How Many Is Too Many
I know many animal lovers cannot stand to see dogs in “jails” with cement floors and no love. They know the dogs are scared and confused and only want to love and be loved. To some this can lead to hording.
I have eight rescues which some may consider too many. I am sixty nine years old and I do have to watch that they do not trip me which can be very hard at times to say the least. But I would rather live with all the chaos than to think they would go to an unloving and uncaring home or worse be dumped out like trash. As long as they are with me they will always have a fur ever loving home.
I help out with my local animal shelter and it is so hard to say no when you look in their scared eyes and all they want is to be loved and held. Most had a home before they were tossed out or given up on. We have had cases where the pregnant mom was left behind when the people moved. One family moved and left the momma and her pups under the house knowing they were there. But we have to know our limit which is different for every body.
If you can feed them and love them and give them the basics then I think it is up to the individual to decided when too many are too many. The more you have the more expensive they become. let’s look at some of the things they will need in their life time.
Food: The cost of food has sky rocketed. Even if you make your own food which would be healthier it can still be expensive.
Medicine: If you have puppies they will need their first shots and a rabies shot every year for the rest of their life. They will need to be wormed on a monthly basis. They will need nail trims. I have one that needs to be sedated because he throws a temper tantrum anytime he sees the clippers! He is such a ham. Don’t forget bath time. We don’t like stinky dogs loving on us. As they get older they will usually need more meds like glucosamine.
Some dogs may develop diabetes, cancer, or heart problems. They can get just about any disease we get. Will you be ready for it? The expense for a human is about the same for the dog. Same goes for the special medicine they will need also. I have a chocolate lab named Brody who has a heart condition. He will be on meds for life. He’s my big teddy bear, I can not lose him without giving him a fighting chance. His meds cost around $150 a month.
Toys: Now you know every dog has to have their toys. May I also say they need their special blankets (which they like to chew on.) I personally would have to say replacing the blankets will be more expensive then replacing the toys.
Personality & Character: Do you have an alpha male/female? Do you have one that is head strong or jealous? This will determine how well they get along with other dogs and cats. I have one dog that is my problem child. Baby girl wants to be the only child. No matter how many times I tell her that is not going to happen, she lets me know another dog will not be tolerated by her. She is stubborn, jealous, alpha female (which I have two), and she is also a bubble head. She retains nothing. But I love her . I call her my problem child because she always has to have the last word. She gets along with the rest but she likes to bully which I do not appreciate at all. When you get a dog out of the animal shelter, they do not immediately show their personality and character. Give them their freedom and it all comes out. That is why it is important for animal shelters to have runs so people can see them interact with people and other dogs. Baby girl was dumped on me by a neighbor. She was 2-3 months old when they dumped her.
Special Concerns:
1) Dogs go blind and lose their hearing. They will depend on you more and more. Losing one’s sight and hearing is devastating enough for a human but we can reason. Animals do not know what is going on and they depend on us to be their eyes and ears. Will you be up to it?
2) More animals are demanding our attention all at the same time. I have eight rescues and I am 69 years old. One is a dog that was stabbed in each hip, beat in the head which affects her hearing, starved and force fed anti freeze. She is the sweetest girl. I have to keep her separate, not that she is doing anything wrong but I have two that want to be an only child. No matter how many times I tell them that is not going to happen they want to growl and fight with her. For her own protection she needs to stay separate. This means I have to feed them separately, take them out to potty separately, plus try to spend quality time with all of them.
3) Different personalities may clash. If you have two alpha males/females they may fight for dominance. When a fight starts you may become in the middle of it. The dogs will not stop and see if it is you or another dog. You may get bit seriously enough to go to the emergency room.
4) Age of pet parent will make a difference in the daily care and welfare of you and your fur babies. When we get old our bones are more brittle and when we fall we are more prone to breaking them. Having a lot of animals running around, a person can be tripped very easily and suddenly. Always have your phone within distance in case you have to call 911.
5) Do you have the strength carry your sick dog to the vet? Do you have the strength to dig a grave when they pass away? A small senior dog would be ideal for the senior person who does not have the strength when they were younger. These are things that need to be taken in consideration as we get older.
HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS OF AN ANIMAL YOU BRING HOME. LIKE FOSTER CHILDREN THAT HAS BEEN BOUNCED AROUND THEY TAKE LONGER TO TRUST AND BOND. GIVE THEM LOVE AND HAVE PATIENCE AND THEY WILL COME AROUND, BUT THEY NEED TO DO IT ON THEIR TIME NOT YOURS. IF YOU CANNOT ADHERE TO THIS THEN RECONSIDER ADOPTION.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A WILL STATING WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR FUR BABIES IF YOU BECOME DECEASED OR TOO ILL TO TAKE CARE OF THEM ANYMORE.