The Cost of Pet Ownership - Part II

We are fortunate to live in a community that is committed to pet rescue. Some of the tips offered below may not apply in your area. However, check with local shelters and groups. They may have advice for you.

Food

Feeding your pet can be expensive, depending upon your food selection. Check manufacturers’ websites for coupons and rebate offers.

If you are struggling to feed your pet, talk with your local shelter and rescue groups. In our area, we have several groups that have pet food pantries.

Routine Shots and Vet Visits

It is important to find a good vet for your pet. The ideal vet will help you find ways to provide quality care within your budget. Most vets nowadays understand the dire financial circumstances in which some people find themselves.

That being said, if you simply cannot afford a routine vet exam, the minimum you should do is maintain your pet’s vaccination schedule. In our area, local shelters and rescue groups offer low-cost shot clinics.

If you live near a large university that has a veterinary medicine program, check with the university about free or low-cost clinics. It might be an affordable way to get your pet basic exams until you can get back on your feet financially.

A word or two about vaccinations: In recent years, vets are taking a more conservative approach toward vaccinations. You should discuss with your vet whether or not certain vaccines are needed. Your pet may not be in a high risk category. Rabies vaccines must be given on the recommended schedule, though; it is the law.

Spay/Neuter

In our area, we have a special clinic that performs low-cost spay/neuter. For low income families, it is free. Check with your local shelter or humane society about low-cost spay/neuter. You might be surprised to learn that you have affordable options.

Routine Medicines

Flea medicine is essential. Not only do you want to keep these beasts out of your home, they cause lots of problems for your pet. As mentioned in a previous blog, I use the best-quality medicine I can afford. I have found the cheap stuff is not effective. I also do not apply the medicine year-round. You may not be able to do this, depending upon your situation. It is something to consider.

Your vet will recommend heartworm medicine. It can be very expensive, especially if you have multiple and/or larger pets. The treatment for heartworms can be extremely expensive and is tough for your pet.

Let’s be honest here. I balked at the cost for years, thinking the risk was low. I finally came around, though, when my dogs had issues with whipworms. My vet explained that the heartworm medicine also combats other worms. From that day forward, I kept them on heartworm medicine year-round and never had any issues.

One last note: I do not give Kiki and Maddy heartworm medicine. They are strictly indoor cats. The odds are very, very slim that they will come in contact with mosquitoes. Discuss this decision with your vet, though. You may live in an area where the risk is much greater.

Gear

The key here is to shop around and look in unusual places. Here are some places where I have saved money:

Dollar Tree: I found a collapsible food/water bowl there for, yes, $1. It is not super fancy, but it is sturdy enough. It actually holds water better than the Outward Hound version I reviewed in an earlier blog.

Family Dollar: You can find stainless steel pet bowls for around $3 here. I prefer stainless steel because it is more durable and easier to clean than plastic. I worry about chemicals leaching from plastic into the food, but then I tend to obsess about those things.

Tractor Supply: This store carries farm supplies. They also have a decent selection of dog gear. Basic collars and leashes are cheaper here than at PetSmart. Keep that in mind, especially if you have a puppy who will go through several during the first year. If you have this particular chain store or one like it in your area, check it out. You might be surprised at what you find.

Wal-Mart: Their selection of pet toys grows each day. Gracie loves a $3 hedgehog I bought there. I also found other deals on their website. They will ship most products free to a store near you.

Lastly, consider making your own pet beds. If you can sew a rectangular pillow case, you can make a pet bed. I look in remnant bins at fabric and craft stores. For stuffing, you can go super cheap and buy a $7 bag of cedar shavings. (You could fill several beds with one bag.) You can also find use poly stuffing or buy a piece of foam.

As with other expenses in life, you have to do a little work to find the best deals.  They are out there, though.  Good luck!

Rescue Mommy

The Costs of Pet Ownership - Part I

Before you consider adopting a pet, please review your economic situation. That statement may sound cold. It is not meant that way. Pets can be expensive. It would be irresponsible of me to not start the conversation this way. Let’s review some of the costs:

The Initial Purchase

Purchasing a purebred dog or cat from a responsible breeder is expensive. You could easily spend between $500 to $1,000 and more on the pet. If you go this route, I urge you to do the research and adopt from a responsible breeder. Puppy mills are despicable enterprises. Do not support them!

