Getting a cat or dog, and expenses

[Maruschke]

Thank you very much everyone.

Can you tell me about rescuing an animal from the pound... are they usually there because of poor temperment / physical ailment, and can they still be good pets?

Thanks

M

[mrsmac]

I would look at Paws and Hooves or Animal welfare league or similar. Many people have rescue pets and love them. usually they are there cause owners can't be bothered or have moved or are too old to care for them, animals with personality problems usually aren't rehomed.

[Cranky Kitten]

Animals surrendered to the RSPCA for adoption or to shelters can be there for any number of reasons, anything from relationship breakups, changes in accomodation (rentals often don't allow pets), ill health of owner etc.

Most shelters thoroughly assess each animal for suitability and will be able to give you an idea of their temperament and personality. We have a wonderful dog shelter here in Perth that does a lot of work with the dogs training them and getting them ready for re-homing if they've been poorly treated or have developed antisocial habits, I'd suspect there are others that operate along similar lines.

I do thoroughly agree with the recommendation of pet insurance though - emergency vet treatment can be hideously expensive. Small dogs don't cost too much to feed, neither do cats, although cats are a bit hit and miss in terms of how smoochy they are - males do tend to be more sociable once they're desexed.