Latest intake

SacramentoPugs wrote:We have a very active pet food bank at our shelter. Anyone can ask for pet food, and we don't ask for any kind of proof of income. Many folks I've met on fixed incomes (whether it's unemployment, disability, or SSI) will share their own food with their pets if they can't afford pet food, so having free pet food available is important.

I totally get where you're coming from with not wanting folks on welfare to adopt. I do, truly. But over the years I've found that some of them are the very best pet owners in the world, possibly because they spend time with their pets 24/7. When something goes wrong medically, I've seen them borrow money, sell a car, etc. to treat their beloved pet. And I've seen people dripping with money who live in gorgeous homes and drive $100,000 cars act stunned when they learn how much a (minor) procedure will cost for their sick/injured animal, and surrender it to the shelter instead. I guess I think it's more about the individuals involved.

I wish EVERYONE, regardless of income, would think through getting a pet before acquiring one. That will probably happen around the same time that monkeys fly out of my butt...

No argument from me. Hands down, the bulk of the dogs that get surrendered to us are from people who CAN afford them, but choose not to. And I also know some good animal owners who are on fixed incomes. My concern comes from what ends up being a semi-vicious cycle--Person on limited income can't afford to get dog from breeder (or rescue in many cases) so goes to the paper, the internet etc and gets a very cheap dog or a dog for free. Up here, that usually means the dog has some issues--either medical or behavioural. And so the person on the fixed income gets a dog (most often) that is a bit of a sinkhole for money.

I worked with youth on the street for many years and quite a few of them had dogs. And quite a few took pretty decent care of those dogs--but it helped that our health clinic's receptionist's partner was a vet and she would come in twice a year and do free vaccinations, fecal and blood work. And we ran a pet food bank.

I think many people, well heeled or not, don't put much thought into getting a dog or a cat. I wish that would change, but it doesn't seem to be likely any time soon. I only know how very hard my clients on GWA and ODSP struggle to keep themselves adequately fed, clothed and housed and I can't imagine adding a pet to that level of financial hardship. I've spent years helping folks on gov't assistance navigate the system and I always advise them not to take on another living being when they are already up against the wall.

In Ontario, you have to dispose of ALL your assets before you qualify for any gov't assistance (although ODSP is more lenient) so cars, houses, etc MUST be sold and the money must be used for you to live on before you qualify for assistance--and if you borrow money from someone and the GWA or ODSP folks find out about it, you can be cut off permanently and charged with fraud or have your cheques cut down or stopped by the amount of money you borrowed.

[/quote]I think many people, well heeled or not, don't put much thought into getting a dog or a cat. I wish that would change, but it doesn't seem to be likely any time soon. [/quote]





Blanche I don't see how that can change, although I'd like it to also......

people don't put much thought into reproducing, so why would they think twice about an animal? it's sad....

Well, we had a bit of a scare with blood work that had some off results and they wanted to do bile acid tests to check for a shunt.

Good news is NO SHUNT and surgery to fix his leg will be done today and they've already started him on ivermectin for the mange. He should be in his foster home on Friday!

Very good news! Sending positive thoughts and prayers that his leg heals fast and strong, and that the ivermectin does its stuff.

Shunts are terrifying -- so glad he doesn't have one! Blessings to the foster home who's taking a demodex pug recovering from leg surgery. Lucky little pug.