Snowball of Otto-matic Joy

December 23rd, 2009 - the day we rescued this scared, sick puppy and his sister. We called him Snowball and his sister, Angel. Unfortunately, they both had Parvo. Angel did not make it.  Snowball was a fighter and after two days on IVs at the vet  hospital, the vet called me and said "Will you come get your yappy puppy??"  WAHOO! Absolutely!

Just over a week later, he was adopted by a wonderful young couple. They were SO excited to adopt their new baby, they did not care that we had no clue what breed he was, how big he would get (note - we had him listed as Chihuahua mix), or that we didn't even know really how old he was.  It was a late evening that I approved their application, and they were on their way.

Within a couple days he was settling into the lap of luxury, being spoiled as any only furr-child should be.

Unfortunately, just 20 short months later Otto passed away much sooner than anyone could have guessed.  He developed Canine Lymphoma that metastasized very quickly. A cherry eye was actually something much worse, and didn't allow Otto to live more than a week after his true diagnosis.

Otto will always have a special place in our heart.  RIP sweet boy.

Really? Breeder over rescue?

My soap box has come out quite a bit lately, but when it comes to animal welfare I will not apologize.

Today we received an email from a woman very interested in adopting Justice and wanted to know her age and price.  Erica responded with our adoption process, that she is just over a year old and her adoption fee is $250. (Note: The wonderful Rocky Moutain Great Dane Rescue charges $350 for a pure great dane under 2 years of age, just for comparison since we are an all breed rescue.)  Justice has been vet checked, heartworm tested (negative) and started on preventative, Capstar for fleas and flea/tick treatment, nails trimmed, updated on all vaccinations, micro-chipped and spayed.

This woman responded that there were breeders selling AKC registered Great Danes for the same price, so she would just go there.

REALLY??  Obviously she has no clue.  I am not sure what breeder she is speaking of, but I would be shocked if they are that cheap. Is the dog from the breeder current on vaccinations, vet checked, heartworm tested/on prevention or spayed? Oh well, spayed probably isn't an issue.  

Does she have any clue that if she buys a dog from a breeder for (give her the benefit of the doubt) $250 that should she choose to properly vet her dog what the cost would be?  As a rescue we get significant discounts, so the following numbers are from our vet: Heartworm test $35, Nail Trim $9, Micro-chip $40, Distemper/Parvo $20, Bordatella $20, Rabies $25, Capstar $5, spay for a great dane - anywhere from $250-$500 depending on weight.  So on top of her purchase price, she would still have to spend $400-550 plus monthly heartworm prevention and flea/tick prevention to appropriately vet the dog.  AND there is no guarantee the dog is healthy. Treating a great dane for heartworms could cost $700+ alone.  

So $250 for a healthy, sweet, loving great dane from a rescue or $250 for a great dane from a breeder with no further information?

And seriously, who can deny this face?

Why does it cost so much?

We often get asked why it costs so much to adopt a dog from us. Part of it is that we are not a government shelter and our costs are not subsidized by taxpayers. Part of it is that we do a lot for the dogs.  Everyone gets spayed or neutered, microchipped, has had their distemper/parvo, rabies, and bordetella. They are screened for heartworms, lyme, ehrlychia, and other tickborne diseases.  If there are any other health needs, such as hernia, skin condition, or anything else, we do whatever the dog needs before it leaves us. It's just expensive.


Below you will see a layout of what we did for a fairly healthy adult dog, that only had an extra hernia repair.  This is the most reasonable vet in Douglas County, and even gives us a rescue discount on vaccinations and spay/neuter. When you adopt a dog, it really pays to think about how much it costs to maintain a dog. 


Kai's vet bills:


Kai came into rescue and was taken to the vet at their first available opening.
As we do with all adult dogs we bring into rescue this is the protocol:


Rabies                                     $10  (Vaccinations have a rescue discount.)
Bordetella                                $10
DHPPCV/L4                            $10
Heartworm/Tick disease test  $35  (Negative, thank goodness!)
                                    TOTAL: $65


Since we found her NOT to be pregnant, but had a horrible hernia, we scheduled her spay and hernia repair for the next week.


Spay surgery                 $60 (BIG rescue discount - THANK YOU to Eudora!!)
Hernia repair                  $50
Rimadyl Inj (pain meds)  $21
Ampicillin (antibiotics)     $18
Rimadyl tablets (pain meds) $12
Amoxicillin caps             $18.20
                             TOTAL $179.20


Because she was not adopted quickly, we did her booster shots a month later:
Bordetella                         $10
DHPPCV/L4                    $10
                                 TOTAL: $20

TOTAL VET COSTS: $264.20

Adoption fee: $150.00

Loss on vet costs: $94.20

We also make sure she received Heartworm prevention every month ($7.35/month) and K9 Advantix ($13.83/month), so $21.18 per month.


