I have been fostering a dog (for lack of a better term) that belonged to my now deceased elderly friend. I have had issues with this dog, (who is very sweet), not getting along with my old dog (who is also very sweet, except to Poochie). Both dogs, well, HATE each other. It's more than Dog Whisperer issues, it's out and out hate and I've already had a few incidents between the two girls, despite me trying to exercise good canine control.
I've been juggling the two dogs for almost two years. I've been looking for a home for Poochie for the past 18 months when it became apparent my elderly friend was never going to be able to have a pet again due to her chronic health issues. The local breed rescue that I had been trying to work with got some new staff. Actually, they got back an older staffer who was very good at her job. She found Poochie's file and called me over the weekend. Poochie goes for an evaluation on Thursday, they have a potential home!
So keep your fingers crossed. Poochie would do so much better and be the Puppy Princess she was before she came to me.
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Finally A Mystery Shop I Can Do!
I've been a mystery shopper for a couple years. The problem is when you live in the sticks, there are not too many decent shops. There is one, however, for a vet clinic. I shopped it last year and I will shop it agin. The pet in question needs an exam and I need to save some $$$. The shop will pay for the cost of the visit. I've booked the shop and am pleased it is a "useful" shop.
Monday, June 15, 2009
You Have A What?...........................
I've blogged before about my elderly friend who is in bad health. I took on the care and responsibility of one of her dogs. It's been a bit of a chore, mainly because one of my dogs would like to rip off Poochies face. They just don't get along. I have very creative and inventive ways to make sure they both get the time, attention and exercise they need. It can be tiring at times and I have to be very careful. I've already had one incident and it was not pretty.
My elderly friend had a falling out with our mutual friend Dee and has now moved into her own house. She has also spent more time back in the hospital and rehab center for her chronic health issues than she has in her new house. She really can't live alone, but insists she can. Dee and I are waiting for the phone call that is nothing but bad news about our elderly friend, at this point, there is very little we can do. Even her step daughter has sort of thrown up her hands over this.
Imagine my UNhappy surprise when I get an e-mail saying she was cancelling our lunch date for Sunday since she just got out of the hospital (again) and needed to go pick up her dog. EXCUSE ME, Go Pick Up Your Dog? As far as I knew, I have her dog. Seems she somehow convinced one of her old doggie friends to sell/give her a puppy. A 4 month old puppy that needs to be crate trained, house broken, taken to the vets, exercised. All those things puppies need. I have sitting in my house a 6 year old dog that is crate trained, housebroken, current on all her vaccinations, etc that is techincally her dog and not my dog. I took the dog because my elderly friend was unable to take care of herself and her dogs, at the time,she was living with our friend Dee and Dee could not house all the dogs.
This puppy has spent more time back at it's breeders house than it has with my elderly friend. The breeder must be totally blind to not see what a problem Elderly Friend is having. The sad part is the puppy breeder is about the same age as Elderly Friend and admitting to herself that Elderly Friend is unable to care for a puppy would mean the breeder is old too! Elderly friend is in no condition to have a puppy. A well behaved adult, maybe, but a puppy? No way. When I asked Elderly Friend when I could drop off her dog (the one with me) I got a lot of umm, ahh, and finally, I don't think she would be happy with me after living with you. Which I doubt, because in my home she is one of several and does not get the Poochie Princess Treatment.
At this point, I'm trying not to scream, I know Elderly Friend keeps making repeated bad decisions with her life. I won't let this dog suffer because of it, BUT and there is always a BUT. I've spent close to $500 on food, boarding and vet fees on this dog, of which Elderly Friend has given me about $75 for the dogs upkeep. She has promised to give me some cash for the dog, but I have not seen it yet and I doubt I will. Her other animals have been placed out with new homes at her request and two of her dogs are still living with Dee even though she and Dee have had a falling out.
Honestly folks, I took the dog thinking once she got stabilized, the dog would hopefully go back to her. That was the generic plan. Of course life intervened and that went by the wayside. I have my own animals to take care of and like I said, with my dog wanting to rip Poochies face off, it can make for an interesting day.
