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.

[Lynda Kamrath]

More power to her.  Most people would not be up to this, either emotionally or financially.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I find this discussion very interesting.  It seems the biggest troubling factor for most is Money, so let's just remove that from the equation.  Now the question is would you take a dog with allergies, bad hips, ear infections, even cancer.  Money isn't an issue.  For me, I sort of felt like ok, then I would already know these things are a problem and I'd accept dealing with them.  Somehow it almost seems like that might be easier than finding out my seemingly perfect doodle that I've had for 4 years is now going to die from cancer.  It is sort of like some people say "Oh I could never foster, I could never let them go" but there are those who do it all the time.   I don't know, I could be completely wrong about how I would or wouldn't handle it.  It is a little bit like after we lost Sophie we learned that 66% of Goldens will get cancer at some point in their lifetime ... do we really want to go down that road again ... after a lot of sole searching and research,  the answer was yes.  The love that we got from our short time with Sophie showed us that yes, we did want to go down that road again.  It wasn't the quantity of years of her love, but the quality of the love within the short time she was with us that made it seem worth it.  I think your friend might feel a little the same.  

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I guess if you know going into it what's wrong maybe It makes losing them a little easier to cope with because there's no element of surprise? I feel like I would be a mess either way! Sometimes it's easier to put up walls to protect your self emotionally but I have a feeling a dog would tear those down real quickly. I've got to think she meets some really incredible doggies through doing this and learns a lot through them and being around them.

[Amy and Annabelle]

There are only so many times you can have your heart ripped out before you just can't do it anymore. I have lost 2 dogs. My first one was hit by a truck and my golden died of cancer. The golden was a rescue was just hours away from being euthanized at the pound when we adopted him. I had to take the day off work when he died, I was such a mess. But if I knowingly rescued dogs with health issues my goal would be to give them the best life for as long as they live and be happy with that. When they die, sure it would be sad, but it wouldn't be the same as having the dog healthy when you get them and then they get sick. The circumstances are different. So for me I think I could do it, if money was not an issue. I am retired so I have the time. I always said if I ever hit the big lotto, most of the money would go to sick and abused kids and animal charities. I don't need 300 million dollars for myself, I like things simple and uncomplicated. But alas I am not wealthy, so no rescuing unhealthy dogs for me.