love the dog, but that's not the way to go about doing things.
I will soon be working at a Vet clinic as a Vet tech., and throughout my schooling we have learned how to deal with these kind of things. People come in, wanting to get their perfectly healthy dogs, who could live many more healthy years, euthanized for many reasons. Some reason include that they need to find a new home... for wahtever reason they decide that the dog would be better off dead, as opposed to living with someone else... but it is not true.
Bad idea... bad bad idea...
hope you think about what I've said, I'm not trying to make you angry, I just can't help it when I hear about an instance where animals can be hurt, I have to speak out.
In my opinion, two animals will be hurt here. The current dog will be hurt permanently if he euthanizes him, and the new dog will be hurt because a grieving person CAN'T properly care and give love to a new puppy. Your boyfriend will also be hurt. He will be hurt because he will know that his dog is dead instead of in a home where he can be better taken care of, and he will be hurt because the new puppy will only remind him of how much he misses his old dog.
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It wasn't his decision to put the dog down, it's his parents. He has no say in it. And he wants another dog. And he's lost pets before as well as me, so yes I have a clue what it's like to lose an animal. It IS hard. When my old dog died, about a month later we bought a new dog. It made me happy. Of course I missed my other dog, but having a new dog brough something into my life. So I hoped to do the same for him. The dog is SUFFERING. He can't walk around without bumping into things and ending up with bruises and scratches all over his body. You really want an animal that's suffering like that to keep living?
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