Grr, now I have to place out an older dog. I'm doing my homework on this, networking, local rescues, the breed rescue, etc. The local rescue contact wants to know if I've contacted the breeder. I've explained that Elderly Friend is the co-breeder and unable to care for the dog, and the other co-breeder had a nervous breakdown and moved to Oregon (which is true) and has totally given up on dogs. A responsible breeder will take back a dog they bred for any reason. I can't really hunt down this woman in Oregon and insist she take back Poochie. I do know for a fact she really did have a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized for it. Ideally, I'm looking for a nice older active retired couple who would love a Poochie Princess. Wish me luck!
My elderly friend had a falling out with our mutual friend Dee and has now moved into her own house. She has also spent more time back in the hospital and rehab center for her chronic health issues than she has in her new house. She really can't live alone, but insists she can. Dee and I are waiting for the phone call that is nothing but bad news about our elderly friend, at this point, there is very little we can do. Even her step daughter has sort of thrown up her hands over this.
Imagine my UNhappy surprise when I get an e-mail saying she was cancelling our lunch date for Sunday since she just got out of the hospital (again) and needed to go pick up her dog. EXCUSE ME, Go Pick Up Your Dog? As far as I knew, I have her dog. Seems she somehow convinced one of her old doggie friends to sell/give her a puppy. A 4 month old puppy that needs to be crate trained, house broken, taken to the vets, exercised. All those things puppies need. I have sitting in my house a 6 year old dog that is crate trained, housebroken, current on all her vaccinations, etc that is techincally her dog and not my dog. I took the dog because my elderly friend was unable to take care of herself and her dogs, at the time,she was living with our friend Dee and Dee could not house all the dogs.
This puppy has spent more time back at it's breeders house than it has with my elderly friend. The breeder must be totally blind to not see what a problem Elderly Friend is having. The sad part is the puppy breeder is about the same age as Elderly Friend and admitting to herself that Elderly Friend is unable to care for a puppy would mean the breeder is old too! Elderly friend is in no condition to have a puppy. A well behaved adult, maybe, but a puppy? No way. When I asked Elderly Friend when I could drop off her dog (the one with me) I got a lot of umm, ahh, and finally, I don't think she would be happy with me after living with you. Which I doubt, because in my home she is one of several and does not get the Poochie Princess Treatment.
At this point, I'm trying not to scream, I know Elderly Friend keeps making repeated bad decisions with her life. I won't let this dog suffer because of it, BUT and there is always a BUT. I've spent close to $500 on food, boarding and vet fees on this dog, of which Elderly Friend has given me about $75 for the dogs upkeep. She has promised to give me some cash for the dog, but I have not seen it yet and I doubt I will. Her other animals have been placed out with new homes at her request and two of her dogs are still living with Dee even though she and Dee have had a falling out.
Honestly folks, I took the dog thinking once she got stabilized, the dog would hopefully go back to her. That was the generic plan. Of course life intervened and that went by the wayside. I have my own animals to take care of and like I said, with my dog wanting to rip Poochies face off, it can make for an interesting day.
Grr, now I have to place out an older dog. I'm doing my homework on this, networking, local rescues, the breed rescue, etc. The local rescue contact wants to know if I've contacted the breeder. I've explained that Elderly Friend is the co-breeder and unable to care for the dog, and the other co-breeder had a nervous breakdown and moved to Oregon (which is true) and has totally given up on dogs. A responsible breeder will take back a dog they bred for any reason. I can't really hunt down this woman in Oregon and insist she take back Poochie. I do know for a fact she really did have a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized for it. Ideally, I'm looking for a nice older active retired couple who would love a Poochie Princess. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Fluffy and Fido
One of my favorite financial writers, Liz Pulliam Weston, writes a column for MSN Money. Her articles are well thought out and very timely. As some of my readers know, I have animals. I own several dogs and they are not only my pets, but my family as well. A recent column deals with the cost of pet ownership . My local NPR station had a broadcast on the cost of pet ownership as well.
