Dogs?? Help! (Chicago, Schaumburg, Normal: maintenance, apartments, rental)

[samma]

I am really wanting to get a dog for my townhouse, but I am having a really hard time. All the shelters require you to be 21 or older(and I'm not) and I really don't want a little puppy and couldn't afford one anyways. All the local pet stores are $700 and up. I looked on petfinder and craigslist already. Does anyone know a good paper where people list classifieds?

[Crimmy]

Originally Posted by samma

I am really wanting to get a dog for my townhouse, but I am having a really hard time. All the shelters require you to be 21 or older(and I'm not) and I really don't want a little puppy and couldn't afford one anyways. All the local pet stores are $700 and up. I looked on petfinder and craigslist already. Does anyone know a good paper where people list classifieds?

Maybe you could try to rescue a dog? Examples:
Illinois Foster Dogs

Petfinder.com: Adopt a pet and help an animal shelter rescue a puppy or kitten.

There are plenty of dogs that have been abused, abandoned, disabled, or born with problems that need a loving home. I would pick a breed that suits your lifestyle and Google a rescue for that breed in your area. You'd be doing a great things for animals and saving money as well!

[Calidreemer]

Hi Samma, it's great that you want to adopt a dog. They can be wonderful companions and friends to us. I volunteer for a breed rescue and have also owned dogs for my whole life so I understand why you would want a dog. I also do understand why shelters have a minimum age for adoption. This is due to many young people impulsively adopting pets and being unable/unwilling to provide the financial and custodial care required by an animal that will most likely be around from 12 -15 years. Can you guess who loses out?

Before you adopt a dog be be sure you can afford his/her care which will include good quality food, appropriate leash, collar, dog bowls, and routine, non -routine and emergency medical care, grooming, and of course - humane training with a qualified instructor (I like clicker training). I suspect that if you are having difficulty affording a $700 puppy, an unexpected medical issue for your new dog could be highly problematic for you, so you really need to think about all of these things before taking a pet into your life.

Our dog had an inter-digital cyst ( a cyst between her toes) that came up quite rapidly and required $500 worth of surgery and another $50 for pain medication and $20 for antibiotics. This was after we had an initial examination ($120) and put her on antibiotics ($20) to try to resolve it without surgery. There's your $700 puppy right there. We know that skin issues are common for our breed of dog as is bloat and achilies tendon issues. So it is also helpful to research breeds so you know their traits (even mixed breeds) and understand and anticipate their behavior.

You may want to consider volunteering as a foster home for a rescue group or a shelter. This would be a great way to do something really nice and see how a dog fits into your life. It would also be a great way to show a shelter or a rescue that you are a responsible and dedicated owner. This way if a dog seems like it's too high maintenance for your life right now you know the situation is temporary and once the dog is adopted you don't have to get another one. The other thing is that as a foster, the rescue/shelter is usually responsible for the dog's medical expenses and often provides equipment like crates and sometimes other things.

I also would say that buying a dog from a pet store is about the worst thing you can do. Many of these puppies come from puppy mills (go to Humane Society of the United States website for more information on this horrible problem) and purchasing a puppy this way supports this inhumane industry.

I really think volunteering for a rescue group or shelter is a great way to help out while learning if a dog is really for you. Good luck.

[samma]

My reason for no beiing able to do $700 for a puppy is I have a $500 pet deposit, as well. So a $700 puppy is really a $1,300-$1,400 puppy after you get all their stuff as well. And i just don't see why anyone would spend $700+ on a og when they can get one at a shelter for less and it will most likely be a better dog. I worked at a local pet shop back home, and we always had tons of animals at home(2 dogs, 2 rabbits, a bird, a snake, a turtle, a lizard, and many others in the past at different times). So I've been around dogs forever. As for vet bills my cousin lives a few hours from here and she said whenever the dog and I come down to see her she will do the care and check-ups for free.

[Calidreemer]

Hi Samma - I am glad you are thinking ahead about the needs of a dog. As a renter extra deposits and sometimes up-charges in rent are very common and another expense to be considered in owning a pet. It can also be difficult to find rentals willing to take pets. If you move are you prepared to only consider dog friendly rentals? Many pets are returned because their owners decide on housing that doesn't accept pets.

