Personally, I would never give money to them. I wouldn't donate because you don't really know if they are telling the truth or if they'll take your money and run with it. (Yes, I realize that this person is asking for help financially as well as asking if there is an organization that helps with this - props to that I suppose ... though a Google search may tell them the answer to their questions)It sounds cold and heartless but I wouldn't offer my money to them. I would refer them to a clinic who I know will give very good prices to people in need and arrange payment plans, but that's it. If that's not good enough, I would suggest euthanasia.
The thing a lot of people don't think of is the after care. Say you actually do get the amount of money for the surgery ... now what? Are you really going to be able to afford the extra visits to the vet / specialist after the surgery? Can you pay for the pain meds required? What about the special food? How are you going to prevent this from happening again?
I know that slipped disks for Dachsies are very common because people allow them to jump onto the couch and they miss and land on their back and BANG! There goes another disk. That simple and that fast. If you couldn't prevent it the first time, would you really be able to prevent it again? And if it happens again, how would you pay for the surgery a second time?
I know how painful a slipped disk can be and if the dog is not recieving pain meds ... what is its quality of life like? If the owner can afford not only the surgery, but also the after care, than my opinion is to go for it. See if you can save your dog. However, I do believe there is a point where you need to consider if the best course of action for your dog is to do the surgery or to euthanize.
What do you think?
13 comments:
Agreed.
That said, I wish I had a pot of gold, I'd scope Flip, spend big $$'s, stimulate the economy, and MAYbe find out what's bugging her.
But advertising for financial help is very sad. Buy Pet Insurance, FCS.
Or put the dog out of it's misery. A friend of a friend spent a small fortune on her Coton du Tulair (sp) it had that weird brain swelling problem. Had to finally be PTS, but owner probably left it suffering too long, trying to save it.
Fix the breed problems!
There has been a couple standing on a major corner in my city, with their dog, asking for money to "help save..." forget the dog's name.
I know some local police officers, and asked about it. He said they are well known panhandlers that moved from an adjacent city.
My thoughts are that folks are sensing an opportunity and taking it.
I donate to my local breed rescue, which provides low cost surgeries and subsidizes some as well.
A new organization in my area is SCAF, which is a better alternative than just giving money to some guy on the street. (http://www.canineaid.org/)
Funny you should post this today. My dad called me over the weekend and his dog has a herniated disc. He's only 3. He's on rest and a morphine (I think) medication. I guess he's in quite a bit of pain. :( Poor guy. The vet told my dad that the surgery would cost about $4000.00 and there were no guarantees that it would work. What a tough situation. I can't imagine what I'd do. My dog is my world, I told my husband last night that I would do anything to save him (and my husband said we'd be on the street!)but I don't really know what I would do in that situation. I wouldn't want him to suffer and be in pain just because I want to keep him alive for me...
Anyway, as for giving people money, no way, no how. I only give my money to organizations that I can see for myself what good they are doing. You never know what some people might really spend their money on. Now if it was family, that's different, but I wouldn't give to a person I didn't know.
I totally agree with you! And I've added you to my followers! Very nice blog!
w00f's, i guess i trust people to much...if i had the money and any dog or cat on dwb or cwb needed the money, yeah i would donate...buttt not if i found it when i googled it.. ..
b safe,
~rocky~
As an owner who loves a lot her dog, I understand it is a hard decision but I guess I agree with you.
I don't have a problem with euthenasia, it's pain and suffering that I have a problem with.
This past weekend, I went to a pet expo, and came accross an organization that raises money for cancer treatment for dogs whos owners can't afford it.....All I could think of was my Dad who recently went through a stem cell transplant, and chemotherapy. It was a horrible experience for him, and I have NEVER seen anyone suffer so much. He is doing pretty good now, but says that if he had the choice to make again, he's not sure he would choose to go through that again.....and he knew what was happening to him. Imagine a dog that has know idea of why he or she is in this horrible pain.
One needle is one needle, it hurts the same whether they wake up or not.
I think though that if you can afford it, and it is a relatively simple surgery, go for it.
Personally I would rather donate to spay and neuter programs. If your still reading this...peace...out.
I agree that I wouldn't give money to others for their pets. As for my own pets, I would do whatever is necessary to help them unless they were in pain and were suffering. I feel that is my responsibility to them. Of course situations are always multi-sided and luckily we haven't been faced with many decisions like this.
Thanks for visiting my blog today! I appreciate your comments!
elanor-rigy, chemotherapy in dogs and cats is actually nowhere near as bad an experience as it is for humans. The reason is we use lower doses of the chemotherapy agents. We're not trying to get that animal to live cancer free for another 20 years like in human medicine. We're hoping for one to three years, so the side effects are much less. They also keep their fur.
If someone can't afford treatment for an emergency, we usually stabilise the animal and send them to the Lort Smith, who are cheaper and will organise payment plans. Sometimes though the choice is 'treatment or euthanasia, and you have to decide in 20 minutes'.
I agree with you!
Smelling like a Citrus,
Solid Gold Dancer
Thanks everyone for your comments. It is a hard decision to make when it is your own pet - I agree.
I just wonder who we want a couple extra years for....the pet, or the owner?
I do understand though that it's not as 'black and white' as I sometimes like to think it is. I love my little dogs, and luckily haven't been faced with that decision yet.
i guess i am bad. I have given to shelters, pet rescuers, and to people on chipin and fundable for thier pets. I guess I trust people. True you don;t know that they have always used the moeny for what they said, but at least you did try. I would hope someone would help me if i asked, I won't send a check in the mail to anyone. it has to be through pay pal chippin funable rescue or vet. that is the only way for me.
time is hard for everyone these days. i try to take people for thier word and hope they are telling the truth. not everyone will come right out and tell it so they do it in different ways. look at the different rescues lately that has had problems. no offense, but they must not of used the moneyt the right way. ky just the other week is a good example. what happened that it got so far with him and the county or noone knew what was going on. for one he had way way to many animals. how one person could care for that many is beyond me. but in this day and age you never know. but i would help someone out if i had a few dollars to help as i say i would hope if i needed it someone would help me.
thats just life today. its so sad. america don't know whats going on in folks minds. freedom isn't free and this nation was created with god............and i am sure god isn't sure of what going on in this nation these days.
i try to help with transport and crosspointing. this is just me.
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