If this was your dog, what would you do?
October 12th, 2009 | 
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He was 7 years old when we adopted him from a rescue center. His previous owners had him since he was a pup, however were moving and couldn’t bring him with.
Within the week of adopting him we found out he had a bad tape worm. Then we found out that he had several teeth surgically removed due to gum disease.
We put him on a pet insurance plan to help pay for any medical issues that might arise, and we enrolled him in a basic training course.
The worms were taken care of, the vaccinations were brought up to date, and we had a minor dental surgery performed to try and save the rest of his teeth.
He graduated at the top of his training class and is very well behaved, he is great with our 6 month old son. (Kid kicks him, pulls his ears, dog just licks him and takes the abuse. Only time he has ever shown any aggression was when a stranger leaned into the stroller to touch the baby, he growled at the stranger. He is very protective of our son and generally follows the baby around the house, keeps an eye on him like a furry nanny.) However he does have a little problem with separation anxiety and sometimes pees in the house if left alone for too long. We are working with him on that issue and have seen much improvement.
We are also working with him on his hygiene- when we first adopted him he didn’t like to be bathed and wouldn’t allow his teeth to be brushed, but now after 8 months we are having a much easier time with performing basic hygiene.
Last week he got sick- he couldn’t hold down any food or water for 3 days. Horrible diarrea, constant vomitting. Even started vomitting blood.
We took him off dog food and water. Started giving him controlled amounts of pedialite. And after a day of keeping down the pedialite we started him on plain rice to eat.
He was very listless and seemed to be in alot of pain but now he’s back to his normal energy level and seems content, if not happy at moments.
Our vet was sure he would need surgery to get through this, however we couldn’t afford the $600-1,200 estimated for exploratory surgery on his digestive tract.
Now he seems to be doing fine without the surgery, whatever it was seems to have passed. Though I won’t lie, he had us all very scared.
His recent illness has brought up the topic for my husband and I…and after much discussion we agree that it may not have been what we were hoping for however we don’t regret the ammount of work nor the ammount of money we put into a dog that we have only had for 8 months. At this point he is part of the family and we would hate to loose him.
However, we were wondering if most other people would have given up by now?
What would you do if this was your dog? With all the unexpected health concerns and the need to re-socialize him…would you have given up?
First, let me applaud your dedication and your obvious love for this creature that has had the misfortune of having love from his previous owners, but most certainly not enough. Seven years as owners should have left them ample time to have him at the vet and had his teeth cared for. Like humans, mouth/gum disease can lead to death in dogs. Also, who the hell moves anywhere that won’t take their dog? SERIOUSLY. Would they have left their child behind? That is inexcusable. I am a dog owner. I have two rescues. One, my boy, I rescued when he was three months old. He will be two years in October. My girl joined us last December and was estimated to be a year and six months old. She is now two. I am their only person. I live alone and thus they are my responsibility. It took months before we got to a "happy place." It was worth the tears, the frustration, the exhaustion. I see them play now, and my heart leaps. I am watching with an awed sense of joy as my boy teaches our girl how to play and how to be loved by humans. She was obviously not well cared for, and is frightened of many things. I would and will never leave my dogs. For anything. I plan to move next May, and every place I look, every place I call, my first question is, "Do you accept pets?" If the answer is no. Forget it.
You have been the kind of person that this dog has been waiting for. You are truly a good owner, a good friend. I will answer your question by saying, NO. I would not have given up. I could not. Just as you have not. When my dogs need any medical attention/food/bones/seat-belts for the car/etc. I do it. I own no credit cards, and work for a not for profit. I am single. How do I afford them? I cut back on stuff I do not need. I have no cable. I am not afraid to eat spaghetti-o’s (w/o meatballs = .66 ). I can live without indulgences, my dog’s well being and health is not an indulgence, it is what it is, their life. I hold that in my hands knowing what a precious gift it is and how very fortunate I am to have that trust and love.
Your dog adores you all. It is clear he tends to your son and does so because the love and trust he has placed in you. You are deserving of that, and so is he.
