Would you consider it to be cruel if I didn't get my dog's shots every year? Read my story, first...?

Question

My friend's grandma wants to give away her black lab. She's maybe 1-2 yrs old. They also have 2 other dogs. To start off, this dog is kept in a 4x6 kennel 24/7 and she's never been on a leash. A few days ago, I took her out a few times to get her some exercise and she did very well on the leash. Anyway, they don't feed her enough. She's really skinny and lanky lookin' and you can easily see her ribs... I live in Louisiana, so she must have heartworms with all the mosquitos here... I feel really sorry for her and I like her. But would you consider it mean if I were to take her and give her exercise, food, and love for the years she has left. But we may not be able to afford her shots every year... Maybe rabies shots, but that's it... I would keep her in a 10x10 ft kennel, but would see her, feed her, and exercise her every day. I already have my own dog, and they like each other. We're getting my dog fixed soon. I really love animals, and I hate to see her like this. Should I take her?

And also, they never clean her kennel and it's muddy in there. And I'm 15 and homeschooled and have all the time in the world to walk her and care for her....I just want to know if you would think it would be mean to not get her shots every year....

Oh, and there aren't any no-kill shelters around here that I could bring her to, but I just figured it would be nice to let her live her last years with someone who loves and cares for her, even though she wouldn't get her shots yearly....

Well, it's my /friend's/ grandma...

And let me just say that I had a dog who recently died this year from heartworm treatment... I loved that dog like a brother and I cried for days and I still miss him badly.... That's why I don't want to go through heartworm treatment again... Never again.... =/

Haha, shelter, my butt.... Sorry, if I sound mean, it's just that the shelter here doesn't treat dogs for that. They just take the dogs in and put them to sleep if they're not adopted in a few days...

Thanks, all. =) And, yes, I'm talking my mom into it right now. xD She said I've gotta let her think for a couple days. My parents are divorced, so it's just my mum... =P And to put ads in the paper is free. =P

Answer 1

Yes, I say take the dog.

Vaccinations are not as neccessary as many people believe or as vets want you to believe. For example, it's almost pointless to spend the $50 on the kennel cough vaccination because kennel cough is quite similar to the flu for humans. There are hundreds of strains of the flu and even if you receive "this year's" flu vaccine, there's no defense against last years flu virus. As an older dog, her immune system and capability to fight off things like Parvo is very strong. So a Parvo vaccine is also not an absolute must. MANY rescue groups and breeders will agree that we are causing more danger to our pets by shoving them full of these vaccines than if we were not. Rabies is farely inexpensive and is a good vaccine to give; mainly because the effects are irreversable.

As for the heartworm. It is highly possible she is infected. She sounds to be in a similar condition to a dog I recently saved as a stray who was heartworm positive. I have a friend whose dog tested positive and despite 4 treatments and monthly prevention is still positive. His last positive test was 10 years ago but he's still alive and kicking.

You may want to check out www.uan.org That website will allow you to apply for a veterinary grant to help cover the cost of any treatment she needs (such as heartworm treatment). With a paper route or some other "on the side job" you could get her the treatment she will need if she is infact positive.

Answer 2

This dog is in serious need of some proper care. If it is really skinny, you do not want 2 get it's shots right away as the dogs immunity is probably low from filth and malnourishment. You can go to the local farm supply store and buy a 5 in 1 shot and give yourself just under the skin on the back of the neck area. Read directions carefully. The shot here where i live is 5.00.
I would get a bit of weight on it first. My vet will not give the vaccinations if they are very malnourished is why i tell u this.If u can afford 2 get a 5.00 shot and do it yourself, and can afford some good dogfood, by all means get the dog, but if u have 2 struggle to feed and care for it then i suggest u re think the matter.

Answer 3

Make sure that she gets her rabies shots because of the law. She might make it without the other shots because some of the diseases are puppy diseases. When I was growing up in the country, rabies is all we got for our dogs and they did just fine. You can order her some heartworm meds from petshed.com. It won't hurt to give them to her even if she has heartworms. These meds only kill the larva, not the actual worms. If there is a feed store near you, they usually sells vaccines that you can give to the dog yourself. I don't think it would be mean to keep her and not give her all the shots. Many dogs have it a lot worse. Labs are so sweet.

Answer 4

You're doing a nice thing caring for this dog.
There is alot of controversy about how often dogs need to be vaccinated. Many folks believe that dogs get shots too often, and they do a "titers" test. They analyze a blood sample and test the dog's immunities to different diseases. If the titers comes back OK, they don't vaccinate. Otherwise they vaccinate, but the controversy still remains - how much, how often. Unfortunately, titers usually costs the same as vaccinating. You might be able to find a low cost clinic that does vaccinations or titers. Keep your eyes open for this.
Rabies shots are usually required by law. There's also controversy about this (1 year, 3 years), but it's not worth the risk to avoid this. If your dog bites someone and you can't prove his rabies shots are current, he will be put down in addition to other troubles you might be in.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.

Answer 5

DO your parents approve? Of course you want to take her and I don't blame you, I would be torn too!
But unless you have mum or dads approval it will be almost imposable and emotionally draining to keep her!
Maybe you should consider this, Take her and get a small part time job, Newspaper delivery, Ice cream store. That will give you the cash to save for Dog Wants New Home Adds in the local newspaper. Or it will give you the extra money for a couple more shots. Hey! apply at a veterinary hospital to clean cages on the week end. My daughter did it when she was a kid, now she is a nurse!


P.S I can tell you have a really nice heart condition! Good Luck

Answer 6

There is much debate about this. Some vets now suggest that vaccination every three years is sufficient as vaccination suppresses the animal's immune system for a time as it produces the antibodies to the virus. Others recommend vaccination yearly. The vaccination protects and each time the animal comes into contact with the virus, some of the vaccination "wears off". Personally, I vaccinate every three years but only if they are kept on their own property and there are no strays wandering and any visiting animals have had shots too.

Answer 7

I don't think it would be cruel, "since vaccines are actually lasting longer" rabies every 3 years now. But... if you are going to own a dog, you should be able to take proper care of it.
If she has heartworms, she needs heartworm treatment, and then needs to be put on prevention medication.
However if you can provide BETTER than what she's getting and your Grand Mother WANTS her to go, "at least it's more than what she's got" Any improvement in her life would mean SOMETHING I think.

Answer 8

If you can't provide proper vet care for the dog, do not consider taking it. If it has heartworm, it definitely needs vet care. Also, it needs all its years shots. Take the dog to an animal shelter where it will receive the treatment it needs and a proper home.

Answer 9

I think you are doing a wonderful thing!!
Believe it or not the Veterinary Medical Board has recommended that healthy adult dogs be vaccinated every other year. That's what the clinic where I work has been doing for about 2 years now. Unless the dog has other medical conditions. Puppies have to have all the puppy boosters and then another set of boosters a year later, but after that, every other year.
So, no worries. And good for you doing that for the doggie.

Answer 10

I would be the same way. When I was a kid my parents never gave any of our pets any shots. Fortunately none of our dogs got sick.. That was until I moved out and got a puppy. I was going to do everything my parents didnt do. I made an appointment for him to get his shots and 2 days before he went to the vet he came down with parvo.. He almost died. I would say to keep the dog but do your very best to try and save the money to be able to get your dog the shots it needs.