I was recently floored when I learned something new. I mean, I get that they say you learn something new everyday, but some are more disturbing than others. I admit to be pretty naïve about most things. I don’t like sad or scary movies because they affect me for weeks to months, I’ve only been with one man (Biblically) my whole life, I didn’t start drinking until I was of legal age, and was scared by our D.A.R.E. program as a child and am convinced that if I try drugs in any fashion, I will immediately become addicted and sucked into a vortex of waking up in my own vomit and prostitution. So, it’s no surprise that I was the only one in the treatment area at my clinic who was even remotely surprised by this, but I was and felt the need to discuss this with you all.
We had a puppy in our clinic who was sick. He was a VERY cute puppy, a “morkie” or a Maltese X Yorkie … a “designer breed” if you’re fancy and optimistic, a “mixed breed” or “mutt” if you’re honest. (I’ll get to this later, don’t get too mad yet) These owners obtained this adorable mutt from Puppy City for a whopping $2500! I mean, I get supply and demand, but sheesh! Aaaaaannnnnddd this puppy came with the dreaded and deadly disease, Parvovirus. (Others from that same shop have come with Giardia or coccidia – both parasites that are difficult to treat and typically come from a dirty living situation – ie – the breeder) This is where it gets me; the owners did not have the money to properly treat the puppy because they didn’t even have the money to purchase the puppy in the first place. Puppy City will FINANCE people to buy a puppy they already can’t afford.
I get it, Veterinary care is expensive and, even for responsible owners, can get out of the budget. I mean, honestly, if I found out my 10 year-old large breed dog had bad cancer, I’m not going to be the one who drops thousands of dollars to give him/her an extra 4-18 months – I have three kids to raise and have to set my priorities. And I get it when a cat or dog finds you and sticks with you as a stray and you do your best, but just cannot afford that cruciate tear (ACL in humans) surgery ($5000-8000) and have to keep your dog on pain meds the rest of his life instead. What I DON’T understand is PURCHASING an animal when you don’t have the money in the first place. This goes for dogs, cats, cows, horses, etc, but also for exotics. Little tip for all you who suddenly can’t live without a sugar glider: find a vet that will treat your species of choice BEFORE having one shipped to you from Bangladesh – or where ever your exotic desire comes from – the closest *knowledgeable* vet may be 3-4 hours away and cost $300 just for the exam – it takes a special specialist to know what they’re doing for these guys.
People who accidentally get pregnant and have to live on government programs to help keep their little one alive and healthy are one thing – crap (errr, blessings) happens – but willingly going to purchase or even “rescue” an animal without the funds to take care of it (and there are no government programs to help) is downright irresponsible and frankly, not rescuing, just relocating. What typically happens in the scenario, is instead of owning up their irresponsibility, these owners will turn on the vet and use something called emotional blackmail to try to get what they want.
“What?? It’s going to be around $1000 to treat my puppy for parvo – a perfectly preventable disease with a simple vaccine series that I refused/forgot to get or tried to give myself from the feed store?? You monster, YOU are killing my puppy!! YOU are to blame for my irresponsibility!!” “So, I refused to get my female spayed because I read something on the internet, and now she has a giant sack of pus taking up her abdomen and rotting from the inside, and it’s going to cost $1500 or she’ll die??? You money hungry B**** even though it would have only been $250 to spay her on a regular appointment and not in the middle of the night when you have to call in extra staff in overtime, take up your time with your family, and when the dog is crashing and needs all sorts of extras to keep her stable during a PERFECTLY preventable disease” “Yes, I bought an English Bulldog for $5000 having no idea that they suffer almost every and any disease under the sun and will cost at least $1000/year to keep up with, especially when I don’t heed your advice and come back every 6 months with all the problems out of control again”
Any who, whether you adopt or shop, just make sure you are doing it responsibly. I’ve had several owners bring in a puppy they purchased and told me that after seeing the conditions at the breeder when they picked them up, they felt more like they were rescuing them. Unfortunately, if you are giving the breeder money, you are supporting their breeding program, only to breed more puppies and get more money. If you are truly concerned about the condition, call Animal Control. Don’t support their function. There are REALLY good breeders out there who actually care about the quality of the dogs they are producing, not just the color or size, or just because they have a boy dog and a girl dog and want to make money. There are breeders who actually have their breeding stock checked for common diseases like OFA certification to make sure they have genetically good hips and elbows, heart tests, full genetic screens to make sure your dog will live as long as possible. They also only breed the dogs that have the best personalities for the purpose they are bred for. Personality is very heritable and if you go to pick up a puppy and the mom or dad it barking it’s head off on the end of a leash and you can’t touch it, or cowering in the corner with “whale eyes” walk away, you don’t want that disaster. These wonderful breeders will charge more than what you can find in the “for sale” section of the paper, but they are SO much more worth it, and 3-4x less than the “designer” breeds – which *tend to have ZERO testing or care taken. *I’m sure there are very careful breeders of Doodles, but I haven’t met them.
