Comments on: The Puppy Tax http://www.jeanchatzky.com/topics/budgeting/the-puppy-tax/ Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:43:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: DvGTobin http://www.jeanchatzky.com/topics/budgeting/the-puppy-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-116 DvGTobin Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:50:27 +0000 http://www.jeanchatzky.com/?p=920#comment-116 I have rescued all my animals...3 dogs a cat and two guinea pigs. I must agree with Jean...think long and hard about getting a dog much less another one! I brought two of my dogs to get their annual and it cost me $600. I still have one more to bring, but he's got to wait so I can bring one of my 5 children to the dentist! As much as I adore my pets, it is a juggling act to find inexpensive quality petcare. I am going to our local petstore to get my beagle vaccinated. A $35 savings. Don't buy with your heart (speaking from an empty purse and experience!) I have rescued all my animals…3 dogs a cat and two guinea pigs. I must agree with Jean…think long and hard about getting a dog much less another one! I brought two of my dogs to get their annual and it cost me $600. I still have one more to bring, but he’s got to wait so I can bring one of my 5 children to the dentist! As much as I adore my pets, it is a juggling act to find inexpensive quality petcare. I am going to our local petstore to get my beagle vaccinated. A $35 savings.

Don’t buy with your heart (speaking from an empty purse and experience!)

]]> By: David http://www.jeanchatzky.com/topics/budgeting/the-puppy-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-106 David Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:01:45 +0000 http://www.jeanchatzky.com/?p=920#comment-106 We love our wacky dog Harry, a mystery breed (lab and shepherd?) we adopted when he was already around 4 years old. He's expensive, to be sure, but we can't imagine life without him. We live in a neighborhood with a very active dog subculture, and know dozens of dogs (and oh, yeah, their owners, too). Recently a friend was fostering an adorable golden retriever named Malka, about one year old, and Harry and I both feel in love with her (I'm talking about the golden). This unbelievably sweet dog was tried and tested, having lived on her own, outdoors, for an estimated six months of Northern winter before being rescued. She had been hit by a car, too, but her broken hind leg had healed- though she would have a limp for the rest of her life. Malka had already run up thousands of dollars in vet bills. Fortunately, my wife overruled both Harry and me, for all the reasons you give. As much fun as it would have been to bring the new girl into the family, this just wasn't the time to do it, especially in a year when we're cutting back on vacations and anything discretionary. Thanks for reminding me... One other thing: Most pet stores get their dogs from puppy mills, not reputable breeders (no matter what they claim). I'm sure your local pet store is an exception, Jean (or you wouldn't be considering it), but I'd like to remind everyone to start at your local shelter, and if you can't fall in love there, then research the breeder you're buying from. We love our wacky dog Harry, a mystery breed (lab and shepherd?) we adopted when he was already around 4 years old. He’s expensive, to be sure, but we can’t imagine life without him.

We live in a neighborhood with a very active dog subculture, and know dozens of dogs (and oh, yeah, their owners, too). Recently a friend was fostering an adorable golden retriever named Malka, about one year old, and Harry and I both feel in love with her (I’m talking about the golden). This unbelievably sweet dog was tried and tested, having lived on her own, outdoors, for an estimated six months of Northern winter before being rescued. She had been hit by a car, too, but her broken hind leg had healed- though she would have a limp for the rest of her life. Malka had already run up thousands of dollars in vet bills.

Fortunately, my wife overruled both Harry and me, for all the reasons you give. As much fun as it would have been to bring the new girl into the family, this just wasn’t the time to do it, especially in a year when we’re cutting back on vacations and anything discretionary. Thanks for reminding me…

One other thing: Most pet stores get their dogs from puppy mills, not reputable breeders (no matter what they claim). I’m sure your local pet store is an exception, Jean (or you wouldn’t be considering it), but I’d like to remind everyone to start at your local shelter, and if you can’t fall in love there, then research the breeder you’re buying from.

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