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Babies on the Brain
How much is too much to spend on an animal?
I think some of my stress with watching MIL's dog is that she spent upwards of $400 on her. The ragdoll cat cost my SIL $2000.
How much do you think is too much to spend on an animal?
Tim and I only spent $37 on Henry :-)
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Re: How much is too much to spend on an animal?
Yes, Buck. Horses are completely different. That's secretly what I want for Christmas :-)
$2000 thats alot, we paid $600 a piece for our dogs and they have papers.
although..the best horse I ever had only cost me 800.00. He was a registered Doc Bar bred QH with a couple titles under his belt but I got him when he was older. That horse taught me more about riding and horses then most people will learn in a lifetime. I miss him. RIP my darling Buck. (hence my screen name).
The Fluffy Cat says... "Boxes are the best toys ever invented!"
I agree with most of this. I am torn between loving breed & the need for rescue. I totally understand the desperate need for rescue, but also know that if there weren't quality breeders out there, all the breeds we know and love (as well as the good standing health of those breeds) would no longer exist.
I just wish all the crappy breeders who are stupid, ignorant, and only in it for the MONEY would GTFO and drop off the face of the earth. THEY are why our shelters are so overrun and why rescue is so needed. I do love taking care of our foster babies.
Sorry to get on a soap box
Breeding has a purpose. Many dogs still do "jobs" and preserving that breed through responsible breeding is vital to many people like farmers, herders etc. You also have situations like Allergies, small children etc. where people want a better chance of getting a dog that has low dander, certain personalitiy traits etc. to ensure a healthy relationship and a best fit. Shelters are not always appropriate for every situation.
Having said that, the problem is some of the breeders themselves. Not all of them are bad and one of the biggest components to the shelter problem is the Backyard breeders and Private citizens who do not spay or neuter not the breedering industry itself.
I am an advocate for rescue and have worked with rescue for many years but I am also a believer in both sides of the story and responsible breeding practices. I'm an advocate for working dogs as well.
Steps down.
That depends on the animal.
Cats, cats are free. Or should be close to free. I can not see spending more than a shelter adoption fee on a cat (we payed $75 adoption fee for two of our girls)
Dogs on the other hand, if you're going to a responsible breeder I can see spending a few hundered dollers (My parents' Dauchsund was ~$400 from a small private breeder)
Horses etc... are all different.
Steps up.
I completely agree here. I believe in working dogs as well and when I am certified, I will be training dogs for police work, dogs for the disabled, for personal protection work, tracking/scent discrimination, etc. Certain breeds are far more qualified for these jobs, though some mixed breeds are also ideal. Sometimes mixed dogs take on the positive characteristics of both breeds involved, which can be a great thing. I am definitely an advocate for quality breeders and would consider doing it myself when I have enough land to do it, and of course have plenty of training and handling experience under my belt (officially). Both our boxers are fixed as well as our foster. Both our kitties are fixed. If you're not going to breed them for cause and with good qualifications, animals need to be spayed/neutered. I cannot stand the dogs that come to the dog park that aren't fixed and they cause nothing but drama at the park... excessive humping, dominance, "too big for your britches" mentality. Perhaps that's just the trainer in me speaking. It all boils down to people being responsible.
Steps back down.
I agree...it's the irresponsible breeders that really bother me. There is a purpose in keeping the breeds alive, and many of them are working dogs (though most don't actually do their "jobs" and are pets most of the time). The people who go into it to make money & don't take care of the animals are the ones that need to be stopped. Oh, and the people who won't spay & neuter their pets, and then dump them outside when they have babies.
The Fluffy Cat says... "Boxes are the best toys ever invented!"
You mean to buy an animal? For me- I'm a rescue girl, so whatever the rescue/shelter fee is will be fine with me. My girl's fee was $225 which I thought was very reasonable.
I know if you want to buy a good quality dog from a reputable breeder, it is going to cost a lot of money. Several thousand. Anything less from a "breeder" is not ethically bred.
With all the cats in the shelter system, it sickens me that anyone would pay that much for one.
Papers =/= reputable breeder.
Henry is precious.
You're right, papers =/= reputable breeder.
However, I disagree that "anything less than thousands of dollars" = not ethically bred.
We spent "a lot" (1400) on Ecco. She is from a very reputable show breeder. I have no regrets. That's reasonable for a Doberman - they are upwards of 2500 here - for an average dog with no show bloodlines.
You're probably right. I'm a rescue girl, so I don't really know what championed showdogs offspring go for to be honest. I know the girls on the pets board with championed lines paid a lot of money for them though.
I think I didn't understand if you meant overall, or medical bills or to get her or what.
We rescued Lucy for $50. Knowing the incredible dog she is now, I easily would have spent hundreds on her.
If it were medical bills, I think we'd top 5K before we got worried. She is worth every penny.
Champion lines, sure... they get into the thousands, no doubt! But there are reputable breeders who breed for health and temperament with quality parents who may or may not be champion parents. Sometimes you can pay a smaller fee for no rights to showing, and pay higher for rights to showing. It all depends. Very breed specific, too.