Please consider adopting a rescued pet. Believe it or not, shelters sometimes have purebred pets surrendered to them. Also, many breeds have rescue groups. If your heart is set on a particular breed, check the Internet for a rescue group.

A rescued pet is actually a bargain. At minimum, they have had their first set of shots. They have been spayed or neutered. Some rescue groups even negotiate with local vets to provide one free vet exam.

For example, when I adopted Gracie, she was up to date on all of her shots. She had been dewormed. She was spayed. The shelter implanted a microchip prior to her leaving. Her “welcome” packet included a coupon for a free grooming visit, a DVD on pet training, and coupons for food. They gave me a week’s supply of her current food, so I could transition her to a new food without tummy troubles.

If I had taken her to my vet for the shots, I estimate the cost at around $120. Having her spayed would have been another $300 to $400. Her adoption fee was $85. Let me repeat that - $85.

The Vet Visits

If you adopt a puppy or kitten, the first year is expensive. Both animals usually require at least two visits to the vet. Depending upon rates in your area, that can cost anywhere from $60 to $100 per visit.

Even if you adopt a puppy or kitten from a shelter, you still may need one visit to the vet for a set of booster shots. Also, please spay/neuter your pet, if it was not already altered before you got it.

If you adopt a pet who is more than one year old, he or she may have all of the required shots. A visit to the vet would still be a good idea so that you can double check for any problems.

The Gear

Here is a list of the basic essentials you will need:

Cats:

• Litter box, litter scoop, and kitty litter.
• Collar and tag.
• Two bowls – one for water, one for food
• Food
• Toys (lest your furniture be the toy)

Dogs:

• Collar and leash. Harness would be nice but not totally essential.
• Portable crate and bed
• Two bowls – one for water, one for food
• Toys (lest your shoes, furniture, carpet, et cetera, be the toy)
• Piddle Pads (every pet will have an accident; these work better than newspaper)
• Food

Again, this list only shows the bare necessities. You can easily spend a fortune on your pet.

In the next posting, I will discuss ways to save on all of the above.

Rescue Mommy

The Joys of Pet Ownership

It is 2:30 a.m. A fierce thunderstorm is raging outside. Flashes of lightning illuminate the bedroom. Thunder shakes the windows. Gracie is terrified.

She paces back and forth on the bed, panting and shaking. No matter what we do, nothing consoles her. Finally, she dives under the covers and claws her way to the foot of the bed. Occasionally, she pops out from under the covers and resumes her pacing routine on the bed. This little dance continues for the next hour.

It is 6:30 a.m. Kiki barfs a monstrous hairball near the bed. Gracie clamors to get off the bed, wanting to investigate. After many frantic shouts of “NOOOOO!!!” she desists and settles onto the bed.

It is 7:10 a.m. After an unsettled night’s sleep, I stumble into the living room. Gracie shows me that one of the cats has left a revenge poo-poo near her dog bed. Nice.

I wrestle with Gracie for a few minutes as I try to wiggle her into her harness. We go for our morning walk, which lasts almost an hour today. The storm has apparently washed away the pollen and exposed lots of fascinating smells. Also, Gracie must scold the evil dogs across the way for several minutes. She puffs her chest, snorts, and growls in her best Rottie imitation.

So, I ask you: are you truly ready to become a pet owner? The above is just a small glimpse of what you will experience. Yes, pets enrich our lives and bring so much joy. You also have to deal with the dirty, messy stuff, just as you do in your own life.

If you have a cat, kitty litter will be sprinkled throughout your house like magical fairy dust. Thanks to hairballs, cats barf more than dogs. Projectile vomiting seems to be their favorite way of doing it too. Last weekend, someone decided the living room curtains needed a “stripe.” Will it bother you to find random “presents” throughout your house?

If you have a dog, you must provide her with plenty of exercise and potty breaks. A consistent schedule reduces accidents – and destruction of the household. Are you prepared to stick to that schedule, even after a night I described above?

Pet ownership is a serious commitment. You are responsible for another life. We hardcore pet owners liken it to having children. Are you ready for the responsibility? If you are thinking about adding a pet to your family, please review the blog this week.

Also, many pets are being surrendered because their owners can no longer afford them. In this week’s blog, we will discuss the costs and present some ideas that might help you keep your pet.

