Is there a way to get a dog without all the expenses?

Question

I know this is very unrealistic but I'm desperate for dog.

people ok u obvisouly think that i can't afford one ok I know has to eat and the vet and all that but I am talking about up front cost to get one sorry for the misunderstanding

Answer 1

Go to your local pound or animal shelter. At the pound it costs very little and you could get a very nice dog. We have a pekingese we picked up from the pound. He was already house trained and had all his shots. It cost $30. It is much safer than picking up a stray because they check the animal at the pound and will not adopt them out if they are sick.

Answer 2

Which expenses are you trying to avoid? Food and veterinary care are (financially at least) the most expensive parts of owning a dog. I sincerely hope you don't plan to deny your dog either of those.

Look also into the cost of training classes. Whether your dog is from a breeder or a rescue, it is unlikely to be perfectly trained when you get it. Unless you know exactly what you are doing, classes are definitely a good idea. An untrained or badly trained dog is a nuisance at best (at worst, downright dangerous).

If you mean the expense of the initial purchase, then you'll find dogs in rescue much cheaper than one from a breeder, but even then, they're not free.

If you want to spend time in the company of dogs, without the expense, why not help out at your local rescue? They would no doubt be very grateful for your help, plus you would probably learn a lot about dogs so that when you are in a position to spend your money, you can be a better dog owner.

Good luck.

Answer 3

More than the initial cost for a puppy think long-term:

Annual exams, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery and unexpected treatment for bee-stings or accidents cost you hundreds of $$$ Pet Insurance is smart but will cost you an extra $150 a year on average.

Food and treats, lots of chews and chew toys for a puppy. Collars (a puppy will grow out of several), leashes and ID tag.

Grooming expenses or at least the cost of shampoos and brushes.

Training and maybe boarding fees if you are not lucky enough to have people you trust watch your dog if your away from home.

I know how it feels to want a dog badly but there is nothing worse than having a sick pet and not being able to afford medical care or feeling bad for feeding your dog the cheapest grocery store food.

I would volunteer at a rescue organization maybe even foster a dog. Yo would be doing a great thing for a dog in need, getting them ready for a forever home while the medical costs and an allowance for food are usually paid for by the Rescue (make sure you inquire before hand).

Answer 4

I know what you're saying... It seems like you have to shell out several hundred dollars to get a dog, unless you can find a free puppies sign. The initial cost is definitely something you should think about. Usually a dog from the pound is around $100, if you can't afford to pay around that much at least once a year, you really can't afford to have a pet. It's amazing how much you'll end up spending on shots, worm medicine, neutering/spaying, food and medical emergencies. Seriously consider whether you could afford all of that before you even consider looking for a dog.

Answer 5

Breeders and pet stores are definitely out. Even most shelters/rescues require some sort of payment - many costly. Although the cost of getting a dog from a shelter or rescue is to help cover the dogs vet bills and spay or neuter, so those might be expenses you'd have down the road anyway. Plus you get the added bonus of helping a dog in need. Your best bet is looking in classifieds, but you may not find a pure bred.

Answer 6

Maybe you need to go through some of the questions here and read about the questions from people who have dogs that are sick and dying or have broken legs or other severe injuries and they have no money for a vet, every time I read I want to cry knowing how much the dog is suffering and I am angry with the owner for just letting their dogs suffer. If you cannot afford right now do not get a dog, wait till you can . Far better than getting a dog having it get sick and watching it suffer and die

Answer 7

it's not going to be cheap. you could look into getting a dog from a pound, but often those dogs were neglected and may require that you spend more money at the vet. i would recommend trying to find a puppy from a pound, or buy directly from the breeder because pet stores buy from breeders and then raise the price. plus, if you look for a breeder yourself, you can make sure they are reputable, certified, and knowledgable and get the healthiest puppy with the best temperment. also, don't get a dog with extremely long or fluffy hair because this requires professional grooming. as for food, the healthiest (and even cheapest) thing to do is feed raw meat (because this is natural to the animal) that you can buy from a butcher. the butcher may throw out certain parts of the meat that the dog will actually like best, like the neck of a chicken, and will sell these to you for low prices. dogs actually not require that you buy many toys either. you can put a not in the middle of a rag and use it as a tug-of-war toy, or give your dog old stuffed animals.
dogs don't necessarily have to be that expensive. like i said, find a breeder and you can get a dog for about $300. i think it's worth all the money. but definitely, before you buy a dog make sure that you can afford to help your dog in a medical emergency which can be extremely costly...

Answer 8

Well, with a dog comes many responsibilities and unfortunately caring for a dog is also costly. There is no way that you won't spend ANY money on this dog, but there are ways to cut your expenses. Start off by adopting a dog, rather than purchasing one. Usually when you adopt a dog they are already dewormed, and given their necessary vaccinations, and they'll pay for the first vet visit. Right there you already cut expenses on getting the actual dog, and on its health. Maybe some of your friends have leashes, beds, and cages they don't use anymore so you can get that from them. Also, learn to how to bathe your dog properly, and you'll save on grooming expenses. Basically, you be spending money on food and future vet visits.

Answer 9

Yes, there are...if you mean the cost of purchasing a dog. People are always giving away cross-bred puppies - at least in this area. HOWEVER.....if you don't want to pay for the cost of a dog and it's vaccinations, etc., because it is too expensive, you might want to rethink getting a dog until you can afford it, even though it might be tempting. If you are strapped for cash and the dog needs veterinary care (and all pets wind up needing care at some point) then you'd be out of luck paying for it. There is nothing worse than having a sick pet and having to decide it's fate based upon lack of finances.

One suggestion I have is...if you miss having a dog in your life but cannot afford one at the moment, perhaps volunteering to walk dogs at an animal shelter would fill that gap in the interim.

Answer 10

If you really want a dog, didn't you say you were desperate for one then go to the nearest pound or animal shelter and get one, here you pay considerably less and save a life. The pets are already fixed and some even have up to date shots. My dog came from the humane society and I haven't regretted a minute of it. He actually has saved my life. Good luck there are a lot of dogs that need someone to love.

Answer 11

if you go to a rescue centre, you might find a dog who is already vaccinated and neutered. But think realistically. If you're really skint, will you able to afford food and a bed for the dog? A lead? Flea treatment? Vet bills if it's ill or injured? Harsh as it is, dogs cost alot, so be responsible and dont get one if you cant afford to give it a good life.

If you're in the UK, try contacting the Cinnamon Trust. If you become a volunteer you can look after other people's dogs when the owner is in hospital, walk dogs for elderly people etc, without the expense and commitment of getting your own, and also helping others who cant look after their pets

http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/