Paying dog fees

PDSA - People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals - exists purely to treat animals whose owners can’t afford vet fees or insurance. So approaching them, or an RSPCA clinic, wouldn’t be cheeky. The money hasn’t come out of thin air, it comes from people who care about the welfare of animals. I’m one of them and I expect there are many others on GN.

Yes indeed GSM everything should be tried to help the dog. That's why we support charities like PDSA and RSPCA I hope the dog gets the care it needs now.

I’m entirely practical if it’s a young dog with good life prospect then maybe, if it’s an old dog, no, far too many have expensive operations only to die within a year.

That's a lot of money to ask to borrow. Couldn't your friend pay on his credit card? That's what we had to do for large vet bills for the cats we had over the years.

If it were my dog, or a dog I could help, I couldn’t put a price on that year Katie, so long as the quantity of life is satisfactory. Life can be good at any age,

HVDY if the man is on benefits he probably doesn’t have a credit card.

Lucy loo I’m so sorry to read your update. It’s dreadful to feel you’ve ‘been played’. Give yourself a break, you sound like a kind, generous and caring friend. This man doesn’t deserve that.
The rspca/non for profit vet (we have one In ourvtown) will treat pets if the owner is on benefits. The key issue for me would be quality not quantity of life. X

Germanshepherdsmum

If it were my dog, or a dog I could help, I couldn’t put a price on that year Katie, so long as the quantity of life is satisfactory. Life can be good at any age,

HVDY if the man is on benefits he probably doesn’t have a credit card.

My neighbouring had a 14 yr old terrier that could hardly walk it had arthritis and was on painkillers they paid the vet £2500 over 3 months for various treatments and the dog died.
How do vets sleep at night!.

Katie59, don’t the owners bare some responsibility for their dogs suffering. What did the owners expect with such an old dog, with significant health problems. Sometimes, just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.
My vet offered to scan my 12 year old labradoodle’s stomach as it was clear cancer removed two years earlier had metastasised. She wasn’t eating, struggling to walk and her eye contact with me told me she had enough. The deterioration was over 5 days. We helped her to leave this world with no further pain.

My vets have all been skilled professionals who work with me to get the best for my dogs. Dogs can’t tell yiu they’re in pain, other than by changes is eating, mobility, joy in their eyes.

I hadn't noticed earlier that the man is on benefits or that the original poster was in a relationship with the man. It's sad for her, and even sadder for the dog.

Katie, all the vets I have used over many years have been kind, caring people who have done their best for my pets. They do a gruelling job and the profession has a high suicide rate. They are highly qualified people who deserve to earn a good salary, as would a private doctor. I expect with the things they have to deal with many find it hard to get a good night’s sleep - not for the reason you suggest.
As Iam says, it’s our duty to accept the situation when further treatment would not be in the animal’s best interest. Quality of life is everything. A vet won’t offer treatment for the sake of making money and will always advise whether it would be kinder to euthanise. Sadly, some pet owners don’t want that advice and will selfishly keep their animal alive at all costs - in which case the vet can only give such treatment as will limit suffering.

Lucy loo. If this dog is not being looked after, perhaps you should report it , anonymously, to the rspca.

So sorry to hear about the relationship. You are worth more than this.

All best wishes.

Lucyloo12

He will never let me have the dog. She has in essence breast cancer with a very large swelling which needs removal. It's that or euthanasia. It is very risky, she could live with ongoing care or not make it at all. It's so so sad for her.

How old is the dog? Is it fair to put it through the surgery?

If you really care about the animal, you could arrange payment directly with the vet.

Of course, you should never have anything to do with him again. He's an a**ehole and yes, has used you. But that isn't the dog's fault.

And also, as others have said, if he's neglecting the animal, report him. Maybe she will be taken away from him and could be rehomed with you.

Vets offer payment plans!

You give it and ask for repayment is a good way to loose a friend.
You refuse to pay and again a good way to loose a friend.
I’d not give the money and I’d not lend it either.
She could get a loan elsewhere.

