On this board, which is essentially run by breeders, it is the rescuers that are treated like crap. The board used have an active rescue section and most rescuers were harassed away by the contestant attacks and rescue bashing threads.

To the OP: most vets I know have expensive dog's acquired from breeders that they show off in their office as status symbol. So please feel free to buy. Also most vets treat rescue dogs and their caretakers as second class citizens, while charging the same as their "clients". Rescue dog's for some reason are not "clients".

If you have to ask yourself whether to buy or adopt, please buy. No need to hypocritical.

 

To the OP: most vets I know have expensive dog's acquired from breeders that they show off in their office as status symbol. So please feel free to buy. Also most vets treat rescue dogs and their caretakers as second class citizens, while charging the same as their "clients". Rescue dog's for some reason are not "clients".

Thanks for reminding me why I have been off the forums for a while......the most silly thing I have read in a while.....

 

Huh. My vet, that I've seen for 20 years, is thankfully nothing like that. Neither is the one that lives two houses away, or the one my sister uses. In fact, that one is very actively involved in local rescue and does free spay/neuter and vaccinations.

There may be vets like that, but I don't think they're the norm.

 

Huh. My vet, that I've seen for 20 years, is thankfully nothing like that. Neither is the one that lives two houses away, or the one my sister uses. In fact, that one is very actively involved in local rescue and does free spay/neuter and vaccinations.

There may be vets like that, but I don't think they're the norm.

I'd have to say get a new vet. LOL Mine isn't like that either. I've had both rescue dogs and dogs from a breeder and they were all wonderful dogs. I recently tried a rescue dog from a breeder and that didn't go so well. The 2 year old dog was afraid of men. I loved her to death but she just wouldn't settle down with my husband. We wound up spending a lot of money taking her back to the breeder. Spent far more money on that free dog than we would have on a puppy. Oh well.

 

I think a vet should have an expensive dog anyway. Like a Mercedes dealer who should not drive a used chevy

 

My vet has beagles and chickens that I know about. I don't think she cares about expensive dogs any more than rescued dogs. Never did mine anyway. I have brought mutts in, and purebreds in, and my import in, and none of them were treated any more or less special. My vet works closely with the shelter in the area, and they're always in there getting something for the dogs up there, she performs speuters for them. The very first dog we took there, some thirty years ago, was an abandoned mutt puppy who was being treated by the other vet in town, and would have been killed by them. They got her on the right track. They fixed her when my mom called and said NOW! When they found a lump on her stomach, they did surgery on her and sent it out to be biopsied and found it was stomach cancer. They checked her thoroughly for years after that, surprised that it did not reoccur. They were there with me when she was 14 and seizing, and they put her down for me. I never felt that they treated her any different than any of my other dogs.

 

How many rescue dogs did you take to a vet? Dogs that you foster (that you are not the owner of)?

 

I have taken five rescue cats to the vet over the years and once while dog sitting a mutt I had to take her to the vet because I noticed severe bloating. None of them have EVER been treated as second class citizens.

 

Well, I've taken 3. And my vet even came to my house when it was time to put them each down. Also, all my cats were/are shelter cats. Same treatment: kind, empathetic, and what is/was best for the animal.

 

I've had more than one vet treat my foster dogs for a discount. I have a groomer who bathes and brushes my fosters for a discount. Honestly I've never felt persecuted or attacked on this board or in real life for being involved in rescue. I'm sorry if you have.

 

RebelGSD, Sounds like you are expecting them to give you some type of deal on your dogs that you don't own but are taking to them for treatment? The handful of dogs I took in to the vet that I did not own, I paid full price on everything for them, and they were treated like any other dog that I had.

 

No, they charge us the same as other clients, but are condescending in attitude and less thorough with care. I expect that, if I pay the same for the rescue dog as for a "client" dog, the rescue dog would receive the same level of care and respect as the regular client. With many vets this is not the case. No, vets around here don't give a discount and I don't expect it. Especially if it would justify crappy care.

 

Rebel, it sounds like it's time to find a new vet. My personal vet that I take all my GSD fosters to is wonderful with them. They don't treat them any differently than my personal dog or personal dogs of other clients and I pay full price.

It's not easy being the rescuer in rescue and it takes a special kind of person to overlook the nonsense and keep their eye on the end goal.

 

I really don't think it's correct to say "many vets" or "most vets" when you make those statements. How many different vets have you seen? I have yet to encounter a vet that gives preferential treatment based on whether a dog is purchased or rescued. Just seems a very broad statement to make...