Last note: animals are for life. If you get a dog/cat, you’ll need to understand that every time you move you will need to find a pet-friendly place. If you decide you need a tortoise or African Grey parrot – you’ll need to leave them in your will to someone as they may outlive you.
Fine words Emily.
Marco from Italy who have 2 dogs and 4 cats and know that it is forever.
Thank you for your common sense blogs.
Your hair cut is very becoming!
Thanks so much for this post. We just had a kerfuffle in my town’s cat-centered Facebook group because someone was complaining about the costs of blood tests for her cat and blaming the high costs on the vet. It does seem that some vets in my town charge more than others, and of course different vets make different judgment calls on “we should run some tests” vs. “I’m not worried about that slightly elevated number in your elderly cat who’s otherwise hanging in there” (for example). But I imagine at this point you can arrange almost any treatment/surgical procedure/etc. for an animal as you can for a human. We collectively share the costs for human treatments with insurance and social programs, but for the most part with pets we’re on the hook for the REAL costs, and the ability to pay those varies. But you have to be prepared to handle a certain level of expenses. I can’t imagine financing a puppy. I’m frustrated enough when I see folks looking to adopt kittens from a private citizen rather than a shelter or rescue because they don’t want to pay the minimal up-front cost charged (to cover spaying/neutering and vaccinations!).
BRAVO!!! Agree 100 %! If someone gets mad, tough. I have always appreciated your common sense and plain speaking. Keep it going!
YES! And if they shed? Embrace the fur-covered clothing. Worth it!
Thank you Dr. Emily! Yes the world needs constant reminder of “common sense”. Love you!
I totally get it and support your thoughts! Animals are forever family. Do your research and plan carefully to have your pet be a good fit and be prepared to give it a great life! Keep it going, DrEmily, you rock!
I love that you publish this info!!! I’m old & have the same responses to the problems you touch on. I purchased my Irish Setter from a breeder & saw both parents in the breeders home. For several decades I have gone to the Local dog show to see the breeds AND TALK to breeders. Over the course of my long life I have had strays, adopted from the local shelter, had mixed breed (mutt), & bought from local breeders (Irish Setter, Belgian Malinois, Collie). I do prefer the latter as I know what traits the dog was bred for—-for many decades if not centuries.
Thank you so much for this message. People need to be so aware of the “greeders” who have no concern for the puppies they bring into this world, their only concern is the $ they can make from those adorable “pomskys “, “morkies “, “puggles “, “-oodles “. Also, not all “rescues” do so out of the goodness of their hearts. Beware: many rescues are “retail rescue” and make a shit-ton of money from the soft hearted person who thinks they are rescuing a pug/golden/etc from a Chinese meat farm…do you really think they breed purebreds for food? Go to a reputable breeder associated with the American or Canadian Kennel Clubs, who can provide you with health clearances from OFA and a generational pedigree showing the same. Unfortunately, purchasing a pet is “buyer beware” so do your research.
You hit the nail on the head with this post.
Thank you for informing people about bad breeders, spaying and neutering, your pets.
Keep on writing about these subjects.
This is why I can’t get a cat. I can’t afford it.
Great post, and sorry that people take it out on vets; as if your job isn’t stressful enough. Our donkeys are in fact in our will.
Very good, sensible advice. I totally understand your take on the lack of fiscal responsibility which must be taken into account when getting a pet. Research any prospective breed before getting attached. And as for rescue, you can’t save them all. I’ve seen good people go down the rescue path and end up with a pack, none of whom have a great pet life because they are just housed rescues. Sometimes I just have to hug my two dogs, carefully chosen and cared for while hoping that somehow people will wake up to reality. I’m not holding my breath.