Is your cousin a vet? If so that's great! That will be a big help. The only thing is that is fine for routine care, but if your dog needs emergency care you will have to take the dog to a local emergency care facility and the expense will be yours. Vets typically want their payment in full which can also be difficult. My previous dog got leptospirosis and had to go to emergency care. She was hospitalized for a week after the emergency care and both places wanted full payment upon discharge. The emergency care was $400 and the hospitalization and follow up was another $1300. I was in my early 20s at the time and was working full time, but still it was very expensive (yet worth it - I wouldn't ever complain about my responsibilities for my dog).

I guess I am just a little concerned about your ability to provide for a dog if you are having difficulty with $1300 - $1400 in up front costs and then have to rely on free medical care. That makes me think that a foster situation would be a great opportunity to help a needy dog, enjoy a dog's company without adding too much cost.

I guess I would say that I hope you really give serious consideration to adding a dog to your life. I have seen too many animals suffer due to well intentioned people not being able to live up to their responsibilities. Please just think really hard about this before you make any permanent decisions. Good luck.

[gardener34]

I would consider fostering dogs. Or contacting a breed specific rescue in your area. They always need foster homes and the $ for their care, mostly comes from the donations to their rescue society.

People that rent can sometimes end up giving up their dogs, when their renting situation changes. There are not too many apartments that let in pets, deposit or not. This would be heartbreaking for you.

Wait until your lifestyle is more settled and you can go to a shelter and get the dog that "calls to you".

[samma]

This is the first time I have been dogless(and petless for that matter) since I was 3 years old. I went and looked at 12 different apartments in Schaumburg alone and all allowed pets with a pet deposit so I'm not sure where you are getting this idea that you can't have animals. I am a college student so I am not making tons of money, if my cousin is willing to give me free vet care I'll take it, why pay when I can get it for free from someone I trust???? Normal vet bills and dog care is really no that much money. I know for our two dogs it was $300 a year in vet bills, and $40 a month in food/products for them which I have no problem paying for. I can afford an emergency bill with a dog, that isn't an issue, I just don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a dog when there are ones being killed everyday who need homes. I don't see the point, I don't want a purebred dog as they tend to have more health issues, so why would I spend 6 times as much to get a dog who doesn't NEED a home, when shelters have dogs who do need homes??? As for fostering, my life is VERY settled here. I don't want to get a dog to have to give it up, that would be heartbreaking. I have only giving one animal up in my life and it was so she could be with her mate. My reason for not being able to get a shelter/pound dog is because of age requirements, not an "unsettled" life, so I dout they would let me foster if I'm not allowed to adopt one of their dogs.

[Angelatc]

Are you looking for a specific type of dog? I mean, I can't imagine *not* being able to find a dog on Craig's List, Petfinder, or in the paper, under "Free." I have to say that sort of rings false to me. There's thousands of good dogs on those sites, and none of them are right for you? Chicago's Animal Care & Control can set you up with a new best buddy for $65.00.

Don't know what kind of dog you're looking for, but Fur Keeps Animal Rescue in Barrington, and Midwest Border Collie Rescue both will adopt to adults under 21.

[Calidreemer]

If you are fully equipped to provide a permanent, loving home for a dog then I think it's a wonderful thing. I'm glad you are living in a community with lots of pet friendly rentals.

Volunteering in rescue organizations and being involved in organizations as an advocate for animals I have seen too many animals lose permanent homes for reasons that could/should have been thought about initially. For instance our rescue had a dog returned after 2 years because the fiance (who wasn't around when the dog was adopted as a puppy) didn't like the dog. How sad is that?

Just be sure you are making the right decision for yourself and the dog. I would also suggest going through a breed rescue because they often know the dogs quite well and the good ones are willing to provide support and do take dogs back if owners can no longer care for him or her.

Good luck to you and I do agree with you about adopting - as they say "don't buy while shelter animals die".

[Honeycrisp]

Would bypass puppies - they need a lot of attention and housetraining can be challenging at best if no one's there to let them out, they need to go out often. That said, there's tons of nice dogs, all sizes, ages etc, who need some TLC - but be sure you have enough money b/c it does add up, even with connections (of a free vet, which is great btw), we spent a small fortune on h/w meds, Frontline Plus etc - always good to be prepared. Good luck