Abandoned dogs- is there assistance with intial expenses?
A few months ago two very sweet dogs, a black lab and golden retriever were abandoned when some renters down the street moved out. We watched them hunt through the trash, chase cars, and freak out during thunderstorms- and decided to take them in. We spent days cutting out huge matted fur clumps out of the Golden, Bones, and invested in shampoos, quality food and any other essentials we could afford. They need to be professionally groomed at least once and looked over (shots, dewormed, general health assessment). The lab needs to be fixed. I have heard that there are clinics that have discounts or offer free services in these cases, but I seem to keep coming to dead ends…any advice- we have bonded with the dogs and want to make them well- but need help with the initial expenses.
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Have you tried calling your local SPCA to see if they could recommend anything for you? I haven’t ever really heard of anything, but if there is something, they would know it.
Call around to vet’s offices and your animal shelter. I know some vet’s offices here often have 1 day a week for low-cost neuter & spays. Ask if there are any groups that foster animals. I know of people who have taken in abandoned animals in my area and got help with with food & vet care in a “foster situation.” One of them ended up adopting the animal herself.
My community has an animal outreach program that offers lowcost spaying/neutering, vaccinations and other health services.
Yes, maybe check with your shelters.
I don’t know of any such service. It is exactly the reason why rescue groups are always begging for donations.
Bless you for adopting them and hopefully you will find a sympathetic vet at the very least. I have 3 dogs and I know how expensive it is. Most vets now are grudgingly admitting that DHLP shots are not necessary each year, now advocating every 3 years. So perhaps you can let that one go, I would get rabies (or do you know what vet they were taken to in the past, you could check to see when last rabies shot was given), heart worm meds are important in most locations, and yes desexing for sure. I know some Americans who order worming meds from Australia because you don’t need a script and they are cheaper even with the postage.
Again, good on ya matey!
@rooeytoo I order heartworm and flea meds from Australia. I’ve been doing it for years.He gets checked by the vet every year for heartworms and twice a year for other stuff, but I don’t buy my meds from the vet.
@netgrrl – it amazes me because I find so many things here double and triple the USA cost but apparently animal meds are a bargain here. That is good news!
I would not expect so, but I could be wrong. Ask your vet.
Check with all the local animal rescues for aid. See if they sell the deal (check up, shots, and neuter) that you would have to pay (adoption fee) if you had adopted the dogs from them. Check by calling a few vets and asking your question. Find out when the special spay and neuter days are being held.
Call animal control in the city or county where you live.
I am sure the dogs are happy to be with you and I would think the community does have some help.
At the very least, most locations in the US have very low cost spay/neuter programs. Some have voucher programs others do them on mass spay days once or twice a month.
To find out where in any location, I’ve used a two prong approach.
I first put low cost spay neuter along with my zipcode into Google.
I also post an ad in the pet section of the local craigs list asking for advice from other pet owners in the local area. They can also clue you in to local rescue groups and shelters and the best vets.
Then it’s just a matter of spending a day or two calling every resource on the list you’ve amassed and taking good notes. You can really save a tremendous amount of money this way. Well worth the research.
I found a place that did monthly spays and got my cat done for $20.00. Yes the zero is in the correct place.
In past years when I lived in Philly it only cost me 40 for a voucher and a list of vets accepting it as full payment.
From my Craigslist ad I found a really good vet with a modest office facility who relies on word of mouth advertising and routinely charges 30–50 percent less than most others around here.
A little research and dedicated phone time really pays off and always has for me.
I also received the names of several other area vets with excellent reputations and reasonable modest (not dirt cheap) pricing in case I or my current vet moves.
There may be a lot of scams going on in other Craigslist sections but the pet people usually help one another out with advice.
Good for you for being willing to help these dogs. Usually the smaller rescue groups can steer you to vets willing to work with you pricewise as they themselves are on a shoestring budget.
Good luck. Where there’s a will there’s a way.
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