Please share your thoughts and suggestions after each posting.

Rescue Mommy and Daddy

Merry Christmas!!!

We hope you and your family (human and furry) has a safe, happy, and warm Christmas. Snuggle close and enjoy all the joys of the season.


Rescue Mommy & Daddy

The Dog Whisperer - Cesar Millan

Cesar Millan, the self-proclaimed “Dog Whisperer,” has a successful TV show, best-selling books, training DVDs, a magazine, and probably lots of other merchandise in the pipeline. His methods, though, are much maligned by trainers and others in the pet community.

I confess that I own three of his books: Be the Pack Leader, Cesar’s Way, and How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond. I also own a books by other trainers who advocate methods different from Cesar’s. Which method do I prefer? I prefer a mixture of both, actually.

I wholeheartedly agree with his critics that dominance is an archaic theory. The idea that “control” of the animal is achieved by lording over it, demanding submission, lost popularity long ago. In my opinion, our furry friends respond much better to more modern methods that achieve results by using natural instincts and play to teach desired behaviors.

I also disagree with the use of choke and shock collars. It breeds fear and distrust. It is interesting that, in his book Be the Pack Leader, Mr. Millan himself states that these collars are good if used by a proper trainer. The problem, though, is that few people actually do know how to properly use these devices. In the hands of an inexperienced trainer, I fear these tools create a ticking time bomb. Who pays for these training mistakes? The animal.

However, I do like some of his methods. Your pet is first and foremost an animal, not a miniature human. I cringe whenever I see a dog dressed in a tutu and carried around like an accessory. Buy a doll, for crying out loud! Don’t subject that poor animal to such stupidity.

Yes, you should have “rules, boundaries, and limitations.” They establish a structure and security that your furry friend will appreciate.

I find that his “calm assertive energy” theory is very true. To whip Gracie into a frenzied state, all I have to do is bark and howl. Soon, she is growling, barking, and howling. If I race around the room, she will too. Should I be upset that she does this? No, I induced it. I brought the anxious energy into the room.

I also agree that people often need more training than pets. I can read all the books in the world and attend lots of obedience classes. Unless I am committed to putting those techniques into action, it makes no difference.

I do not ascribe to any one training technique. It is my belief that you should educate yourself about lots of different methods, talk to professionals if you can, and develop your own personal plan that works best for your friend. Use love, not force or humiliation. And, most importantly of all, keep an open mind.

Rescue Mommy

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue

Starting this week, we will highlight a cat and dog from Brother Wolf Animal Rescue on our new “Adopt Me” page. We hope you or someone you know finds a special friend.

Brother Wolf is based in Asheville, NC. They are the largest no-kill shelter in our area. When they take an animal, it either stays at their shelter or enters a foster home. The animal will never be euthanized.

This year, they have found homes for over 1,800 pets. This phenomenal success comes from the hard work and dedication of the Bitz sisters and their team of shelter staff and volunteers. They also have great support from the pet care community as well as average citizens committed to pet adoption.

We cannot say enough good things about this organization. Please consider adopting your next family friend from a shelter or rescue group like Brother Wolf. If you are interested in learning more about them, please visit their website at bwar.org.

Rescue Mommy & Daddy

Lands' End Squall Snow Pants

OK, the Lands’ End commercial continues.

I had been looking at these pants for weeks. During Black Friday, they had a good sale, so I purchased them. Oh, where have you been all my life?

Lest you think I am a total wimp, I can handle average winter temperatures just fine. I draw the line, though, at 0 to 20 degrees, with 30 mph winds and wind chills below zero. Add a bunch of snow. That is intolerable.

These pants are fantastic. When Rescue Daddy and I were shoveling snow, I was actually hot. Yes, HOT – in 15 degree weather, with driving wind!

The pants are lined with Thinsulate. The exterior fabric is some sort of tight weave material that blocks wind and stays dry in the snow. The pants do not feel that thick, but they really provide a lot of warmth. When I have worn the pants subsequent times, I have not needed thermal underwear underneath.

The waistband features Velcro tabs that allow you to adjust the waistline. This is a great feature because the sizes seem to be a bit big.

While the pants seem like a bit of a splurge, they are cheaper than other ski-type pants I have seen. As I said on Wednesday, when you are freezing outside, you would be willing to pay any price for warmth. Put these pants on your Christmas wish list.