Sorry, just read your update. It's awful that you feel used and I hope you manage to find your way through the emotional upheaval you will feel.
It's a shame for the little dog but I'd be wary of putting my dog through all the treatment. They don't understand and you can't explain. I can't help feeling we often act in our best interest rather than the animal's. However, I understand why people do it.
For those talking about pet insurance and you shouldn't have a dog if you can't afford the vet's bills. A dog lives for a fair number of years and circumstances change. Also, insurance has become so expensive particularly once the dog is over 8 years of age. I paid for my last dog's lifetime insurance right up til he was 9 but once I got the quote for his insurance after that, it was so expensive, I didn't bother. Also, my husband had retired so we were on a fixed income. I put money away instead. If I had moved to another insurance company, there were things I wouldn't be covered for so it wasn't really worth it.

I'm so sorry you had to deal with this. You did the right thing. By the sound of it the poor dog might be better off put to sleep so she won't suffer.

Don't pay. That's ridiculous. There should be insurance in place to pay for this sort of operation.

I am literally on my uppers with my little dog. He has had 4 operations in 2 years. Fortunately all were covered by insurance, I had to pay the excess. Unfortunately the medicines he has to have every day for the rest of his life are extremely expensive and we are regularly in and out of the vets for various treatments.
Last week for example he had sickness and d ( can't spell it) and that cost me £105 for an injection and medication.
I wouldn't dream of asking anyone for help. I pray I don't lose my little dog because I can no longer afford to keep him. His needs are so great that I wonder if anyone else would have the patience !
Sorry to rattle on but I got cross when I read how much stress this person has put you under.

Honestly, your so-called friend has a brazen streak, and I would not place any dependence upon him paying you back the money if you lent it to him, which I hope you will not.

As a pet owner myself, I would never ask a friend to pay my vet's bill for me - I would somehow or other find the money myself, even if I had to ask the vet to let me pay the bill in installments.

I do realise that the owner of the dog may be facing either having to pay for a costly operation or to have the dog put down, but that is not your affair. He could either have taken out insurance long since for the dog, or put money aside for vet's bills.

Does he not have a car he could sell? A room he could let? Time and strength to take on an extra job?

Please do not give in to this emotional blackmail. If you feel you must offer to help, don't give him money, offer to speak to the vet about an installment plan, or what the alternatives are, but make it absolutely clear the bill is his responsibility and his alone. You could offer him two square meals a week at your house while he is struggling to recover from paying the bill, but don't give him money.

I don’t suppose someone on benefits can afford insurance albertina, nor get a loan LovelyLady.

I definitely wouldn’t pay!
When we adopted our dog, Vincent, he was 18 months old and had pre existing conditions which meant the insurance was extremely expensive. Finding money for basics wasn’t a problem but if he’d needed a major operation we certainly didn’t have thousands to spare. We sat down as a family and made the decision that if he ever needed expensive treatment we would choose to have him put to sleep. Thankfully it didn’t come to that.
Vincent died a couple of years ago but due to the cost of caring for an animal we have decided, for the time being at least, not to get another dog.

Most vets do payment plans …have a word directly with them. You don’t need to ask them to discuss their client’s needs,you could ask in general. Your friend could pay them monthly.
Quite often aftercare adds a more expense. Please be careful.
As many people say,I’d approach the PDSA.

Just say 'sorry no'. That's all you have to say.

Help your friend find out about spreading payments or some sort of formal loan (not from you). If it turns out they don't want to take a formal loan - would they really pay you back?

This is my take on it if he is a genuinely good friend and you are close to him.
If his circumstances are such that he can’t afford the cost, whilst I enjoy a very good living, I would give him the money.
If I couldn’t afford to lose the money, then I wouldn’t give it to him.
I know that people should be able to afford their own dog care, but the cost of living crisis has certainly made things very difficult for some people. Not everyone takes out insurance. We’re all different.

Sorry to read your update Lucyloo. Sorry also that I didn’t see it before replying…..