Question for everyone...

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Ok so I have a question for everyone. I have a friend (long story short) who would like to adopt a dog who has documented health problems that would require on going and expensive medical care and would obviously not be covered under pet insurance since it is already medically documented. I believe she mentioned they have horrible hips, bad allergies, and chronic ear infections and I'm sure this is only the beginning as this rescue is 3years old. She feels that she needs to give them a home and take care of them because everyone dog deserves a chance.

What would you guys do? I would love to save every dog out there but I don't know that I could knowingly sign myself up for the pain/heartbreak of knowing you would have a non healthy puppy, not even considering the financial side of it. I know we all take a chance as pet owners that our puppies will develope their own health issues and our carefully research minimizes those risks but would you guys knowingly adopt a fur baby knowing that you are already on the hook for a lot?

I really do tip my hat to people who can do this because I don't think I could. A little bit of background on my friend. She knows what she's getting into because every dog she's ever gotten, she purposely picks one with known health issues and is there for them till the end. She's had dogs with known hip and joint disease and known kidney failure and even known cancer! I literally don't know how she does it because I think that would be so heart breaking to see play out in front of you over and over.

Just curious what everyone's thought are on this.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is really a tough one. I'm dealing with this exact situation; in fact, probably worse, because ear infections are not really so terribly serious on the scale of health issues, and JD has Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which is right up there among the most difficult-and-expensive-to-treat-and- live- with incurable chronic diseases in existence, along with the bad allergies, and a bad spine instead of the bad hips.

The big difference is, I adopted him before I knew about any of that, and was deeply in love with him before his diagnoses. And when I ask myself, "if you'd known then what you know now, would you still have adopted him?", the answer is just so easy, because this is JD we're talking about. This is my guy. The greatest dog who ever lived. :) I can't even wrap my brain around the thought of never having had the pleasure and privilege of loving and caring for him. I'd absolutely adopt him again. 

But would I walk into this again, eyes wide open, with some unknown and as yet, unloved, dog?  

I honestly don't know. 

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I absolutely agree with you in the sense that if either Loki or Moose developed issues, even if they were not covered under pet insurance I would not regret having them because I know how amazing they are. I just don't know that I could knowingly adopt a dog who was already sick. Thank god there are people who can though!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Not very many. Dogs like JD or the one your friend is considering are really unadoptable. Most rescues would not accept them, and the open admissions shelters would immediately put them on the euthanasia list. I'm guessing this dog is currently with an owner?

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Yes, If she's looking to take in another dog she lets one of her good friends who is active in a rescue group know and when they are given or asked to accept dogs that are very sick they let her know. She has always said she will not take in dogs with behavioral problems because she sometimes has two dogs but she says she wants to look after the dogs that no one else would.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, there will be a big crowd waiting to greet her at the Rainbow Bridge some day, that's for sure. 

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

That's a great way to look at it :)

[Amy and Annabelle]

Aside from having to go through the heartbreak of losing them, she knows it is quality in the years, not quantity. They will die happy, knowing they were loved and well cared for. That is why she does it., for her it is a happy ending.  If she felt otherwise she couldn't keep doing it. So for me it would be the expense since they can't be covered under insurance. So if she can afford it who am I to say not to go for it. It's not like she is going into this blindly.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I think any one of us on DK would go to the end of the earth and savings account to help treat our dogs that we know and love and have, but to bring a new, strange, sick dog into my home would be a stressor that I just wouldn't bring to my family.  

Besides the fact that knowing it is in pain or sick would break my heart, the time and finances involved would be prohibitive as well. I'm just battling giardia now and it seems to be all I do all day, besides the $$$$ involved in exams, tests and meds. Its well into $500 by now and that's quite a bit on a fixed income. So I know I would not be able to do as your friend does, but thank God there are people who have the time, money and love to do so. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

It sounds like this is your friend's passion so God bless her, as long as the dog has a good quality of life under managed care and she can afford it.  It's not something for everyone, or probably even for most people.  Some people make wonderful nurses; some don't.  Every one has their own mission I guess.  This would definitely break my heart too many times.  That said, I knew the day I brought Finn home that for better or worse, this pup was forever and I would care for him always, whatever it takes, just like all of you.  But no, I would not be adopting dogs routinely with serious/terminal health issues.   

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really think this is such a personal and individual decision, and I have great respect for your friend for what she has done and is planning to do again.  To me it is similar to the people who adopt babies with special needs...sometimes severe health or developmental issues.  I have met some of them, and they are true angels.  So that brings me to "what would I do".  Before we got Murphy I would have probably said that I wouldn't do it....I would worry that it would be too difficult.  After what we've experienced with Murph (both behavioral and physical issues) I now have the confidence to know that I could handle it, and Murph with all his problems has brought more joy to us than I would ever have imagined.  The only real concern would be whether we would have the financial strength to provide the best veterinary care, since insurance would not be feasible.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

My sister adopted an old show dog when it was probably nine years old. I thought she was a little crazy for doing it.
Glory passed earlier this year, what a great dog for my sister. Glory gave as much as she was given.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Since your friend truly knows what she is getting into and can afford the treatments (whatever they are), then she is one of those special people one only meets once in a while and I say kudos to her.  I know a family who only adopt very senior dogs because they want to give love to a dog at the end of its life, so I guess that your friend is one of those special angels.