Shocked ---$$$$$$$$$

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Dogmad, I know all this. You're preaching to the converted as they say.

The dog is a 6 month old entire cross breed i believe. In this instance we are talking about the cost to buy it from the pound. We're not talking about how hard rescue allegedly is or how much it costs to rescue a dog. We're talking about how much it costs to BUYa dog, in this instance, from a pound.

Yes Anne, I get that but there's so much more to consider on this issue and I have bought many dogs from the pound.

I could just list the $$ but it's not that interesting a read.

[~Anne~]

And no offence, but reading the constant reminder of how hard it is to rescue and how costly it is rescue and how unnappreciated it makes one feel is as frustrating as listening to the very same cry from breeders in my view.

[~Anne~]

Why does it have to be interesting? Sorry, but I thought we were discussing a subject. The subject was the cost of purchasing a dog from the pound. If you don't find it interesting, why post?

[~Anne~]

Sorry Dogmad. I think I need more coffee. I know we're on the same page but the text is jumping all over the place for me this morning! :laugh:

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Why does it have to be interesting? Sorry, but I thought we were discussing a subject. The subject was the cost of purchasing a dog from the pound. If you don't find it interesting, why post?

No problem, I've deleted my posts. Have a great day everyone. :)

[Alyosha]

But this dog is offered at over $400 undesexed.

Huh? Where?!

The pound quoted $298 (or something within that range) for a vaccinated, microchipped and registered dog.

The OP then said it would cost them x amount to desex and vaccinate.

I think you need to read the posts again, carefully!

Apolgies Anne, you are right.

[cryptic]

Last week i purchased a female dog from Blacktown pound . She cost me $273 . She was not desexed or vaccinated . As this dog was a surrender she was due straight away.and I was told that she was not eligable to be put through the free desexing programme . The price included registration and microchipping. The registration fee of $150 is not refundable when i have her desexed.

[Guest muttrus]

while I understand all of your comments my point is $268 to start with for a dog no-one knows anything about and if a family is adopting could be risky its alot of money to gamble -----Ive done it 3 times and been lucky to have had over 16 wonderful years with the best ever pound dog.

But I also think we think differently remember almost all of you have seen things none of the public have and are well educated on the ins and outs of dogs cats rescue vets etc

If the average jo blow wanted a dog and thought it was the best thing to do was to save a life while its great they aren"t prepared for what you already know .

Of course they can adopt from rescue and will be informed more about the dog because its been with a carer who is more than happy to allow the dog to be meet with the family in a much better setting and with someone who knows about the dog so this is ideal

The desexing program is outstanding but I live far and theres the thought of my dog sitting in the pound for upto a week longer is scary.

The cost of dogs vary from free to good home to $200 to $1000"s I think if some wants a certain breed then going to a breeder and paying that is something they know and expect.

I must also add I bought a 8 week old puppy from the same pound for $90 with chipp etc he too was on deathrow. so in my house we have ex-foster ---free( vet work complete) ,pug x ,free (vet work complete) ,bull arab x dane $150 ( plus $90 desexing $54 vaccination $30 chip) bull arab x $202 (from pound with chip $109 extra for desexing $60 vaccination) so costs do vary and we were lucky there were no health problems but by paying a huge amount to buy the dog it adds up with the extras and yes we did all the right things but I wonder if people have already paid alot to buy the dog would they not in turn want to pay the extras? BARE in mind just because you know and would I mean the average jo blow taking all things into account this is where things go different

So yes I think going to a rescue is CHEAPER but what if the dog in the pound? does this then have an effect on its chances?

[~Anne~]

I still don't understand the point. If you buy a cross bred from a pet shop or out of the classifieds you also have a dog that you know nothing about and is not desexed and you pay far more particularly from a pet shop.

Is your point because it is a pound dog it has a lower value?

A dog is a commodity that costs. One reason why I believe dogs end up in shelters is because they have such a low value and your argument supports that.

What am I missing?

It is a dog in a pound. It has value. $200 odd dollars isn't a lot of money for an animal that will potentially give you up to 15 years of companionship.

The only effect it has on its chances is through people believing the dog doesn't equate to that value and THAT is why it ended up in the situation in the first place.

[_PL_]

I guess it wouldn't be such an issue if the pounds all had a desex package.

With the rising costs of everything, the one thing (imho) Muttrus' topic illustrates is that when councils discuss that instituting across-the-board vetwork: might mean less dogs purchased (more PTS).... Doesn't seem to be a valid argument anymore?

And as a side note: while at BP one day we saw a lovely pensioner couple adopt a dog who was already chipped, desexed etc when impounded. They were over the moon. :)

Cryptic that's sad did they say why she was not eligible?

[Pawfect]

I still don't understand the point. If you buy a cross bred from a pet shop or out of the classifieds you also have a dog that you know nothing about and is not desexed and you pay far more particularly from a pet shop.

Is your point because it is a pound dog it has a lower value?

A dog is a commodity that costs. One reason why I believe dogs end up in shelters is because they have such a low value and your argument supports that.

What am I missing

It is a dog in a pound. It has value. $200 odd dollars isn't a lot of money for an animal that will potentially give you up to 15 years of companionship.

