Claire

I live in Oregon, and I want to get a small or small-medium sized dog, but I have to come up with first time, monthly and yearly costs so I can show my parents that I can pay for it (once i know the amounts I am getting a job that will pay for it). I have been researching how much it costs and came up with some ideas but i want to make sure its accurate and I'm not leaving anything out. Food might be less if I get a small dog but I planned for a small medium dog since i don't know what I'm getting. I didn't include grooming because i plan to get a short-haired dog, but if I get a long haired dog i will get a brush and i'm sure my mom would clip him/her when neeeded(she cuts hair) I plan to get a small dog from a rescue or shelter so the dog will have current vaccinations and spayed/neutered. Here is what i have so far:

First time: Dog(around 200), bed(20), toys(20), treats(5), food-Chicken Soup brand-35 lb(35), flea treats(13.95), collar/leash(20), heartguard-year supply(48), ID tag(5), doggie coat(15). I already have food/water dishes. some of this stuff you could get cheaper, but i want to get quality supplies so i don't have to spend as much money replacing it.

TOTAL First time dog costs about $377.

Here is what I have for monthly costs, this is not money that is neccessarily always spent but that is set aside.

bed(.5), toys (1.67)treats (1.67), Food(11.7), flea treats(4), Heartguard(4), vaccines/checkup(6.54), vet bills(25).

TOTAL monthly cost $55.08

Now for yearly...

bed(6), toys(20), Food(140), treats(20), Flea treats(48), vaccines/checkup(78), heartguard(48), vet bills(300), bowls(1).

TOTAL yearly cost is $660.40

I set aside 300 for vet bills but i might not use it all, its just an emergency savings that will build up and if in 5 years something happens I will have $1,500 to pay for it. is there anything I'm missing, or that costs more than what i put down? Any input on this is would be very helpful!!!

I live in Oregon, and I want to get a small or small-medium sized dog, but I have to come up with first time, monthly and yearly costs so I can show my parents that I can pay for it (once i know the amounts I am getting a job that will pay for it). I have been researching how much it costs and came up with some ideas but i want to make sure its accurate and I'm not leaving anything out. Food might be less if I get a small dog but I planned for a small medium dog since i don't know what I'm getting. I didn't include grooming because i plan to get a short-haired dog, but if I get a long haired dog i will get a brush and i'm sure my mom would clip him/her when neeeded(she cuts hair) I plan to get a small dog from a rescue or shelter so the dog will have current vaccinations and spayed/neutered. Here is what i have so far:

First time: Dog(around 200), bed(20), toys(20), treats(5), food-Chicken Soup brand-35 lb(35), flea treats(13.95), collar/leash(20), heartguard-year supply(48), ID tag(5), doggie coat(15). I already have food/water dishes. some of this stuff you could get cheaper, but i want to get quality supplies so i don't have to spend as much money replacing it.

Total for all that was about $377.

Here is what I have for monthly costs, this is not money that is neccessarily always spent but that is set aside.

bed(.5), toys (1.67)treats (1.67), Food(11.7), flea treats(4), Heartguard(4), vaccines(5), vet bills(25). Total for all that is $53.54

Now for yearly...

bed(6), toys(20), Food(140), treats(20), Flea treats(48), vaccines/checkup(60), heartguard(48), vet bills(300), bowls(1).

Total is $643 per year.

I set aside 300 for vet bills but i might not use it all, its just an emergency savings that will build up and if in 5 years something happens I will have $1,500 to pay for it. is there anything I'm missing, or that costs more than what i put down? Any input on this is would be very helpful!!!

I'm looking for a laptop or something similar (like netbook etc.) that is fast and good for surfing the internet. I mostly would use it for internet- email and websites, watching videos/movies, and microsoft word, no high powered downloads/programs and things. It needs to have a keyboard and be able to have a mouse. I just want a reliable computer that will last a while and is functional and easy to use. It would be nice if it was portable so that its small enough to fit in a backpack but this is not my biggest concern. I am interested in a pc, not a mac. I am looking to spend around 450 dollars or less. Thank you in advance for your feedback!

I have a rat who is over 2 years old. I rescued her and her friend from a humane society. She had tumor surgery a few months ago but over the past month or so she has grown three more one under her arm, one on her side, and one near her back leg. She walks a little funny now because the one on her side is somewhat large but she still jumps and gets around. I definitely cannot afford 3 more surgeries and that would probably be too hard on her since she is older. I am just looking for advice on what to do to make her more comfortable and when I should decide to put her down or just what to do. She is in a wire cage with ladders and ramps/hammocks but should I put her in a different cage? My only other cages are a long rabbit cage and a 15 gallon aquarium. If I separate her should I leave her friend who is healthy in the other cage? Just looking for some advice I only want the best for my little rattie.

