Somone posted this on an Animal User's Group. I think it's very sweet and I think non-christians would enjoy it. Please check it out if you love dogs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
If you are looking for a foster or temporary home for your own animals
Instead, look into boarding
Think you can't afford boarding, look at ways to save money at "If You Can't Afford Vet Care" Or looking into putting together a neighbor or friend boarding coop such as in "If you don't have time for your pets"
Don't know about boarding?
Board you dog or cat at your vet. If you don't have a regular vet, then get one. See why at "If You Can't Afford Vet Care"
Ask friends and family which boarding facilities they like and use one of them
Go to http://www.yellowpages.com/ and do a distance search for "boarding" or just pull up all the boarding facilities in San Antonio and visit ones to find which one you like. You should have a boading facility in mind before you need one.
Don't want your pet in a kennel all day? Then look into the doggie play and stays such as Lucy's , Camp Bow Wow, Pawderose, Otto's Doggi Day Camp, etc..
If your dog is not social then look at paying a reputable family to keep your pet at their house. If you think you can't afford to pay somone, then refer to "If You Can't Afford Vet Care"
List of boarding facilities in San Antonio
Think you can't afford boarding, look at ways to save money at "If You Can't Afford Vet Care" Or looking into putting together a neighbor or friend boarding coop such as in "If you don't have time for your pets"
Don't know about boarding?
Board you dog or cat at your vet. If you don't have a regular vet, then get one. See why at "If You Can't Afford Vet Care"
Ask friends and family which boarding facilities they like and use one of them
Go to http://www.yellowpages.com/ and do a distance search for "boarding" or just pull up all the boarding facilities in San Antonio and visit ones to find which one you like. You should have a boading facility in mind before you need one.
Don't want your pet in a kennel all day? Then look into the doggie play and stays such as Lucy's , Camp Bow Wow, Pawderose, Otto's Doggi Day Camp, etc..
If your dog is not social then look at paying a reputable family to keep your pet at their house. If you think you can't afford to pay somone, then refer to "If You Can't Afford Vet Care"
List of boarding facilities in San Antonio
If you don't have time for your pets
If you don't have time for your pets
Hire a dog walker or pet sitter to visit your pets while you are at work
Drop your dog off at a doggie play and stay before work and pick him or her up after work
i.e. Camp Bow Wow, Lucy's, Pawderosa, etc.
Many of the doggie play and stay places provide pet taxis for drop off and pick up - which could be an option if you can't find a place close to work or home.
Can't afford any of the above
Get with neighbors and or friends and create a pet care coop. Just like a carpool, neighbors can take turns watching each others pets. Example - Say you have 4 people in the coop. On Mondays, Sam can watch all 4 neighbors pets, On Tuesday, Susie can watch all neighbor's pets, etc..
Don't have good neighbors or friends or have pets who are social? Then start looking at ways you can cut back to have money for pet sitting or play and stay
Refer to If you can't afford vet care for ideas for saving money
Do you really not have time for your pets or is it that you are not "making" time?
Working extra hours sometimes can not be avoided. But look at other ways ou can make time
A good walk only takes about 30 minutes (or an hour if you have an energetic dog) - get up earlier in the morning before work or stay up later at night to take your pet for a walk
Get a laster pointer - you can sit and relax while your doggie or kittie does all the work
Watch your favorite TV Show or read a book while you stroke your doggie or kitty
If live close enough, come home at lunch to visit your doggie or kitty
Cut back on non work related social activities. Is that date at the movie more important than you fuzzy companion?
Make social engagement around your pets.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
If you can't afford vet care
When your pet is sick or if there is an emergency:
The first thing to do is to get to the closest vet right away. Do not spend time calling around to get the cheapest prices. The few dollars saved is not worth your pet's health. After initial treatment, then you can call around looking for the cheapest follow up care.
The more time you spend making phone calls, searching the Internet, asking for money, etc..the sicker your pet will get. Not only does the pet suffer needlessly, but your vet bill is going to be even higher when you go in because the pet is going to be sicker
Never try any home treatments. Never use anyone else's medications. You will wind up making your pet sicker and then vet treatment is going to be more expensive.