Keep up the good work! Seriously. You made my heart swell today, reading of all you have done. There are people out there who cannot and will not understand. Anyone. Any one, who has had the love of a dog will. Talk with your vet, or change to the Humane Society’s vets. My two go there. When I could not afford a bill for both, we split one of my dog’s visits so that I could pay for 1/2 as one visit, and the remaining half as the second visit. They are so cool there, and they, like us, just want the dogs to be loved/cared for and in a forever home.
I am here for you, you will recognize me, for I am the one clearly standing in your corner.
You really rock. Really.
Posted in Protective Dental Plan
No I would never give up on a dog I adopted & had already been dumped. He isn’t going to improve with new owners except for vet care. You would spend far more time house breaking & training a young pup & additional vet costs than with this dog. You already spent 8 mos & dog is now bonded with your family - either give up now so he doesn’t have to suffer the loss more or stick with your decision.
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groomer & adopted 7 dogs
this is why I’ve never adopted a dog. It is a lovely concept but dealing with the repercussions of shotty previous owners can be very taxing on the pup’s new family. Most do give up, which is very sad, because the dog is left in a shelter twice. I don’t think I’d ever give back an adopted dog, since they have already been through abandonment once, it is hard to readjust after so many times.
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our dogs, even the dogs we rescue/foster all get the vet care they need regardless of cost. Most for the rescues/fosters comes out of pocket that we will never get back. We have over $400 in one of our rescues right now. It was worth it and she is a very happy, healthy little dog. She was hit by a car, had to get all her shots, and we had her spayed. Never had any illnesses at all. Of course this doesn’t count flea/tick preventative, wormings, food, etc. This is just what we have spent in vet bills. Is she worth it and would we do it again? absolutely. It is very hard to get these dogs adopted because of the bad economy, so we may end up keeping her and the others. It is just something we do.
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I know exactly how you feel. I have a Jack Russel terrier and she broke her leg at 10 months. It was 2 grand to fix and they werenn’t sure she would walk again normally, but she was fine!
Then in January, she fell to the floor and seemed to be choking on somehting. We tried to get her to throw up and I gave her the heimlich, but nothing worked so we rushed to the emergency vet. As it turns out, she was having a seizure! After many vet visits we found out she has a small liver and sometimes it can process something and it reaches the brain causing a seizure. It cost about $3,000 to figure it out, get tested, and buy new special food.
When a do becomes a part of your family, its heart wrenching to watch them suffer and it is worth every penny to help them. I would have reacted the same way if it was my sister or mother. Its one thing if there is no hope of getting better, its quite another to just give up because its too hard (or expensive) to deal with.
I applaud you and your efforts to save your pup.
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ohh no!! the poor Baby!!
he is soo lucky to have a family lke you that cares for him and hasnt given up on him!
i would never give up on my dog.. no matter what..
i would never give up on any of my animals..
and i think my pet bills can prove that.. even for my bunnies
hahah
good luck with everything!!
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After the tremendous gains this dog has made, how could anyone give up? Not only have you saved and are continuing to save him, you must look at the awesome lessons your kids are getting from caring for and about this lovable dog that God himself must have placed in your path. Does your vet know of any agency or group that could help defray the cost?
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No. Not at all. If you are adopting a dog, that is a chance you take. A small chance, but still yet a chance. He is obviously doing his part in loving and caring for, even protecting your family. You have your family and friends, all he has is you and your family. I would think you would want to love, care for and protect him as well. I’m not trying to be preachy at all or make you feel guilty, just giving you another point of view. Also, you’ve already spent that much money on keeping him healthy, why quit now? I’ve also been told I care for animals way too much so maybe i wouldn’t be the best person to ask. =-) I’m sure you will have quite a few different answers on here.
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no nevere ever give up…he needs u and ur fam. my dog got poisened by an old lady neighbor & almost died…the bill was alot, but i didnt care aslomg as she made it and she did. i would pay whatever i have for her….she once had complications during pregnany and that cost alot more and i still didndt care as long as she was ok at teh end. dogs are like familiy, u cant just " give up". good luck & god bless u and urs for having so much doggie love:)
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i adore dogs
Most people would not have given up. In my mind dogs are forever.
