[Alty]

No matter what the dog is going to cost money, even if it's a free dog. That's the point I'm trying to make.

Food, if you get quality food, can be expensive, especially for a larger breed like a GSD. There are dog supplies to consider, and vet bills. Yes, most people can find a cheaper vet in their area, but you still have to vaccinate yearly. If the dog isn't fixed that's an extra cost. De-worming, heart worm meds, it all adds up.

My point is that if the OP can't afford to buy a dog, and I'm not talking about a dog from a breeder, I'm talking $150 at a shelter, then he/she can't afford to own a dog. That's the bottom line.

Food alone could run into the hundreds every month depending on what you buy.

[shazamataz]

Oh Lucky, I don't even know where to begin with all that.

I am not discouraging people with my "reputable breeder speech".
I'm not telling them to buy a high quality, top of the line dog, I'm saying buy a HEALTHY dog that has been TESTED.
My show dog only cost me $1500 and his parents had every health test imaginable done. You know what his health problems are... none. The only time he has gone to the vet is for vaccinations.

The people who fork out $2,000 or more for a dog are going to be much more likely to keep that dog alive and healthy and get it vet care then someone who picked up a $50 dog out the newspaper.
Yes that is a broad generalization, I'm not saying people don't look after cheap dogs, but you have to admit, it's a pretty good incentive to keep the dog healthy when you have spent so much money on it.
Go look at the "other pets" section of this site... how many times have we been told someone won't get their rabbit or hamster to the vet because it's a $10 animal?

I am not a dog snob.
I do believe that if you don't have the money to buy a healthy dog that is not from a backyard breeder then you shouldn't get one.
Not everyone wants, nor should own a rescue dog.

If I have misinterpreted those comments and they weren't directed at me, I'm sorry, but it sure does look that way.

[Lucky098]

Nothing was directed towards anyone.. it was just my comment.

I was once told by an old time rescue person that sometimes people who have the expensive dog, expensive kennels, expensive vets and so on soemtimes aren't the best owners. Yes, that animal would have the best of everything, but sometimes people who have lots of money also don't have all the time in the world.. Whereas, the poorer person who might not have thousands of dollars can still be the better home.

I can't afford a $2000 dog. I cant. I don't have any money for a $2000 dog. Miley was $50 and in a box... Yet I would go into debt to save her life. I'm spending $500 of my first paycheck to fix my old lady who needs some medical attention.

I just don't agree with the idea that you have to spend big money on a dog to like it or love it or take care of it.

I wouldn't take a hamster to the vet either... Their rodents that have a life span of 3 years... Dogs are 100 times more personalized then a hamster. And then again there are people what WILL spend money on a hamster because it is their loving pet.

Now if you guys were talking about horses being free to good homes and what not, I would agree with you all 100%.. there is no such thing as a free horse across the board.. Their food is expensive, their care is expensive and their vet care is off the charts.. For vaccines (yearly) it is well over $300...

There are many good dogs that have bad owners and who are getting rid of them for free. I just don't think its fair that everyone on here is basically telling her she can't own a dog because she doesn't want to spend thousands on a dog.. I don't fault the OP for that in any way.

Sorry if you thought I was directing anything towards anyone. I wasn't. Just simply stating my opinion which, once again, doesn't agree with everyone else's.

[Alty]

I just don't think its fair that everyone on here is basically telling her she can't own a dog because she doesn't want to spend thousands on a dog.. I don't fault the OP for that in any way.

Where did I say she had to buy from a breeder? Where did I say that she had to spend thousands to buy a dog? I didn't even mention going to a reputable breeder, in fact, I said she should check out the shelters, as did others on this thread.

You are stating that everyone told her she can't own a dog unless she spends thousands to buy that dog. No. That's not accurate. But, she will spend thousands throughout the dogs lifetime. That's a fact. Unless she plans not to care for the dog, then it will be free, and dead within a week.

I think you're missing our point. I have three dogs, one rescue, one that was free, and one from a breeder. I can tell you that my free dog has been anything but free. He has epilepsy, he's been hit by a car ($500 vet bill), he ripped off his paw pad once ($400 vet bill), neutering ($350 vet bill), special food to help with the epilepsy ($100 a month), shots every year ($200), crate ($150), should I go on? It adds up. Even if nothing bad happens, there are costs involved.

If the OP can't afford $150 to rescue a dog at the shelter (and it may be less then that) then she can't afford even the first month of care for her dog. If she gets a puppy then the first year of shots will be expensive, then there's spay/neuter, and heaven forbid something else goes wrong.

I was once told by an old time rescue person that sometimes people who have the expensive dog, expensive kennels, expensive vets and so on soemtimes aren't the best owners. Yes, that animal would have the best of everything, but sometimes people who have lots of money also don't have all the time in the world.. Whereas, the poorer person who might not have thousands of dollars can still be the better home.

And I've seen many rescue dogs that had the worst owners ever. Because the dog was a rescue he/she was expendable. So what if the dog dies, just go back and get another one, they're cheap. My point is, there are bad owners everywhere. To say that the people that own purebred expensive dogs are more likely to be bad owners, is not at all accurate.

I can't afford a $2000 dog. I cant.

Neither can I. My beagle Chewy, who came from an extremely reputable breeder, does the genetic testing, has many years of experience, 3rd generation beagle breeder, charged $250 for our dog. She does it for the love of the breed, and she makes absolutely no money on her puppies. She doesn't sell to people that wish to breed. Her puppies are sold as pets only.

Another fact. Most of the dogs in the paper are from backyard breeders, the rest are from puppymills. They're the worst of the worst, and the reasons our shelters are full. They're the reason over 5 million dogs are put to sleep every year in the US alone. Every time someone purchases a puppy from a byb, they're supporting them, and it continues.

I can tell you that you will never see a dog from a reputable breeder at a shelter. Nor will you ever see a reputable breeder put out an ad in the paper for their puppies.

I have to ask Lucky. Do you support backyard breeding and puppymills?

[ScottGem]

Lucky098, I also think you misinterpreted what people were saying. I think people were only trying to warn the OP that taking care of a dog does require spending money on care and feeding. If one can't afford the nominal fee for a rescue or shelter dog, they may need to think about the effect a dog will have on their monthly budget.

And on that note, I think everything that needs to be said has been said, so this thread is CLOSED.