Rescue Mommy

Lands' End Snow Pack Boots

As I mentioned last week, I have been upgrading my winter gear. Last year’s brutal winter was just too much. Unfortunately, this year is not looking all that great either.

I bought these boots two weeks ago. They are fantastic!! On Monday, wind chills were at zero and below. My feet were warm and dry.

The boots have a faux shearling lining from top to bottom. The top of the foot is covered in seemingly waterproof rubber. The upper part of the boot is suede-like.

The boots are a bit heavy. You will need to wear a thick pair of socks because, like most snow boots, the shoe is a bit “generous” in sizing. However, I would highly recommend these boots if you are looking for something to keep your feet toasty.

Yes, they are a bit pricey. Check Lands’ Ends’ site though. They have offered some really great deals lately. Plus, let’s face it. When you are standing in a foot of snow, with 50 mph winds, how much would you pay for warm feet?

Rescue Mommy

Snow Report

We are in the middle of our second storm in a week. Ridiculous!

We lost Internet access Sunday afternoon. Fortunately, we have not lost electricity and hope we will not.

We have at least 8 inches at this point, more in the drifts. Frankly, it is too cold to check. Who wants to stand outside to do it?

We hope you are warm and safe wherever you are!

Rescue Mommy & Daddy

CPR Class for Pets - Yes, Pets

The local chapter of the American Red Cross offers a CPR class for pets. Yes, some family members rolled their eyes when they heard we were taking this class.

It was really interesting. They offered helpful information about preparing a home emergency kit for your pet. We learned how to check our pets’ pulse and administer CPR. It was particularly good to learn what specifically to do with a little dog, since Gracie is much smaller than our previous two dogs.

We received a quick reference book that contains color pictures and diagrams. It also has a DVD that reviews the same techniques and procedures discussed in the class.

If you are interested in learning a little more about caring for your pet, we recommend you check with your local chapter. It is worth a few hours of your time.

Rescue Mommy & Daddy

Motion Sickness in Dogs

Someone asked me recently if I had any recommendations for helping her dog with motion sickness. Here are a few things I have read or heard about over the years:

• Bach’s Rescue Remedy and other homeopathic remedies: I have heard that these homeopathic remedies can be effective. The same remedies you use to alleviate anxiety could help with motion sickness. Ingredients such as ginger and valerian might help.

• Dramamine: Absolutely talk with your vet before administering this medicine. He/she can tell you the correct dosage. Never, ever guess about the dosage.

• A crate: If your pet is secure, it could alleviate anxiety. Plus, let’s be honest. If your dog is in a crate, it restricts the area on which he/she will vomit.

• Cerenia: This drug is AMAZING. It is produced by Pfizer and must be obtained from your vet. It can be a bit pricey and should not be used long term.

I used this drug with Perdy and Dino whenever cancer gave them tummy troubles. It completely stopped vomiting. It is meant specifically for motion sickness but helped them tremendously.

Always discuss any remedy you want to try with your vet before administering.

If you have any suggestions, please post a comment. Good luck!

Rescue Mommy

Land's End Down Parka

Whoopie – winter is here! (I say that with great sarcasm.) Last winter was absolutely brutal here. After years of mild winters, we had cold temperatures and snow earlier and longer in the season. The 30-minute, twice daily walks with Gracie made me long for better winter gear.

One purchase I made was a Land’s End down parka. It is fantastic. The cuffs have fleece on the inside, which gives a nice illusion of warmth in frigid temperatures. The fabric is also water resistant. I tested it once again on Saturday when we had pouring rain/sleet/snow.

I mention this because I have spotted some great deals on their website. You might want to whisper a wish for a parka in Santa’s ear. You will love it if you take long walks with your buddy – or are just tired of being cold!

Rescue Mommy

Upgrades Coming

Thanks to everyone who has visited our website.  We have had a lot of hits lately.

We have been working on more upgrades for our website.  You may notice that we added a page for archived Photos of the Week.  We hope you enjoy the new page.  Stay tuned for more enhancements!

Rescue Mommy and Daddy

New Website to Check Out

Have you ever read “The Bark” magazine? Well, you do not necessarily need a subscription. They feature interesting articles and have lots of helpful information on their website. Check it out at http://www.thebark.com/


Rescue Mommy