Unless you are a vet, you don't have the expertise to treat your pet yourself. Treatments are different for every animal. A medication prescribed for one dog or cat will make another one sick.
If you don't have any money to go to the vet, stop by the pawn shop on the way to the vet. Pawn anything that isn't more valuable than your pet. Which is anything and everything - your television, jewelry, computer, etc..
Or get a pay day loan or a car title loan. After the pet is taken care of, you can pay back the loan by cutting back on expenses:
- Turn off cable TV
- Turn off your cell phone service or at least get a cheaper service. You can get a pay-as-you-go plan from Virgin Mobile for 5 dollars a month. Only talk on the phone for emergencies
- Give up beer and any other type of alcohol
- Give up cigarettes
- Give up any consumption that is not necessary - you don't need potato chips, cakes, pies, etc..
- Eat less food
- Give up meat. A meal of beans and rice is full of protein, fiber and vitamins and you can eat for a few cents
- Don't eat out
- Give up illegal drugs
- Give up prescription drugs if if giving them up isn't a detriment to your health
- Give up over the counter pain killers - the pet's well being is more important than your pain.
- Take on a second or third job
The first thing to do is to get to the closest vet right away. Do not spend time calling around to get the cheapest prices. The few dollars saved is not worth your pet's health. After initial treatment, then you can call around looking for the cheapest follow up care.
The more time you spend making phone calls, searching the Internet, asking for money, etc..the sicker your pet will get. Not only does the pet suffer needlessly, but your vet bill is going to be even higher when you go in because the pet is going to be sicker
Never try any home treatments. Never use anyone else's medications. You will wind up making your pet sicker and then vet treatment is going to be more expensive.
Unless you are a vet, you don't have the expertise to treat your pet yourself. Treatments are different for every animal. A medication prescribed for one dog or cat will make another one sick.
If you don't have any money to go to the vet, stop by the pawn shop on the way to the vet. Pawn anything that isn't more valuable than your pet. Which is anything and everything - your television, jewelry, computer, etc..
Or get a pay day loan or a car title loan. After the pet is taken care of, you can pay back the loan by cutting back on expenses:
- Turn off cable TV
- Turn off your cell phone service or at least get a cheaper service. You can get a pay-as-you-go plan from Virgin Mobile for 5 dollars a month. Only talk on the phone for emergencies
- Give up beer and any other type of alcohol
- Give up cigarettes
- Give up any consumption that is not necessary - you don't need potato chips, cakes, pies, etc..
- Eat less food
- Give up meat. A meal of beans and rice is full of protein, fiber and vitamins and you can eat for a few cents
- Don't eat out
- Give up illegal drugs
- Give up prescription drugs if if giving them up isn't a detriment to your health
- Give up over the counter pain killers - the pet's well being is more important than your pain.
- Take on a second or third job
-- taxi driver, fast food, day laborer, etc..
- Mow the neighbors' lawns, clean their houses, wash their cars
- Pick up aluminum cans, bottles -anything you can recycle
- Turn off the internet or get a cheaper internet plan
- sell whatever you can - computer, TV, clothes, etc..
- Sell your furniture - it's better than you sit or sleep on the floor rather than let your pet suffer.
Try a barter deal with you vet - offer to clean up poop or mop floors in exchange for a vet care or at least a payment plan.
Did you know that you can go several days without days without food and still survive? Just be sure to drink plenty of tap water and stay hydrated.
No one can diagnose your pet over the phone or over the Internet (not even a vet) you have to physically take your pet to the vet to get examined.
Before your pet gets sick or hurt
Plan ahead
Buy pet insurance just in case your pet gets sick or hurt
Keep a saving account just for pet care (if you don't have money for a saving account, see ways to cut back above)
Never let your pet run loose if you know you can't afford vet care when he gets hit. Even if you can afford vet care, never let your pet run loose.
Keep your pet up to date on shots. The shots are a lot cheaper than paying for the illness that will result from not getting shots.