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It sounds to me like you have done a wonderfull job with this dog. Well done (but all dogs are hard work) the ilness is frightening but sounds like he ate something poisonous os had a really terrible bug that he is now over…I wonder why the vet bill worries you when you said you have him insured, surely they would pay??? Personally I wouldnt give up on this dog as he sounds too lovely and about the peeing in the house thing, try buying a big indoor dog cage and put him in that like you would with a puppy, dogs rarely soil near themselves unless they are really desperate, make sure he goes for a decent walk before you leave him alone so you know he is empty and dont leave him with too much water (unless its really hot of course)
Good luck,
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No, I wouldn’t have given him up. But, it’s also the reason why, right now, I only have one dog. Financially and time-wise, she is all I can comfortably commit to.
Most of the things you’ve described–parasites, dental care, training- are things that every dog owner should expect to face at some point with any dog or puppy. Even a new puppy is not a blank slate. Training success is not always easy, and good health not always guaranteed The sudden illness and possible surgery cost, likewise, should be a planned-for instance for any dog owner, with an emergency fund or pet insurance to cover it in the event the situation arises.
Obviously you are committed to the dog and care for him, and he’s become part of your family. While I hope that most dog owners are the same, I’m sure that there are many who don’t put time, effort and financial resources into their pet’s care and training. Shelters often have owner relinquished pets who have suffered chronic illness, parasites, dental disease, injuries–that have gone untreated for years.
Even with pet insurance, it’s a good idea to put aside a little money every week into a bank account just as a cushion. CareCredit is also a good option, it’s a payment plan that divides a vet fee up into monthly payments–and there is no interest if paid within something like 3 months. (After the 3 months, the interest is steep. But if that can help with a surgery fee, it’s a good resource.)
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I think this is a very personal issue and one that every dog owner must face at some point in time. When is enough enough? It’s a hard question to ask yourself, but ultimately it’s your decision and you need to do what’s best for the dog. I think you’ve done a wonderful job so far and hopefully have many more happy years together. Good Luck!
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First, let me applaud your dedication and your obvious love for this creature that has had the misfortune of having love from his previous owners, but most certainly not enough. Seven years as owners should have left them ample time to have him at the vet and had his teeth cared for. Like humans, mouth/gum disease can lead to death in dogs. Also, who the hell moves anywhere that won’t take their dog? SERIOUSLY. Would they have left their child behind? That is inexcusable. I am a dog owner. I have two rescues. One, my boy, I rescued when he was three months old. He will be two years in October. My girl joined us last December and was estimated to be a year and six months old. She is now two. I am their only person. I live alone and thus they are my responsibility. It took months before we got to a "happy place." It was worth the tears, the frustration, the exhaustion. I see them play now, and my heart leaps. I am watching with an awed sense of joy as my boy teaches our girl how to play and how to be loved by humans. She was obviously not well cared for, and is frightened of many things. I would and will never leave my dogs. For anything. I plan to move next May, and every place I look, every place I call, my first question is, "Do you accept pets?" If the answer is no. Forget it.
You have been the kind of person that this dog has been waiting for. You are truly a good owner, a good friend. I will answer your question by saying, NO. I would not have given up. I could not. Just as you have not. When my dogs need any medical attention/food/bones/seat-belts for the car/etc. I do it. I own no credit cards, and work for a not for profit. I am single. How do I afford them? I cut back on stuff I do not need. I have no cable. I am not afraid to eat spaghetti-o’s (w/o meatballs = .66 ). I can live without indulgences, my dog’s well being and health is not an indulgence, it is what it is, their life. I hold that in my hands knowing what a precious gift it is and how very fortunate I am to have that trust and love.
Your dog adores you all. It is clear he tends to your son and does so because the love and trust he has placed in you. You are deserving of that, and so is he.
Keep up the good work! Seriously. You made my heart swell today, reading of all you have done. There are people out there who cannot and will not understand. Anyone. Any one, who has had the love of a dog will. Talk with your vet, or change to the Humane Society’s vets. My two go there. When I could not afford a bill for both, we split one of my dog’s visits so that I could pay for 1/2 as one visit, and the remaining half as the second visit. They are so cool there, and they, like us, just want the dogs to be loved/cared for and in a forever home.
I am here for you, you will recognize me, for I am the one clearly standing in your corner.
You really rock. Really.
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