How much do you spend to save one of your animals lives?

Background:So first let me say that I am a teacher and my fiance is a manager of a fairly successful restaurant, we do OK; not fantastic (probably about $90,000 combined). We have a mortage, car payments, student loans, etc...). We are getting married in June and have been saving for our wedding for about a year. My parents and hers are contributing a little bit and after their contribution it will cost us about $8,000. We were currently at $8,200 yesterday.

My fiance found her dog on the side of the road as a puppy 7 years ago and has had him since.So last week, her dog jumps out of the back of my truck and hurts his legs (he's been ridding back there for the last 2 years, without incident). He has been limping around one 1 leg and his other one shakes because of all the weight he has been putting on it. So we took him to the vet today and they told us he tore his ACL in both legs and one of his hips is dislocated and in order to fix it it will require surgery. If he does not get surgery, his other leg will give out in a matter of weeks and he will not be able to walk and we'll have to put him down. The vet said he is a very healthy dog and should live for a couple more years. The surgery will cost us $4,000 and it have be done immediately.

So we would have to find another $4,000 in the next 6 weeks for our wedding if we get the surgery. If we don't get the surgery we will have to put him down in possibly a few weeks. My fiance loves this dog incredibly, but come on $4,000. I think that is too much for a dog, on top of that, the money would take out half of our entire savings/wedding account. When I even brought up the possibility of not doing the surgery she started crying and wouldn't even consider hearing me out. Am I an a-hole? When is it too much money? Any advice?

Also let me state, I have a dog as well and I am a dog lover. I just draw the line at $1000 for any of their needs.

there no local rescue centre that can help? perhaps you can pay off the cost via helping at the centre and since you'll be 'staff' you might get some stuff at cost price and save a fortune

Wow that's a tough decision to make. I would not balance the decision on the wedding. I would balance it on your dog suffering for two more years or you putting him out of his misery. That is how I would weigh it but who knows. Check this video out about a success story that cost 10k.

You're not going to like this, but here goes.

First, your fiance has already committed to the dog. Second, it was your mistake to put the dog loose in back of the truck. that is completely irresponsible on your part. Yeah, it always worked before, but you have abundant proof it doesn't always work. Third, an $8,000 wedding is an extravagence.

You make $90K between you. You've got the money, even if you borrow it, to fix the dog.

So fix it.

Is there anyway for you to take out a personal loan for the amount or have you tried to set up payments with the vet? I know for human medical and dental work, a lot clinics will work out a payment schedule with the patients to cover the costs.

First I would get 2 other opinions before deciding, they can vary greatly. Then, maybe you could finance the amount? I do not know what my limit would be for my dog, she means a lot to me for sure, so I think I would do what it takes, but yea, at some point, literal affordability kicks in. I am thinking desperately here now, but I may even try and offer a trade to the vet for some type of work at the their office, whether it be paper work, cleaning, landscape or restoration.
I feel for ya, it's gotta be tough, and I hope it works out best for everyone.

Peace,
spec

ETA: Just Googled some links of interest regarding loans.
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reply to post by Maxatoria


That's a good idea, I'll look into it.

reply to post by LevelHeaded


Well we have to put down $2000 immediately, then we can work out a payment plan for a few months.

reply to post by speculativeoptimist


Thank you.

Does the vet allow payments? If so, that might be an option.

For some of us, our pets are family members. This sounds like the case for your fiancé. To her, he's more than just a dog.

If the cost is truly an issue, then consider cutting out some of the wedding budget. If you present this idea to your fiancé, you might be surprised what she would willingly give up.

Good luck to you both, congrats on your wedding!!!

You're in a tough spot, no doubt about it. There's no need to reprimand you on having a dog in the back of a truck, you've learned the hard way that it is a bad idea, as much as the dog appears to like it.

My husband and I spent $3000 on a tiny three week old kitten we found who had been attacked by some animal. He was missing an eye, his jaw was broken, he had been starving for close to a week and was not expected to survive. He was having seizures and his little jaw clicked loudly every time he moved it, so he was in intense pain. We also found his brother and sister, who were healthy but starving. They all required bottle feeding and care, but the one-eye took a great deal of medical intervention in order for him to live. We didn't really have the money, but we did it anyway, because we are suckers for animals.