 

And this is the third time I am repeating this: no, I don't expect that they charge less. What I do expect that, since I pay the same for a rescue animal as for my own dog, that the rescue animal is treated with the same respect and receive the same care as the "client". Sadly i have dealt with too many that don't. Paying less would justify even worse treatment. What really gets to me when they blatantly lie about the cost of the meds to jack up prices and they are not even consistent in the same practice. One vet gave me an estimate of $1500 for the HW treatment and another vet in the same practice $700 for identical services. They both gave me the estimates in writing. The first one claimed that the immiticide alone costs $550. How can one trust a vet about care when the person blatantly lies about the cost of the medication. Interestingly, a third one in the south charge $150 for the immiticide for the same dog. Interesting how a pharma company would charge 4 times the amount to one vet, compared to the amount they charge to another vet, or twice the amount they charge to a vet in the same practice. And I am amazed by the number of veterinarians who advise their clients not to adopt a dog that underwent heartworm treatment. These are not people who will own rescue animals. These people certainly don't own a rescue.

Anyway, plenty of vets out there that own expensive dog's from famous kennels and there is no reason not to.

 

That's weird and really shouldn't happen. Vets buy drugs from pharmacy companies for a certain price (of course it varies on brand), but what they charge in their clinic is what changes. Data shows that some vet practices have raised their prices over the years of their services to cover costs (aka jacked up their prices). I know things down South are typically cheaper overall (from living down there). Maybe vet prices are cheaper there too? We've talked about this on a Lab board and found that vet prices vary greatly all over the country. I guess it really depends on where you live. I know prices around me (at home in NY) are pretty high. Your comments are well founded on your experiences. Really sucks that it takes a few rotten eggs to misrepresent the profession like that. Thanks for clarifying why you have that point of view, it's certainly warranted.

 

I rescued both Sascha and my previous GSD Britney. Britney however, was purchased originally by her previous owner, a sheriff's department deputy who had to give her up because his mother got terminally ill in England and he couldn't take Britney with him, so my brother, knowing the deputy well and being a dog trainer, took her on and gave her to me when he found out she didn't like children (i have none).
And what i can say about this to relate to this topic is...this dog was purchased for upwards of 2 grand. Then when she had to be given up, she was later rescued. This dog is the same dog either way. So my point is that a rescue could have come from anywhere, and if you're specifically looking for a GSD, chances are it was originally PURCHASED from a breeder of some sort. So the difference, in my opinion, in rescuing and purchasing, comes down to whether you want an adult, who could have background training, and hopefully not much baggage as far as abuse or neglect...or a puppy, whom with you can start from scratch.

 

i really don't understand this thread. so i may sound like an idiot in this post. i've never bought animals from a breeder before, but i have taken dogs from a breeder who was retiring females from breeding. she had no takers on her bitches so she sent them to me. these were show dogs, collies and afghan hounds.

i've had my own dogs, fosters, and adopted rescues to 3 different vets in our area and none of them have ever treated any of the dogs any different each from the other, or me. whether they were mixed breeds or pure breds. costs are dependant on what's going on in the office. overhead, personell, equipment, on-hand medications, supplies that sort of thing. it has nothing to do w/how a vet feels about each and every individual client unless that client is a total butt-head.

i probably will never buy a puppy from a breeder as i'm not a puppy-type person. my heart will always remain w/the shelter dog. but i always tell people we need our responsible breeders, we DON'T need back yard breeders or puppy millers. w/out breeders we would not have our cute little mix breeds, dogs in the newspaper that someone else can't or won't take care of, our craig's list give aways, or even (unfortunately) our shelter dogs. where does anyone think they originate from? but it IS NOT the breeder! it is the irresponsibility of the owners who will not take care of their dogs w/spay, neutering, or even just watching over them properly, who will not contain them, who will not keep them and love them all their lives.

if you take on the dog you take on their love, their life, their hunger, their needs, their expenses, their responsibility. that's the cost of the love and devotion they give. if you're not willing to do that then don't take the dog. that means the VET too, if you don't like your vet find a new one, there's a million of them out there.

i hope that doesn't sound too stupid.

maria:blush:

 

RebelGSD, there is a well-known phenomenon in the rescue world known as "rescue burnout." We all get it eventually if we're passionate about these dogs. I think you have it now. I think, for your own mental health and well-being, that it might be time to take a break from rescuing and focus on your own life and your own dogs. Take several months or a year off. Then, when you're feeling revived and refreshed and less angry, get back into rescuing again.

 

Our "in town vet", actually has kittens, cats, puppies and dogs...that they take in as rescues and try to adopt out.
Many are the unwanted, poorly taken care of animals in this county.
These vets, vaccinate & spay the animals *at their cost* and adopt them out......I could never support any vet who treated "clients" differently, simply because of the type of animal that they owned.