The only effect it has on its chances is through people believing the dog doesn't equate to that value and THAT is why it ended up in the situation in the first place.

Petshops don't sell ADULT dogs, and not many people in the classifieds would sell adult dogs for that amount. I'd assume buying a puppy from the pound at that price wouldn't be so much of an issue, but for an adult dog that clearly didn't have the best owner then it may be a bit of a gamble with your money....

Edited March 15, 2012 by Pawfect

[Plan B]

Petshops don't sell ADULT dogs, and not many people in the classifieds would sell adult dogs for that amount. I'd assume buying a puppy from the pound at that price wouldn't be so much of an issue, but for an adult dog that clearly didn't have the best owner then it may be a bit of a gamble with your money....

I'd say the opposite.

With an adult dog, you know more about what you're getting. Behaviour, temperament, health.

With a puppy, you don't know any of these things.

[Nic.B]

I still don't understand the point. If you buy a cross bred from a pet shop or out of the classifieds you also have a dog that you know nothing about and is not desexed and you pay far more particularly from a pet shop.

Is your point because it is a pound dog it has a lower value?

A dog is a commodity that costs. One reason why I believe dogs end up in shelters is because they have such a low value and your argument supports that.

What am I missing?

It is a dog in a pound. It has value. $200 odd dollars isn't a lot of money for an animal that will potentially give you up to 15 years of companionship.

The only effect it has on its chances is through people believing the dog doesn't equate to that value and THAT is why it ended up in the situation in the first place.

I agree shelter pets are often devalued, there are also stigmas attached to shelter pets "if they are in the pound they must have done something wrong' 'or they must have something wrong with them'. Education is vital in this aspect, companion animals are surrenedered or unclaimed for many reasons. Lack of training, socialisation, grooming, or workable behavioural/health issues, impulse buying, not being able to (or prepared) to pay impound fees or fines etc all fall back upon the owners realistically.

The great majority of companion animals at my local shelter are all healthy, rehome able pets and make great companions. They respond to training and boundries quickly most often and improve each day most often, many do have some basic training already, some are faultless!

At HP the purchase fee for a dog is $36.50, a chip $40, and rego $150 if undersexed. $40 if desexed, the fees vary greatly depending on their chipping and desex status. Seniors are $50, chipped and registered. Puppies under six months are not required to be registered until six months so are $ 76.50.

I agree pounds and shelters really need to look at desexing all companion animals prior to leaving the shelter.

I agree with Anna, some councils are wary of vetting as they believe the price will rise to buy a dog from the shelter if vet work is included, and this will impact on their current rehome rates. Realistically it would not cost much more to have a fully vetted dog, especially if vets are happy to assist with cheaper rates and the chip fee is reduced. Lifetime rego will automatically be reduced to $40 (NSW) $250/$270 or even $300 is a fair price to pay for a vetted companion animal (cheaper for cats) from a shelter.

The ideal setup would be to have a small surgery on the pounds premises, with numerous local vets assisting in the vet work. This is not cheap though.

Most people in the community I speak with tell me they get much more bang for their buck buying a dog from other sources (free to good home or BYB'd)where rego and chipping (both vital) is often not achieved, let alone desexing.

There is also the argument that desexing from pounds and shelters will not reduce the number of dogs arriving at shelters. This view is flawed as until every source of supply desex (aside from RB;s) we will never see a reduction in the number of dogs entering pounds and shelters.

Vic is a classic example of this, pounds and shelters desex everything that is adopted, though byb’s, pet shops, and internet sales, free to good homes etc do not. Until all these avenues desex and chip their dogs, we will never see a reduction of the numbers of dogs in pounds and shelters.

We CAN however be part of the solution and not part of the problem.I have witnessed females adopted from the pound, only to be returned with the puppies 6/12 months later. I have witnessed dogs adopted, bred, the owners keep one female puppy, sell the rest and then surrender the mother. It happens despite best efforts. Then we get the pups/adolesants at the classic age of between 6-18 months who have been offered no training or stimulation, they also clearly lack a bond with their owners.

ETA Muttrus, I would also sugest contacting Illy at BP. The pup may be under six months (check teeth) so rego will not apply until he is 6 months, desex straight away and your rego will be reduced to $40 for his lifetime. :)

Edited March 15, 2012 by Nic.B

[Alyosha]

Fantastic post Nic. :)

[cryptic]

I guess it wouldn't be such an issue if the pounds all had a desex package.

With the rising costs of everything, the one thing (imho) Muttrus' topic illustrates is that when councils discuss that instituting across-the-board vetwork: might mean less dogs purchased (more PTS).... Doesn't seem to be a valid argument anymore?

And as a side note: while at BP one day we saw a lovely pensioner couple adopt a dog who was already chipped, desexed etc when impounded. They were over the moon. :)

Cryptic that's sad did they say why she was not eligible?

They said that as she was a surrender & due straight away she was not eligible. Only dogs that are not due can be placed through the free desexing programme via expression of interest where you have that option on the form you submit. This dog therefore could only be sold undesexed. I did not want her being purchased by a backyard breeder. When i got her home i noticed she still had a disk attached to her collar with her old owners phone number.