Thank you for your honesty. I wish the people who actually need this advice would follow your blog before buying a sick dog for so much money. Can’t you as a vet report the breeder? Those people really need to be stopped. It’s not fair to anyone, most of all the dogs. And it’s certainly unfair for the irresponsible owners to expect you to clean up their mistakes.
right on, Dr Emily. Christmas blessings.
PREACH 🙌
I just found out that a family I know, who are NOT in financial straits are RENTING their doodle male. The breeder collects a fee and has the right to get him back every six months for stud. The family pays ALL vet bills as well as every expense incurred by dog ownership. At the end of five years, the dog is “paid off” and their’s to keep. As we all know, expenses for dogs get higher as they get older. What a SCAM this breeder has set up! He doesn’t even have to feed the dog, just collect money for “rent” and sell the puppies for five years. And, just imagine your kids loving a dog for four and a half years and the breeder deciding he wants it back. This practice makes NO sense for the family!!
Bravo Emily very well said. Even though I don’t agree that Puppy mills should exist, the ones that do should have strict regulations so they can weed out the undesirables. I adopt only and have my entire life. As far as exotic pet’s leave them in their natural habitat in whatever country they come from. If you knew the suffering these animals endure being ripped from their mother at birth, mishandled and put in overcrowded cages all so someone can ooh and ahh over them and all of a sudden they’ve grown bigger than you can handle and you turn them loose in
the environment and they become breeding machines and then theyre classified as invasive species. Just look at whats happening in Florida alone, native species are beingwiped out by invasives. Exotic animals donot belong living with humans.
Thank you for this. It would be awesome if people reading it would take it to heart, but let’s face it. They can be so stupid, buying a pet they can’t afford, that they’d dismiss your words as you being nothing more than a wet blanket, raining on their parade. As for the breeders, they need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law, not that I think they will be.
You’re an excellent vet, and I loved Dr. Pol the most when you were on it. Happy Holidays to you and the family!
I can’t even think about this subject it is so upsetting to me. These poor animals have to endure whatever people decide to put them through. Why on earth do people even want to get animals they can’t take care of? Like what’s the benefit to them? There are not enough laws to protect animals and do away with these kinds of breeders. Vaccines/spay/neuter for animals should be required, although I know that would be impossible to enforce. Ugh, it makes me so sad.
I saw so many animals even on the Dr. Pol show that come in sick and the owners are crying like it’s their child but haven’t ever even vaccinated their so-called babies!
Dr. Emily. First, I pray that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas holiday and a happy and healthy New Year. Your posts are all very interesting and I appreciate your sarcasm. But you tell it as it is, and your thoughts should be widely read. You and the Pomeranian look “marvelous “. Miss you on Dr. Pol. Seems you are much happier now, of which I am glad. Maybe you could start your own “Reality Vet” show. I wouldn’t miss an episode. Stay true to yourself.
Love and appreciate your posts from one empath to another . You have a beautiful heart ❤️
Great post Emily… just wanted to wish you and Tony and the kids a very Merry Christmas and the best to all of you in 2022…
Dr Emily, I totally agree with you and also learned things I had never thought about. Thank you again for posting and always enjoy hearing what you have to say and how you and your family are doing. You are a wonderful vet! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours to stay safe and well❤️
This is so true. People should read this and not just the title.
You are SO VERY SPOT ON! I bought a ferret because my husband had fond memories of having a ferret as a boy…briefly… I had no idea what I was doing and it was a huge learning curve. I’m lucky that I found a knowledgeable vet only an hour away, and a ferret care group that has very knowledgeable admins that have helped me understand what I have in store healthcare wise. It’s frightening to think about, but she has absolutely stolen our hearts and we will care for her to the best of our abilities for as long as we can. I wish that EVERYONE could read your message and would take it to heart. Thanks for sharing this …Merry Christmas 🎄
Oh, I’m so glad you found knowledgeable ferret folks! They are SUCH wonderful little critters that it is totally worth it, but their typical aging health issues would be so much harder if you didn’t know what to expect. Merry Christmas to you and your weasel!