 

i have to agree w/the concept of "rescue burnout". i've been in rescue for going 23yrs. less 5yrs somewhere in the middle there. i was so ruined on it from the anger, sorrow, and pain of seeing so many coming thru in such bad shape that i just couldn't go on anymore.

sometimes you just have to step back for awhile in order to get your head and heart back in order. you can't do anyone any good in that condition. being that angry and hurt yourself only disenfranchises everyone around you. that doesn't help those that need it the most. there are others that willingly step into your shoes. i can attest to that.

maria

 

Our vet has rescued cats, a rescued 3-legged GSD and another dog I cannot think of the breed. I love her GSD :wub:
Most the vets we work with end up keeping the cast-offs that others dump, they fix up and keep because nobody else is taking them.

 

I guess I have been lucky; I have never had to deal with a vet who treated rescue dogs as second-class. On the contrary, it is most vets' bread and butter; mixed-breeds seem to outnumber purebreds in our area.

Of course you will see vast differences in pricing from vet to vet. Some vets have higher overhead than others. Some are more concerned with taking care of animals (gasp) than with getting rich. Some will charge 4x as much for HW treatment as others. That is their choice; some are satisfied with a lower profit margin. When I got my HW+ dog, my old country mobile vet charged me about $300 for the treatment. I have heard others charging as much as $1200. I used to work for this vet, so I know what his costs are, and he barely breaks even. Especially when he's nice to people like me, and I know he serves underpriviledged communities at a reduced cost.

Never have a met a vet who owns purebreds as a "status symbol" and treats mixed-breed dogs as second-class. In our community, I don't think such an attitude would be tolerated. I suppose if I were in an upperclass area things might be different, but around here, clients have been known to stop going to a vet if he drives too nice a car.

 

I live in a very upper class area, and it's the same thing. We have a lot of extremely wealthy people here (NYC weekenders, and family money), but also a lot of farmers, so there's a strange mix. I have NEVER seen a vet behave that way... every vet I've been to with my horses and my own dogs has owned rescues and has gone out of their way to help rescues... even the vets that the breeders I work with go to.

 

For the year and a half I have been on this board I have never seen someone tell a rescuer that their dog was a "throw away" or anything like that.

Just because someone says they want a PB so they don't have to deal with rescue issues doesn't mean they think every rescue is bad.

After having my dog, which I should refer to as a rescue because I RESCUED him from a terrible BYB, I will personally NEVER get a GSD that is under the age of 2 from a rescue. I would not rescue a GSD, pitbull, rottie, doberman, chow chow, or related breeds under the age of 2 from a rescue, purely because of how many turn out to be Dog aggressive, HUman aggressive, or have severe issues.

I will take care of Rocky until the day he passes, living "specially" and doing things the weird way so that he can be happy and others won't be scared of him or nipped by him.

But once I graduate, have a job, and a house, I am buying a PB german shepherd from someone on this board (I have about 3 breeders I really love) so I can start doing shtz, agility, etc. My dog just doesn't have the nerves for anything other than being a really awesome pet. I don't fault him for it.

--------------------------------
PS: Why would a rescue dog deserve cheaper health care than a purebred dog??? Why would any vet offer that? I can understand offering cheaper neuters if you adopt from a shelter, but if two dogs have hip D., one rescue, one PB, why should the pricing be different?

PPS: When I say PB in this thread, I use the term loosely. I know some rescues appear 100% purebred, but I don't say PB unless they have papers. MY own dog is obviously 100% GSD, but he doesn't have papers. If someone asks, I say "I believe so, but he didn't have papers". No one usually asks though...

 

This board is not 'run' by mostly breeders Where that idea came from is beyond me.

I don't know who the vets are your dealing with Rebel but
My vets office whom I've been going to for probably 20 years, ALL have rescues as pets..Sure a couple have bought dogs from breeders, but the majority owned are rescues, whether it's cats , rats or dogs Or people dumping animals on their doorstep.

I have NEVER been to any vet that treated rescue animals different than "bought" animals. In fact, my vets gave me great discounts (and superb service) on litters of kittens I fostered including discounts on s/n for adopters. Didn't make the service any less than if I paid full price. It was a welcome goodwill gesture by my vets office.

And as for running off rescues here, I'm with Lauri,,name ONE reputable rescue that was "run" off of here.

I also agree maybe you have 'rescue burnout' and need a break.

 

Thanks to everybody giving advice about a rescue burnout. It is actually the burnout of all that can go bad with a rescue dog type of thread on this board. The many who adore their rescue dogs usually don't come to chime in in threads like this.