A friend of mine breeds dogs. She has been breeding dogs for 20 years, breeds maybe 1-2 litters a year, usually has a waiting list, does her best to screen her puppy buyers and has had very few dogs returned back to her. As a responsible breeder, she has a contract of sale and says she will take back a dog she bred for any reason . Up until this past month, in the past ten years, she had 2 dogs sent back to her, one was due to an unexpected job relocation overseas, the other because the owner died.
This month she has gotten back 2 more dogs, the reason, the buyers could not afford the animals anymore. One person is filing bankruptcy, losing their home and going to live in a non pet apartment, the other family suffered a job loss and a job downsized and simply can not afford to keep the pet. The money spent on food and vet care needs to go towards the family.
I looked at Liz's article, I read her figures and for my area, the costs are higher than what she has in her table. I feed a premium food, which costs me more than $150 a year, I spend about $35 a bag and that lasts not quite a month, I spend about $60 a year on toys, I use a wholesale pet supply company for the toys, and I also buy old children plush toys at tag sales and thrift stores (cutting off any choking hazard or dangerous parts-no squishy beads either, just plush), one my dogs favorite toys is the cardboard roll from the empty paper towel roll. I take advantage of sales at the farmers co-op to buy food, I get a "bulk" discount at my vet by bringing everyone in at the same time for their yearly check up (I only pay one DVM fee of $35 instead of $35 for each pet), I go to the local rabies clinic and pay cash instead of getting the rabies jab at the vet (savings about $3 per dog). I practice good animal husbandry to keep my pets healthy. I have a kennel license (saving about $60 a year). I still spend a fair chunk of change on my pets.
I consider myself lucky, I was able to keep my house after the Bankruptcy which enabled me to keep my pets. Honestly, if I did not have my pets to keep me company during the filing, I'd be on some serious anti-depression meds. If the bank wanted me to sell my house, I would have been hard pressed to find a rental that takes pets, much less the number I have and that would have been devistating to me to have to decide who to give up or sell.
As pointed out in the article, it's important to be realistic about the expenses involved with pet ownership so you can budget appropriately for your pet. Your pet expenses need to be budgeted in like any other budget item. I know what month the license is due, the annual vet check up is to be scheduled for, I can space out the food purchases and I plan my budget with that timeline in place.
Pets are a wonder addition to any family and in tight financial times, we need to plan for their needs as well.
A friend of mine breeds dogs. She has been breeding dogs for 20 years, breeds maybe 1-2 litters a year, usually has a waiting list, does her best to screen her puppy buyers and has had very few dogs returned back to her. As a responsible breeder, she has a contract of sale and says she will take back a dog she bred for any reason . Up until this past month, in the past ten years, she had 2 dogs sent back to her, one was due to an unexpected job relocation overseas, the other because the owner died.
This month she has gotten back 2 more dogs, the reason, the buyers could not afford the animals anymore. One person is filing bankruptcy, losing their home and going to live in a non pet apartment, the other family suffered a job loss and a job downsized and simply can not afford to keep the pet. The money spent on food and vet care needs to go towards the family.
I looked at Liz's article, I read her figures and for my area, the costs are higher than what she has in her table. I feed a premium food, which costs me more than $150 a year, I spend about $35 a bag and that lasts not quite a month, I spend about $60 a year on toys, I use a wholesale pet supply company for the toys, and I also buy old children plush toys at tag sales and thrift stores (cutting off any choking hazard or dangerous parts-no squishy beads either, just plush), one my dogs favorite toys is the cardboard roll from the empty paper towel roll. I take advantage of sales at the farmers co-op to buy food, I get a "bulk" discount at my vet by bringing everyone in at the same time for their yearly check up (I only pay one DVM fee of $35 instead of $35 for each pet), I go to the local rabies clinic and pay cash instead of getting the rabies jab at the vet (savings about $3 per dog). I practice good animal husbandry to keep my pets healthy. I have a kennel license (saving about $60 a year). I still spend a fair chunk of change on my pets.