You are absolutely spot on! Animals are for life, the good, the bad, no matter what. They didn’t have a choice to be brought into this world or who they end up living with, so the least we can do is give them a good home, love them with everything we have, and give them the best life possible. I have grown up with English Bull Terriers my entire life. I have shown them since I was 6 years old and my family has always raised them. I’m also all for rescuing animals, as they truly deserve a loving home. I worked for an amazing vet from the time I was 16 until 23 when I finished my degree. I completely admire you Dr. Emily, and think you are an incredible vet and person. I actually have an 11 year old female that I want to bring to you that we are pretty certain has TCC, and I feel like we have come to a place where the vets she has seen don’t know what else to do for her. As you stated, I absolutely do not want her to suffer but want to know if there’s anything else I can do for her, within reason. I truly love your posts and hearing about your family. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! God bless you Dr. Emily!
Well said Doc-have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year
Well Said!
Its better to have just one animal to which you can provide quality care & provide a wonderful life to than to have 10 that can receive only minimal care because its out of your budget.
What happened to the Morkie? Hope you have a Merry Christmas.
Well put! Thank you for stating what seems obvious to most.
Impulse buying is a real bad idea with any life form. Think before you leap.
After difficulties finding a vet to come euthanize my downed Llama, I swore I would never have an animal that could not easily have vet care. So when I called my equine vet about going to the zebra auction and she said ABSOLUTELY NOT, I listened. No zebras for me. 😊
Amen.
Yes!! I just don’t understand people! However, I’m also the person that has never purchased an animal. They just show up here! My husband says that we have a beacon shining that tells them that this lady will help you. LOL
Yes. Times a zillion. I love animals, especially dogs. But I don’t have the temperament, the life experience, or the desire to care for another human, let alone an animal. I don’t have the will to clean up pee and poop or to wipe an animal’s back end. And I certainly don’t have the money. So for me, even volunteering at a shelter, which I’d hoped to do someday, is a no-go.
Stupid humans, know thyselves.
Well said Dr. Emily! I agree 100%.
Number one: I love your hair blonde! Number two: I am so sorry to see Merlin passed! Number 3: I so agree with everything you are saying. There are too many dogs in the world without homes already. Don’t need breeders ( especially irresponsible ones) adding to the count. Thank you for getting this out there.
Still miss you on tv.
Absolutely great and timely post Emily! You hit all the points that we all need to remember re: Responsible Pet Ownership. This time of year (Christmas ) it is probably the worst time to bring home/rescue a new kitten or puppy! Even in the “best homes” will have a certain amount of chaos and confusion. Lots of celebrating, friends and family visiting and of course alcohol consumption is part of the festivities! Even with the best intentions a puppy is likely to get lost among big feet, discarded ribbons and wrapping paper! I think we have all known people that have thought “Money is tight this year , so we are going to have Santa bring a puppy! Again to your point Emily there is no thought really about
the pup or kitten. This thinking is a recipe for disaster! Most folks do better when they know better! Educating and re-education annually (and throughout the year) is key. And it is
incumbent on all of us to do this; not just our overworked veterinarian ! Maybe people and families could volunteer at their local shelter. Donations besides money are always needed! Things like old blankets, bowls, cleaning supplies, kitty litter etc. Usually shelters post lists of items they need most. My kids loved doing this and they learned what how to properly care for both cats and dogs! It was a win for all. Thanks for your ongoing efforts to write fun and informative posts always supporting animal welfare!
I basically always grew up with dogs. I don’t recall my dads dogs ever going to a vet. I remember one year when we had 3 hunting beagles my dad went to a vet supply store across from a local horse racing track. He walked in flashed his badge and bought rabies vaccine with tags, glass syringe and needles and we gave the dogs the shots ourselves 1960s. When my dad passed I went in the backyard to replace the fence and found a cement plaque I made when those beagles passed. My dad never allowed the dogs to be in the house. To my shock decades later I saw they only lived 3 or 4 years because they must have died from heart worms. After my dad passed we got a yorkie then inherited the yorkies mother from my cousin. Took them regularly to vet but never spayed them. Don’t remember why but they got infected, had $$$$ surgery like you said and tumors maybe from that and/or my mom insisted to feed them people food. After they passed I got a Jack Russell and couldn’t wait until I could get her spayed and use tick flea heart worm meds 12 months of the year. That was the smartest dog I ever had but OMG shed 24/7/365. My now non shedding Westie 100% health protection like the JR but she is the stupidest dog I ever had. So Dr. Emily looks like today we will be joining you in sharing the flu with everyone here. Haven’t hat the flu in 50 years.