[gemy]

Actually I have the same rule for dogs as for human infants - don't breed if you can't afford to care properly for your offspring! Don't adopt a baby or a puppy if you can't afford to care properly for either.

And yes circumstances can change for all of us, and we can find ourself up the creek without a paddle. But a homeless man should not go into the SPCA expecting to be an approved owner for a dog there, he has no funds no address, nothing to suggest he could take good care of the dog.

Most folks should always spend a good amount of time to figure how they can afford either baby or puppy. Saving over the years, judiciously buying grooming supplies, saving up for the first year vet costs, purchasing pet insurance for extraordinary situations, the food, the training, the crates et al ... are all expenses that can be planned for and budgeted for!

THe frou frou things like fancy dresses et al, are unimportant. Same goes for fancy expensive halters and leads. A good basic coat is necessary for cold weather, some booties etc, a bed to lie in.

But vet care is not an option. Some vaccines are necessary as well as heartworm preventative and flea medication.

Do you have any idea how many folks come here and we hear the stories of how this or that operation is necessary and they have no money to treat it? Is that fair for the dog? That folks delay necessary health care for their dogs because they have failed to plan for these expenses?

So yes I for one will always advise to look into the cost of owning a dog, and make sure you can provide for this being, before adopting a dog.