Then, of course, we feed her. She is a 56 lb. dog eating Iams. On occasion there are donations from No More Homeless Pets KC that we can use to feed our puppies, but for the most part, we pay for all food.  At times we can go through a $35 (40 lbs. of Iams) bag of dog food in 3 days. Yes, that is over $300/month, even for a small rescue.

Total Loss on one dog: ~$94 (vet)+$42(heartguard/flea meds)+$60 (food)

=$196

This is why we are an all VOLUNTEER not-for-profit (pending non-profit 501c3) rescue that depends greatly on donations. 


Dogs are a bad investment if you are planning to retire rich. They are expensive to appropriately care for.  Late in life they will likely need expensive care, and there is a reason people use the phrase 'eating me out of house and home'. It's kind of like kids - no one ever considered kids a money making venture. If you are considering adopting from any rescue, they should at a minimum be sending you a fully vaccinated dog that is spayed or neutered (or have a deposit that it is required by a certain date). Anything else and they are pretty much selling a dog, which is not what rescue is about.

On a brighter note, you are reading a blog from Crossroads Dog Rescue. We are a foster based rescue run by stay-at-home moms that are passionate about the health and well-being of dogs.  This is not just their physical health, but their mental and emotional health too.  We bring these dogs into our homes with our families. We get to know them, show them love, fun and socialization with other dogs and children.  Can you really put a price on that?

Why Snickers Stole Our Hearts

Oh our dear, sweet Snickers... We got the email for rescue at a time when I was beyond exhausted and truly needed a week or two break to get some sleep before taking in another momma and her babies. We needed to clean out the garage, move the puppy pen around to clean under it, and so many other business details needed done, that do not get done when there are a momma and puppies to care for.

However, there are times when I see a picture of a dog and my heart SCREAMS at me - "Go get her/him." Okay, admittedly this is much more often than not, but sometimes I cannot get my head to overcome my heart. My heart wins, responds to the email and tells the shelter, "We'll take her and her puppies."

Obviously we did go get Snickers and her adorable little bear cub looking babies.  That evening when I got her home, I got my children inside, then Snickers and her babies settled all before my husband was home from work.  When Chad came home, I took him to the garage, he immediately turned around and came back in the house. He had tears in his eyes.

"What's up?" I asked.

"You can't do this to me," he says.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He says, "Maddie."

You see, Maddie was our first baby. Chad and I got Maddie as a puppy after we had only been dating about 4 months.  We spent many weekends at the dog park, or walking along Clinton Parkway. We had play dates with friends and their dog. She was there when Chad proposed. She was there when we brought Kay Lee, Aly and Jeffrey home from the hospital. Maddie laid by their bassinet, or beside them on the floor.

As we have gotten to know Snickers, they have some of the same mannerisms - how they lay, how they play, how they live on a schedule like clockwork, how they nuzzle our hand for pets, that unique scary bark - but give it a second and you'll be her best friend.

Maddie would have been 7 years old in November 2008, however she went to Rainbow Bridge in October of 2008. We were devastated when she got sick and passed and will never forget our beautiful, amazing girl.

It has been pure joy to have Snickers in our home the past 3 months and know that when she leaves us on Sunday, February 13th (yikes, that is Chad's birthday... we might have to adjust that) but she is going to a great home to a family that will love and spoil her as we have. It is the ONLY way we would let her go.

I Want To Rescue a Dog

Vesper - when he was rescued by Rescue Ink

By Marti Houge

One Starfish Rehoming Connections

Columbus, Wisconsin

I want to save a rescue dog

that no one else would pick.

But please...  I couldn't handle one

that was too old...or sick.

I want a dog with fluffy hair

that's silky to the touch;

A dog I wouldn't have to groom 

(the work would be too much!).

My allergies are bad

and so the dog must never shed 

or jump up on my velvet couch     

or sleep with me in bed.

The size is not important

but the dog can't be too tall.

And while I'm not being choosy   

I'd prefer he not be small.

Cute and cuddly, sweet and smart 

and one who doesn't chew.

Of course he must be housebroken

(my carpeting is new).

A dog who's quiet in his crate

(I work twelve hours a day);

A dog who isn't hyper, 

and yet one who likes to play.

Of course all vetting must be done

(it's easier for me).

And I don't want to *pay* a lot 

for an "adoption fee".

Ah, yes...it truly warms my heart

to save a dog in need.

I'll pick a dog that no one wants: 

a noble choice indeed!

A dog that no one else could love:

a homeless dog that's needy....

I only wish those rescues weren't so fussy--  

and so greedy!

Vesper, recently, after much needed vet care and a LOT of LOVE!!

Thank you, RESCUE INK!!