One thing people often don’t consider when getting a dog is how much one costs. There is the initial purchase of the dog. Another expense is food and toys. Something that can quickly add up is medical costs. What to do if you can’t afford your dog anymore? Most people don’t like thinking about this, but it’s best to prepare yourself. The more you learn about dog ownership and costs, the better prepared you’ll be.
If you want to learn about options when you can no longer afford your dog, continue reading below.
What to Do If You Can’t Afford Your Dog
With how expensive things, in general, have become, it’s no wonder people have a hard time making ends meet. If you have pets or a family, finances can be stretched pretty thin. Luckily, there are things you can do today to make sure you do not get put into a tough situation.
Can You Make Lifestyle Changes?
Caring for your home and your pets can get expensive. On top of that, there are always unexpected costs that show up as well. Are you doing things every day that can save you money?
Instead of going each morning for a cup of coffee, could you start making coffee at home and bringing it with you to work each morning? What about your lunches too? Can you prepare meals at home to save you an expensive trip to a restaurant?
It’s little steps like this that add up to significant savings. Speaking of savings, do you have any? Do you have a rainy-day fund you can fall back on if any unexpected purchases came up? Planning for the unexpected can help you out in times of need.
Here are some other lifestyle changes you can make to help you save more money.
- Track all your spending and savings – Just tracking your money can help you figure out places to cut costs.
- Only leave the house with cash – Having a credit card on you means you can easily overspend. If you only have money in hand, you can limit the damage done to your bank account.
- Set up automatic savings – Most banks have a way for you to deposit money into a savings account automatically.
- Buy used items – buying clothing or appliances second hand can be a great way to save money. It can also teach you about what’s important to you.
- Use your local library – This option is often overlooked, but your library is free to use. There are so many resources at your local library. Many libraries even have music, movie or video game rental as well.
Speak to Your Vet
If your dog needs treatment, go straight to the source. Talk about your hardship with your veterinarian. Many vets will offer a discounted rate if you are facing hardship. They may even know of special grant programs based on what illness your dog has or based on their breed.
Your vet may also be able to work out a payment plan with you to help lessen the sting of your medical bills. In the end, your vet wants to get paid. They also have the best interest of your dog in mind too. Your vet will not want to cause a financial burden and are likely willing to work with you.
Can Family or a Friend Take Your Dog?
If you still are having a hard time paying for your dog’s care, try letting your dog go with a family or friend. In the end, you want your dog to have the best care possible, and giving your dog to someone close to you means you’ll still be able to see them.
You can even offer to help care for the dog if you are nearby. Maybe you can still go out for walks together or play.
If you can’t find anyone close to you who can take your dog, you may consider looking further out in your social network. Are there coworkers or friends of friends who would be interested in taking your dog?
Just remember that you should trust the person who is taking your dog. It’s a big commitment to take on a dog, and you should know that whoever receives your dog is up to the task.
Try Shelters
Shelters should be one of the last places to try. You may even try an online service that can put you in contact with a shelter. Just make sure that the shelter is a no-kill shelter.
Having your pet adopted can take a long time as well. You’ll likely want to do a home visit with anyone who is considering adopting your pet. You or the shelter should be able to perform a visit to make sure whoever considers your dog is going to provide a safe and loving home for them.
It can be heartbreaking if you can’t afford your dog. There are things you can start doing today to ensure you’ll be able to provide an abundant life for your dog.