Keep your pet on Heartworm Preventative. HW preventative also will prevent other parasites. And the preventative is a lot cheaper than treating your pet for parasites
Establish a relationship with a regular vet. If something major happens to your pet, a vet who knows you and your pet is more likely to work with you on a payment plan.
Before you get a pet.
Look at your income and budget. Do you have an extra 2000 a year to spare after paying bills and putting away money for retirement and putting away money for the kids education and for rainy day savings? If so, then it's probably okay to get a new fuzzy companion.
If you don't have the extra money, then do not get a pet. It's not fair to the pet. And it's not fair to your friends, family and strangers who will wind up caring for your pet when you cannot.
Don't have a lot of money but you still want to get a pet?
If yes:
Are you willing to go hungry to pay vet bills so that you pet won't suffer?
Are you willing to work extra hours or take on a second job to pay vet bills so your pet won't suffer ?
Are you willing to give up non essential things like cable TV, Internet, cell phone, air conditioning, cigarettes, etc.. so your pet won't suffer?
If you can't answer yes to all of the above, please don't get a pet.
If you have a pet that you can't afford, are you willing to try to find a good home with excellent vet records and enough money to care for a pet?
No one can diagnose your pet over the phone or over the Internet (not even a vet) you have to physically take your pet to the vet to get examined.
Before your pet gets sick or hurt
Plan ahead
Buy pet insurance just in case your pet gets sick or hurt
Keep a saving account just for pet care (if you don't have money for a saving account, see ways to cut back above)
Never let your pet run loose if you know you can't afford vet care when he gets hit. Even if you can afford vet care, never let your pet run loose.
Keep your pet up to date on shots. The shots are a lot cheaper than paying for the illness that will result from not getting shots.
Keep your pet on Heartworm Preventative. HW preventative also will prevent other parasites. And the preventative is a lot cheaper than treating your pet for parasites
Establish a relationship with a regular vet. If something major happens to your pet, a vet who knows you and your pet is more likely to work with you on a payment plan.
Before you get a pet.
Look at your income and budget. Do you have an extra 2000 a year to spare after paying bills and putting away money for retirement and putting away money for the kids education and for rainy day savings? If so, then it's probably okay to get a new fuzzy companion.
If you don't have the extra money, then do not get a pet. It's not fair to the pet. And it's not fair to your friends, family and strangers who will wind up caring for your pet when you cannot.
Don't have a lot of money but you still want to get a pet?
If yes:
Are you willing to go hungry to pay vet bills so that you pet won't suffer?
Are you willing to work extra hours or take on a second job to pay vet bills so your pet won't suffer ?
Are you willing to give up non essential things like cable TV, Internet, cell phone, air conditioning, cigarettes, etc.. so your pet won't suffer?
If you can't answer yes to all of the above, please don't get a pet.
If you have a pet that you can't afford, are you willing to try to find a good home with excellent vet records and enough money to care for a pet?
If you like being around animals but know you can't afford one of your own, then volunteer at an animal shelter or volunteer to be a foster parent.
RESOURCES
If you can't afford Vet Care:
http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=162
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/what_you_can_do_if_you_are_having_trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html
Low Cost Spay Neuter/VaccinationsMan and Beast
Animal Defense League
SNAP
Windcrest Animal Hospital
San Antonio Animal Control
More info here: http://fuzzychildren.blogspot.com/2010/03/low-cost-spay-neuter-vaccinations-in.html
Low Cost Pet Meds1800petmeds.com
Shelters/Rescue Groups/Contacts, etc..
http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddtbr7bw_402c9p75mcv
RESOURCES
If you can't afford Vet Care:
http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=162
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/what_you_can_do_if_you_are_having_trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html
Low Cost Spay Neuter/VaccinationsMan and Beast
Animal Defense League
SNAP
Windcrest Animal Hospital
San Antonio Animal Control
More info here: http://fuzzychildren.blogspot.com/2010/03/low-cost-spay-neuter-vaccinations-in.html
Low Cost Pet Meds1800petmeds.com
Shelters/Rescue Groups/Contacts, etc..
http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddtbr7bw_402c9p75mcv
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