I consider myself lucky, I was able to keep my house after the Bankruptcy which enabled me to keep my pets. Honestly, if I did not have my pets to keep me company during the filing, I'd be on some serious anti-depression meds. If the bank wanted me to sell my house, I would have been hard pressed to find a rental that takes pets, much less the number I have and that would have been devistating to me to have to decide who to give up or sell.
As pointed out in the article, it's important to be realistic about the expenses involved with pet ownership so you can budget appropriately for your pet. Your pet expenses need to be budgeted in like any other budget item. I know what month the license is due, the annual vet check up is to be scheduled for, I can space out the food purchases and I plan my budget with that timeline in place.
Pets are a wonder addition to any family and in tight financial times, we need to plan for their needs as well.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Settling In and Planning for the Future
As I mentioned yesterday, I have a new dog in my household. Poochie is a wire fox terrier. At first I was worried that she would not blend into my pack of puppies, but she is settling in rather well. She spent some quality time with me last night on the couch watching House. I think she will settle down just fine in another day or two. All the dogs like being on my small couch. We just have to establish a new routine that works for all, I was off my normal routine last week, so things did not go as smoothly as I would have liked. Life is settling back down.
What has this got to do with personal finance or bankruptcy? Not a lot, but it also has to do with planning. My elderly friend who really owns Poochie has no extended or immediate family. She has adult step children she gets along with well, but no family of her own. The scary part is she can not stay by herself at the moment, so another mutual friend of ours has driven down to NJ (like yesterday morning) and picked up our elderly friend and her remaining dogs. They are all settled in their new living quarters in Southern New England. Our mutual friend has the space for both our elderly friend and her few remaining dogs.
Planning-my elderly friend is in no shape at the moment to lucidly tell us what provisions she has made for the rest of her life. I'm sure there is paperwork (house, personal, financial, business) at her home, but she was so out of it when she was picked up that the decision made by family and mutual friend was to just get her out of the house. Her step daughter will go back to the house in the next day or two to search for paperwork so we can all figure out what the next steps need to be. We think she made plans, we ( step daughter included) are pretty certain, but we can not find paperwork that outlines her plans.
As much as none of us want to think about it, we need to have our ducks in a row. Someone or several someones need to know where your records are. It should be your spouse, a trusted friend, a legal advisor, a family member, someone. You need to have your records all in one place, a lockbox, a file cabinet, etc. You need to plan for a Power Of Attorney and a Medical Power of Attorney. In my friends case, plans need to be made and known for the animals. My friend is lucky, she has someone (and in this case several folks) who can take her animals. Worst case scenario, her beloved pets could end up in a shelter or a rescue situation.
I've got a file in my file cabinet that has my important papers. I thought about it last night, most of my 'important papers" reflect a different time in my life (my will, my POA, etc) and they are in dire need of updating. I don't think my very long ago ex-boyfriend wants the responsibility of handling my estate and affairs. I also have my animals, I don't have any clear written directions on what is to happen to them should something happen to me. I think my friends would come to bat for me like we have for our elderly friend and assist my animals.
Sorry for the rather depressing post, but when you have it sort of "dropped" in your lap, you think about it.......
What has this got to do with personal finance or bankruptcy? Not a lot, but it also has to do with planning. My elderly friend who really owns Poochie has no extended or immediate family. She has adult step children she gets along with well, but no family of her own. The scary part is she can not stay by herself at the moment, so another mutual friend of ours has driven down to NJ (like yesterday morning) and picked up our elderly friend and her remaining dogs. They are all settled in their new living quarters in Southern New England. Our mutual friend has the space for both our elderly friend and her few remaining dogs.
