Money spent on rescues discussion

[agilitydog]

This is a very debatable discussion so please keep it civil as there is no right or wrong answer.

Another thread reminded me of various conversations about this so I thought I would bring it here.

Some dogs that come into rescue end up with some serious conditions. Shelters and rescue groups will do fundraisers to raise thousands of dollars,even up to $10,000 for some procedures on these dogs
-Some people feel save every dog you can no matter the cost.
-Others feel that perfectly healthy dogs are being euthanised everyday, why spends thousands to save one. Take that fundraised money and use it to care for numerous dogs.

So what are your thoughts on this? Is it better to euthanise some and put the money elsewhere? Or is it justified to put upwards of thousands of dollars into a rescued dog?

[Dauxside]

If I send money to a group, raising money for an individual animal (or human,) I expect my monies to be used on that specific purpose. Culling may have it's place...monster puppy, severe cleft palate, no anus, something severely and crippling wrong with no hope of a decent life, but a correctable defect, not in my world. Would I place a defective puppy? Perhaps, depending on the client, what the problem was (a repaired hernia, harelip, etc,) and of course them being fully aware, but more than likely I'd keep the puppy...because it's my responsibility for bringing it into the world, and those additional expenses, if any, are mine to bear.

[FairyDogMother]

You're right there is no right or wrong just individual opinions and heartfelt stances on the subject.

I personally feel there is not cut and dry answer here. In general I do believe that tons and tons of $$$ for a hard life that's not a sure thing is wasteful when good adoptable dogs are put down everyday!

One in our rescue has a different stance. That a dog is a pain or needs some medical is no reason to put the dog down.

Like everything else in our rescue and in my life, I look at the whole picture to make my own voice on a subject. Nothing is ever the same. Circumstances are as individual as you or I and each dog from the next.

Someone just rescued a 8 yr old shep mix from a family member who early on slammed his leg in a garage door, broke it and never had it treated. We helped them (no $ of course just a kind heart) get our Vet to look at him for a huge round sore on his leg. He has cancer now. The tumor etc will be $726. We cannot afford this kind of bill right now and they (our rescue board) are looking at ways to raise the $. The dog is older, overweight and removing a tumor may not save him either.
My vote here is to give him the gift of kindness in a peaceful send off.
They want to try everything else first.

All about where one's head and heart are at.

[Sheltiemama]

As a member of the board in our rescue organization we evaluate each situation individually. If the dog is in reasonably good health and needs a procedure to ensure that he will live a full and active life, then yes we would do surgery and wouldn't hesitate to have a fund raiser to pay for it if our coffers were too slim to accomodate the bills. On the other hand we have to consider the good of the whole. To spend money on a dog that has maybe three or four good years left and allow a risky surgery when we could save 10 with the money we would spend on the procedure then that would be taken into consideration. That particular dog would live out his life in a foster home. The only time we have an animal euthanized is when we all agree it's best for the dog we would end a life only to relieve suffering or if the dog has no quality of life anymore.
Saving every dog is not possible but we do what we can for as many as we can with the resources we have.

[Cearbhaill]

Our national breed club spends quite a large amount of money on rescue each year- I'd have to go find last years fiscal report to get an accurate number, but it's a lot.
If the money is there, why not?

As long as there are good people running the operation and doing the triage (for lack of a better word) I think it is admirable. We don't spend it on dogs that cannot be fixed or dogs with aggression/temperament problems- those dogs are euthanized. But if a dog is salvagable and the money is there we see it as part of being responsible for the breed as a whole.

Of course we have the luxury of not having too awfully many dogs in need- in a breed like Labs I doubt they have the resources to save them all.

[Trace]

I would probably place a set monetary value - say 1k.

[assortedagility]

Compassion is compassion. If you have the time and money to allow it, encourage it wherever possible. While I am a ****** for those that are usually left ignored and forgotten, I also understand fully why they are often in that place - there are just too many dogs and not enough homes.

I've gone completely out of my way to save dogs with health issues because they were extroidinary dogs. Would I do it again? YOU BET!

Is it reasonable to save EVERY dog with health issues. No. Sometimes they simply just have to be euthanized to make room for more adoptable dogs.

[agilitydog]

Originally Posted by FairyDogMother

You're right there is no right or wrong just individual opinions and heartfelt stances on the subject.

I personally feel there is not cut and dry answer here. In general I do believe that tons and tons of $$$ for a hard life that's not a sure thing is wasteful when good adoptable dogs are put down everyday!

One in our rescue has a different stance. That a dog is a pain or needs some medical is no reason to put the dog down.

Like everything else in our rescue and in my life, I look at the whole picture to make my own voice on a subject. Nothing is ever the same. Circumstances are as individual as you or I and each dog from the next.

Someone just rescued a 8 yr old shep mix from a family member who early on slammed his leg in a garage door, broke it and never had it treated. We helped them (no $ of course just a kind heart) get our Vet to look at him for a huge round sore on his leg. He has cancer now. The tumor etc will be $726. We cannot afford this kind of bill right now and they (our rescue board) are looking at ways to raise the $. The dog is older, overweight and removing a tumor may not save him either.
My vote here is to give him the gift of kindness in a peaceful send off.
They want to try everything else first.

All about where one's head and heart are at.

I whole heartedly agree with this post.

[manymuddypaws]

I don't think that there can be a set amount or standard as much with rescue is dealt with on a case by case basis.

-We spent over $1200 on a leg amputation for a dog named Ruthie- she and her pups were found on the reserve. Her leg and shoulder was shattered and we ended up amputating. She was a young, very adoptable dog.

- We treated four pups for parvo- all within a few weeks of each other. It emptied our bank account. One died. But it was worth the money. The pups have all been adopted.

- 12 week old Rottweiler pup, hit by a car. Pelvis and Front leg broken. Thank doG we got a discount- ended up costing us only $1600. She was adopted the day before her surgery and is doing great at now 2 years old.

- I got a call from a woman who "rescued" a 14 year old Shih Tzu. The owner was at the vet clinic to put him down- they didn't want to deal with an old dog anymore, wanted to travel more, and didn't want to pay the $800 to have his teeth pulled. So someone with good intentions took the dog...now what? $800 isn't that much money but then what? He is 14 years old, in not great shape. We can't take him- we have no foster home, and truthfully he is not that adoptable- we would have him in our system for a very long time (probably until he died) So I said no- hard to make that decision.

So like I said- everything is on case by case. Money isn't a huge issue- if there is a way to fix it we will do everything we can. But we know that we can't save them all. On purpose we aren't taking reserve puppies right now- it is too much risk with the Parvo. Even for rescues we are looking at a minimum of $800 to treat. Part of rescue is making the right choice-

[AtomicSkies]

i agree with fairydogmother...i think it all depends on what kind of life that money would or could give the animal