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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!
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Maybe give some free advice about: Pets?
kna_x3 thats not true. we think my puppy was abused, she was a stray but so what. she is sooo cute and she plays with toys and stuff. if they were abused they will just be scared of humans. just be extra nice and theyll love you. and maybe you should babysit or somethng to make the money. like an odd job or something.
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In shelters they're anywhere from $20-$100. But, I wouldn't buy one from the shelter because sometimes the animals were abused and might have some issues. I don't know if you get Pennysaver in the mail but there's almost always free puppys in there. Hope I helped. :)
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i would name it sunshine cause its orange and just remember to feed it everyday and clean its fishtank every week
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Sometimes if you look in the newspaper, they had dogs or puppies for free. But if you are interested in buying one from an adoption center, i would say anywhere from $20-$100. But some dogs such a pure bred chihuahua's can cost up to $400. It just all depends on the type of dog you want, and where you get it from. If you don't have enough money rite now, I would definitely suggest waiting til Christmas. However, if your b/f still lives at home with his family you might want to make sure that they know about what you plan on doing, to assure that it's okay if you get him a puppy!
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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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Your intentions are sweet and caring. I'd like to relay and experience I'm having at the moment, though.
A friend of mine had a dog. It was before I knew her, but I believe it was a Black Lab mix. Her dog passed away a couple of years ago. She'd had him since he was a puppy.
Just this last spring she came out and said that she was finally ready for another dog. It took her all this time to feel ok about getting another dog. Before she was ready, it would have hurt her to have to care for another pup and it may have affected the way she felt about him.
What you want to do is admirable, in my eyes. It's something that I've been wanting to do for my friend for a while now. But it was only when she felt she was ready that it would have been a helpful and not so hurtful thing to do. We're planning on getting her a pup for Christmas.
What you might want to do before you go out and bring home a pup, would be to sit down with your boyfriend and talk with him about it. He or his family might not be ready to take on another pup. They might need some time to handle their emotions about the pup that they have now.
To actually answer your question, though... in my area it costs $50 to adopt a dog from the pound. That includes two years of free vaccinations. I'm in the Philadelphia/ South Jersey area, though, so the prices may differ for you.
I wish their pup easy days.
Good luck,
bound
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i think each shelter is different, but heres a site i found. basically its around $150, maybe less for a smaller dog.
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
googles good too, so you can check there.
good luck!
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