A Small Dog

Foreclosing on a Dog

Posted on 18. Dec, 2008 by Jeff K. in Small Dog Care

This from a local news radio station last night. The SPCA reports the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter, (a facility in a northeast suburb of Atlanta,) has become overcrowded with dogs recently. The reason? As people foreclose on their homes, they also foreclose on their pets. The SPCA reports that as many people are forced to move out of their homes due to foreclosure, they are dumping their dogs at the same time. In some cases, people are abandoning their dogs in parking lots. It does show that many dogs left in shelters are there not just because of behavioral problems. Some dogs find themselves at a shelter due to careless owners, or neglectful owners, or in some cases, owners who simply cannot afford to own a dog.

I wish more people would stop and think before they get a dog. There are so many questions surrounding the idea of acquiring a dog. The Big Three are:

1. Will I have time to properly train and care for this dog?
2. Do I have the space necessary to house a dog?
3. Can I financially afford a dog?

That last question is apparently one that many people forget to answer. Among the many costs of dog ownership are:

Food

Accessories, such as a leash, a collar, I.D. tag, food and water bowls, bedding.

Containment, such as a kennel crate and a fence.

Boarding, when you are away from home for more than a day.

Veterinary costs, which can become quite high for certain dogs.

Grooming, which can be especially costly for long-haired or fancy-coat breeds.

We talk primarily about small dogs in this forum, and I am here to tell you, costs do not go down with the size of the dog. In fact, many small dogs can cost as much or more to maintain than large dogs. Food for thought, if you happen to be one of the unfortunate people who are feeling the consequences of a down economy.

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