Planning-my elderly friend is in no shape at the moment to lucidly tell us what provisions she has made for the rest of her life. I'm sure there is paperwork (house, personal, financial, business) at her home, but she was so out of it when she was picked up that the decision made by family and mutual friend was to just get her out of the house. Her step daughter will go back to the house in the next day or two to search for paperwork so we can all figure out what the next steps need to be. We think she made plans, we ( step daughter included) are pretty certain, but we can not find paperwork that outlines her plans.
As much as none of us want to think about it, we need to have our ducks in a row. Someone or several someones need to know where your records are. It should be your spouse, a trusted friend, a legal advisor, a family member, someone. You need to have your records all in one place, a lockbox, a file cabinet, etc. You need to plan for a Power Of Attorney and a Medical Power of Attorney. In my friends case, plans need to be made and known for the animals. My friend is lucky, she has someone (and in this case several folks) who can take her animals. Worst case scenario, her beloved pets could end up in a shelter or a rescue situation.
I've got a file in my file cabinet that has my important papers. I thought about it last night, most of my 'important papers" reflect a different time in my life (my will, my POA, etc) and they are in dire need of updating. I don't think my very long ago ex-boyfriend wants the responsibility of handling my estate and affairs. I also have my animals, I don't have any clear written directions on what is to happen to them should something happen to me. I think my friends would come to bat for me like we have for our elderly friend and assist my animals.
Sorry for the rather depressing post, but when you have it sort of "dropped" in your lap, you think about it.......
Friday, November 16, 2007
The Upcoming Holiday
Next Thursday is the American Thanksgiving. Meal wise, I'm having my meal with my great neighbors. I'll bring over a casserole (a variation on the traditional green bean casserole) and a bottle of wine or 6 pack of something. The great part is all I have to do is walk about 50 feet from my front door to their dining room table. Plus the meal will be towards the end of the afternoon. Perfect actually, I can have a large breakfast (I'm thinking pancakes, I never make pancakes anymore) and then take the dogs for a long walk (as long as it's not pissing down rain) and come home ready for a big meal.
I actually do have a lot of things to be thankful for. I'm thankful for my neighbors who have been great friends to me,~loaning me cars and a shoulder to whinge on, I'm thankful I have a job, I'm thankful I have my dogs (as much as they make me crazy right now), I'm thankful I have my house, and I'm thankful that I'm surviving this bankruptcy process with most of my dignity in tact, albeit with acne and grey hair coming in from the stress of it all. Onward and upward as they say!
I actually do have a lot of things to be thankful for. I'm thankful for my neighbors who have been great friends to me,~loaning me cars and a shoulder to whinge on, I'm thankful I have a job, I'm thankful I have my dogs (as much as they make me crazy right now), I'm thankful I have my house, and I'm thankful that I'm surviving this bankruptcy process with most of my dignity in tact, albeit with acne and grey hair coming in from the stress of it all. Onward and upward as they say!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Blogs Of Note
I'll be adding blogs of note as I find them-
The first two:
Save Karyn www.savekaryn.com-Karyn Bosnak's original site with a link to her blog, pretty in the city. God I wish I thought of asking total strangers for money before she did on a web site. Gotta love the boldness, and the posts. And she is a dog lover.
Jennsylvania: Just read her book, Bright Lights, Big Ass. Someone else who loves the Holy Trinity (Ikea, Target and Trader Joes) almost as much as I do. Spending $20 at Target it better than two therapy sessions and cheaper to boot.
Check them out. These ladies have given me inspiration to go forth with this
The first two:
Save Karyn www.savekaryn.com-Karyn Bosnak's original site with a link to her blog, pretty in the city. God I wish I thought of asking total strangers for money before she did on a web site. Gotta love the boldness, and the posts. And she is a dog lover.
Jennsylvania: Just read her book, Bright Lights, Big Ass. Someone else who loves the Holy Trinity (Ikea, Target and Trader Joes) almost as much as I do. Spending $20 at Target it better than two therapy sessions and cheaper to boot.
Check them out. These ladies have given me inspiration to go forth with this
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