Resolved Question: Before I get a Golden…?
I’d like to know what I’m getting into.
(OMG! Look! A question about a dog BEFORE the clueless owner actually obtains it!)
So, I’m no stranger to animals and animal care. I’ve never surrendered an animal, but I have taken several out of shelters and have been adopted by several strays over the years. Right now I’ve got two hard-luck case cats (15 years old, got them at 8 weeks) who were the offspring of a stray someone at work found, and one younger cat (9 years old) who enjoys taunting the senior citizen felines.
My kids (7 and 9) REALLY want a dog, and hubby is a big dog person, too. I wouldn’t be too adverse, IF the dog can control himself. My mom has a neurotic rescue sheltie / pom type who goes completely insane when there’s a knock at the door, or when she runs the vacuum…the poor dog was beaten, and now tries to rip the throat out of any human male who crosses her path. And Shelties are not quiet little things to begin with. Try having one with PTSD.
So I’ve been thinking about a Golden, or maybe just the right Lab. Silly me, I thought people still gave dogs away. You know, “Free to good home?” I wasn’t looking for an AKC-registered show dog, just…a dog, a mutt that looks like a darned Golden, a nice retriever who might like to romp with the kids and go to agility for fun.
I’d volunteered for things like no-kill shelters, even got certified to work with animals in disaster situations. So I’m thinking I should get a shelter dog, save a life, all that good stuff.
$200. Two HUNDRED bucks, for a stray dog! A grown stray, I might add, who just may have all kinds of weird stuff in their background, who might be a PTSD case as well. For shelters that are overflowing with Pits. (And I’m sure there are people who love their Pitties, but I’m just not looking for that breed. A lot of them sure get dumped!) Hop on PetFinder and you’re looking at $200 MINIMUM. Rescue groups want minimum donations of $500, and that’s for a dog with a heart murmur who will die in a year!
Now I’m not sure WHAT to do. The shelters don’t seem to have anything other than Pits, the pet stores are working with puppy mills (inbred, sick dog, anyone?) and apparently, so is PetFinder. Had a VERY bad experience with them…they’re listing a dog as up for adoption when she ISN’T, and the person selling her flippantly says, “You can always get one of the other dogs, you know.”
Am I just totally out of line, here? I now feel like ANY dog is going to cost hundreds of dollars no matter what, might very well come with all kinds of illnesses attached, and that an actual breeder ($800+) is going to be my better bet on a dog that won’t have a mental illness or a debilitating physical illness that will require more money than good sense to try and treat.
It all started off so simple. Midwest family with two kids seeking companion dog. Would rather spend money on dog’s care, not lining the pockets of the scary puppymill people selling the dog…and suddenly I’m looking at $800 dogs.
What happened?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:06:48 GMT

Open Question: Whos read the book ’scarlet letter’?

Voting Question: Am I DQed from enlisting?

Open Question: Am i having a stroke?

Open Question: Weird thoughts about death?

Animal Collective - Cuckoo Cuckoo (Malta Festival 2006)

Open Question: My family has a genetic heart disease and our parents wont tell us what its called, please help!?

Open Question: Would you be concerned about a Grade 2 heart murmur in a 6 week old Golden Retriever?