You can get married without blowing a ton of money. It's not about the fancy party, it's about pledging your lives together. Do you really want to start your lives out as husband and wife knowing that you decided to be selfish and blow thousand of dollars on a wedding, rather than save an animal which you were responsible for? Do you really want to start out knowing you euthanized that dog because you'd rather make your big day a little bigger?

I would save the dog, and pare down the wedding. It's about doing what is right, and not about feeding selfish desires. Your friends will understand and admire you all the more for it. Heck, have the dog as part of the wedding.

It's a simple mathmatical equation... Is it cheaper to put a bullit in it's head?!?

Originally posted by hudsonhawk69
It's a simple mathmatical equation... Is it cheaper to put a bullit in it's head?!?

Here is someone who cannot even spell mathematical giving you mathematical advice. And it involves implanting a Steve McQueen movie into your dogs cranium.
?????
Its a tough call but in my opinion, the money you spend on your dog is more of an investment than giving a few extra ungrateful people that you may not really like a day out that will fade into memory. Money comes and goes, love and life comes but once, If you put a loved creature before your own desires I assure you that the love you receive in turn (from both your fiance and the dog) will raise your heart higher than anything on this Earth that you can buy for a few grand.
The decision is yours and yours alone.
choose
wisely my friend

Just for the record I spent a lot of money that I couldn't really afford to give my old cat a week extra of life without pain and I don't regret a cent of it.

Originally posted by HumansEh
[quote
Just for the record I spent a lot of money that I couldn't really afford to give my old cat a week extra of life without pain and I don't regret a cent of it.

And here is someone who would rather piss away money he can't afford on a cat that's going to die anyway instead of spending that money on saving a childs life. People around the world die from starvation and curable diseases while pet lovers around the world waste millions and millions of dollars upon pets. Pets that are simply filling the loveless void the that is their meaningless existance...

I have a 2 year old Great Pyrenees. He is beautiful, but when he was a puppy, my vet told me that he thought something was wrong with his hind legs. I thought he was crazy. 1 year later, the dog can barely walk and definitely can't run. By this time, I love the dog completely. He is a member of my family.

Took him to a specialist, and he said his knees were bad and misaligned. To make matters worse, he had torn his ACL in both legs. I had a choice to make. Took me about 5 minutes to come to it. He had his first leg operated on last August. 18 days ago, he had his second leg operated on. It's not fun, pleasant or easy. He has to be confined, walked with a sling under his belly in case he slips, and has become totally dependent on me. They had to saw his legs in half and realign the bone. It is painful for him.

Over $8k later, here I sit in my kitchen, reading ATS, while he rests beside me. Do I regret it? At times I do, because it is a lot of work for me, and a lot of pain and confinement for him.

My reward (and his) will one day be watching him run full out in the back yard for the first time in his life. When that day comes, I will know that the time and money spent was worth it. I gave him a chance at life.

reply to post by hudsonhawk69


Wow! Please don't own any pets....just wow! The joy and happiness that a pet brings into your life is unequaled. I hardly think being a responsible pet owner means a person lives a meaningless life. Bet you pull the wings off of flies for fun, don't you?

Is any amount of money worth more than the absolute dedication, adoration and love that your pet is capable of and willing to give you?

One word - no. I have been there, I have done that. I have paid a fortune for one of my own pet's care. She is 100 % now, and she remains one of my truest loves. The best money ever spent.

Question is - if in some weird alternate dimension the situation of human-kind and animal-kind was reversed, and your dog was capable of generating an income and taking care of you, do you think he would fork out the bucks to fix you up? Absolutely he would - because going to the ends of the earth for those he loves is in his nature. Why should we be any different?

Originally posted by hudsonhawk69

Originally posted by HumansEh
[quote
Just for the record I spent a lot of money that I couldn't really afford to give my old cat a week extra of life without pain and I don't regret a cent of it.

And here is someone who would rather piss away money he can't afford on a cat that's going to die anyway instead of spending that money on saving a childs life. People around the world die from starvation and curable diseases while pet lovers around the world waste millions and millions of dollars upon pets. Pets that are simply filling the loveless void the that is their meaningless existance...

It's a dog. Just sayin'

Well the dog is currently in surgery. Pray for the best.

reply to post by stdscf12

You won't regret your kindness towards an animal. The payback won't come from the dog necessarily. It's within. Giving this animal a chance of life and love towards you will be your reward. Karma multiplied....from one dog lover to another, good for you!