Oh, man....

I can understand your dilemma. I'm not financially healthy enough right now where I could take care of a dog. But I feel compelled to adopt a dog myself.

I'm going on vacation, mostly paid for by others, w/my cousins and their rv.
We'll see when I get back. Dogs need vaccinations, veterinarian care, and often later health care, sometimes very expensive - I'm very aware of all that as I veer toward bankruptcy.

But I'm a mess when paws reach out, especially if they have time limits.
When I got the Pacc, apparently that particular humane society had an expansive wait, while they advertised in the local paper. I was the first person who called after four weeks of ads, a month - not having seen them before - and they told me to hurry up, time was short. (I've no idea if that was true, but it sounded like it. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't.)

I'm also not dumb about feral dogs around the world, and the culture of cute, etc., in the first world.

Still, a paw can get to me.

Can you afford to love a dog, then adopt....please.

Well, that's the question. I can't afford reasonable veterinarian care over time, as it stands now. This may change, but is the present truth.
I suppose I can as long as my credit cards carry on berserkly, but that's nothing to count on for the dog.

This isn't about people who can afford good dog care, Philis, or whether or not any of us want to adopt. It's about the ethics of adopting when money is tight.

I'll try to connect to pdawg. I trust he has a point of view, whether or not it fits my present take.

I have to add, whether or not it fits my present take - whatever that is.

I really don't know, which is why I'm enquiring.

I don't believe one should risk the security of the dog (financially, nutritionally, and health wise) if one can't afford it.

Here is a hypothetical: You run up a debt for the vet bills and other necessities then after the dog has gotten emotionally bonded to you ... what then when you have to return the dog to the shelter?

Be patient. Then get the dog when you more sure of your own financial security.

But while we talk the dog is about to be gassed..


I guess I rest in the land of iffy, seeing both povs.

I am, meantime, sans dog, so I take your argument.

Or do I?

(domani)

I understand the dilemma. If you feel you can at least feed and house the dog then go ahead and adopt it. Hopefully by the time you need veterinary services, you'll be more financially secure.

Not so true for me, adding then to the dilemma, gas or adopt....

that is, I've no sense of can do for veterinary services (much as I've appreciated veterinarians of my past).

I can only tell you that personally (as of right now) I am having a difficult time taking care of myself. I wouldn't want to put a dog through what I'm going through, not knowing if I have to choose between feeding her or myself.

I wish I could give some sage advice but my gas tank has run dry in that department.

[I think my brain is fried (its 4:30AM now) and lack of sleep has made me lose whatever I coherent I was going to write.]

Bonne nuit.

I suppose I should be clearer - I could pay for a few things. But my memory of veterinary practice in my not so distant past cuts all that off.

I can easily understand veterinary costs, but that leaves a lot of us without dogs. I've no easy answer, can see different sides.

I get that. It was that paw that set me off.

Bonne nuit back to you.

Osso, have you thought about having foster dogs?

http://www.fosterdogs.com/

and a local page

http://www.cabq.gov/pets/volunteer-and-donate/foster-parents

it has a good series of questions to consider