As to whether one should rescue or not: IMO only those whose heart is in rescue and who find it rewarding to watch an animal evolving in their home and enjoy the challenge of solving problems should rescue. Those whose heart is not into rescue, should simply get a superior dog from a reputable breeder. It is simple.

As to vets, same thing. They are certainly in a better position to chose what they prefer, since their costs for veterinary care will be less.if their heart is not with rescue, they shoul not rescue. Their choice can affect the clients. After the experiences with different vets, I will chose one who has a photo of a rescue dog on the wall rather than one who has a photo of a show dog. I will prefer a vet that works a full week and drives a normal car.

As to jacking up prices, maybe the vets in the same practice should agree what price they claim for the cost of the medication so that their clients don't catch them in a lie. By the way the owner of this practice, has photos of himself and staff treating exotic animals in Africa as well as photos with animals and actors from Hollywood movies. Apparently he is the veterinarian for the animal movie stars living thousands of miles away from his practice. And a photo with a politician. And he used to appear at the local tv station. So 10 years ago he decided he wnted a GSD, the dog had to be the very best show lines. Only the very best would do for him. I recommend a hobby breeder I knew and he ended up purchasing a puppy from her. She was a sweet girl an really well behaved for a GSD puppy. It turned out he could not handle her so he shipped her off to a Hollywood trainer who was to teach her eye commands ( not verbal or hand signals, eye signals). And he would still complain that she jumped on people. He complained for years that she developed a lighter spot on her nose and he paid the breeder for a show quality puppy. He contacted me recently about a recommendation for a top line GSD. And his office calls me when they get a GSD abandoned by the owners before they euthanize the dog, to see whether I or other local rescues will take the animal.

Anyway, rescue is not for everybody. Those whose heart is not in it should go to a reputable breeder. Simple.

 

The many who adore their rescue dogs usually don't come to chime in in threads like this.

I'm not normally out to prove people wrong, but this just seems so odd to hear after going through all 120 some posts in this thread. I guess I have too much time on my hands, because I made of list of how many different people have chimed in:

42 members have posted on this thread, not counting the OP.
Of the 42 members that have posted, 35 said that they have rescued in the past, have at least one rescue dog (some multiple rescues), or are open to adopting a rescue in the future. I saw at least two breeders post that they have owned rescue dogs, and have fostered (I know other breeders on this board that have done the same but have not posted to this thread).

The other 7 posters who do not fit in the "35 who have rescued" category simply posted to comment (they may have rescued in the past, or have rescue dogs, I don't know), and a couple came out and said they are not interested in rescuing (and that's fine, the point being repeated here is that people need to do what they feel is right for them, and no-one should make them feel guilty for their choices).

(Numbers may not be exact, depending on your own interpretation, but there is still a large majority of people "chiming in" with rescues).

So about 83% of the posters here posted about their beloved rescue dog, or about the desire to rescue a dog. So maybe this board isn't all that anti-rescue after all, and the thread is not scaring owners of rescue dogs away from posting.

 

Just sounds to me like you need a different vet.

 

Myself and a good friend of mine are both part of this board, and we both have rescue GSDs. I will be adopting my second rescue GSD soon. I have NEVER felt any less on here because of that. I actually have seen more people on here that have rescues, then breeders or those who have just breeder bought dogs. So I honestly have NO idea where this is coming from.

As of the vets thing.... You seriously need to find a new vet... or maybe it's just how you're seeing things.. maybe you need to go in with a different mind set. My vet that we've been using for almost 20 years now actually owns ALL rescue animals. He has 4 rescue pits, 3 rescue cats, a few reptiles and other small critters that needed some care and a home.... AND, he regularly takes in animals that are dropped off or found as a stray. He gets them back up to health and then adopts them out. His wife also plays a HUGE role in the Central FL Golden Retriever rescue. He has never treated any of his clients differently... rescue or breeder picked. My rescue byb GSD is treated just the same as my very very well bred sporting/show Golden Retriever was.

My SO and I also have close friends that are apart of the Greyhound rescue here. They currently have 5. Never once have they had any issues with any of this. Their vet actually cuts costs where he can for them (they do not ask or expect this from the vet, but the vet does it anyways). They always tell me how much they love their vet and how fantastic he is with their dogs. Those vets in that clinic ALSO own rescue animals and like my vet and the other clinics I've been to... they have a board up with all sorts of animals that are lost/found, need homes, etc..

I really can't understand where all this is coming from.... I've adopted and bought many dogs, cats, and other animals. I've been a foster home for kittens and worked closely with the rescue and vet that we were apart of. I've owned rescues and PB.... Never once have I had any of these complaints.

Such a weird thread this has turned into....

 

since there's not a "LIKE" button on this board, i'll just say this:

VERY well said Castlemaid :thumbup:


maria

 

oh