Our friend brought over this parakeet that they had found just out in a tree. I have it in this long mesh cage that I use for my rabbits/guinea pigs in the yard. We gave it a shallow container of water and some fruits/veggies/cheerios, but we are going to get some parakeet food tomorrow. Any suggestions for care or anything, I have never had a bird before. We might consider keeping it if we can't find the owners so any care tips, websites or anything helps.

I think it is really good to adopt guinea pigs and other animals. I have 2 rats that I adopted and I was looking to adopt a single female guinea pig as a friend for my current female guinea pig. I have looked for months at my local humane society and they rarely EVER have a single female guinea pig. They almost always have males and occasionally a pair of females. I went to the county fair and there were some young guinea pigs that I was interested in. I contacted the breeder and she said they would be ready for homes in 2 weeks. I know it is good to adopt but I just can't seem to find a female guinea pig in my area. Should I go ahead and get one of these guinea pigs? Any questions I should ask the breeder or what to look for? Thanks!

I adopted 2 rats from a humane Society a few months ago. One of them is just fine and sweet, but the other, Hiccup, is really hard to deal with. Whenever I let her out to run around my room, she is impossible to get back in the cage. I have tried everything, I taught them both to come, but now she rarely does because she's scared of me, so that didn't work. She really never wants to go back in her cage even though it is big and has hammocks and things. So usually after chasing her around trying to get her out from under things my last resort is to grab her and get her back in the cage, sometimes if it is taking too long and I have to leave I may have to gently get the base of her tail (without hurting her). Anyway the point is that I really need some help. I don't know what I can do, because every time I pick her up she totally freaks out, I try to calm her down but she is crazy! I have tried everything people say, but when she's running around she just won't come up to me or get on hand, not even a chance. I really want to be able to let her out for exercise but I don't know if I can do this anymore, I feel so bad for her. In fact just a few minutes ago I had to put her back and she squeaked when I picked her up, I feel so bad :( Please help!

I am 15 and I love animals, they really are my passion. Unfortunately, my dad is allergic to dogs and cats so I have never been able to have one. I have had rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters, and currently have a rabbit, guinea pig, and 2 rats. I think all these pets are really cute and sweet, but it just isn't the same as having a dog. In the future, I want to just have one pet to care for, and it is a really hard decision which one. It would be interesting to have a pet I have never had before and for a while I was considering sugar gliders, then ferrets, but I am just not sure. I like rabbits, but they are a lot of work to have in the house, and outside I don't get to see them as much, also if I had a rabbit in the house, it would have to stay in my room all the time, or in the basement because my mom won't allow them to be in the rest of the house. Ferrets sound really fun, but during school, I don't get home until around 4:30 and I am not positive I would probably be able to play with them for a few hours a day, but some days I might not because I have other activities, I worry if I would have enough time for a ferret. Anyway, I am looking for a sweet affectionate pet that likes attention, but isn't too much work.

I have a 5 year old, 3 pound Holland Lop rabbit. He has lived outside all his life. I understand there are many risks of rabbits living outside, but considering my situation, I believe I had alleviated many of those risks.

Predators- My rabbits cage is inside of a larger cage, that you can walk into (used to be an outdoor iguana cage). This makes it hard for a predator to get near the cage and the larger cage has a secure lock that locks behind you even if you put physically lock it. I understand rabbits can die just from the presence of a predator, but my rabbit is fairly calm and doesn't really know that predators are bad, so he just isn't as scared of him. Also, I have very few predators in my neighborhood.

Theft or teasing by humans- well, there really are no people in my area that would try to steal a rabbit.

Moldy or poisonous plants- my rabbit does not have access to the ground/plants

Toxic pesticides or fertilizers- we do not use those in our yard/garden

Exposure to sun, heat, wind, or wet- His cage is in an area that is fully shady all day in the summer, it does not get too hot where I live, and when it does we keep a very close eye on him and provide him with ways to cool down, sometimes we take him inside for a little bit. He has never gotten too hot or cold. In the winter the big cage is covered in plastic to protect form rain/wind but one side is left open for ventilation. This makes it so he does not get wet or hit by wind. The cage also has a roof

Bacteria contained in dirt- I bleach the dirt on the bottom of the big cage often, plus he is not allowed to play in it.

Diseases spread by flies and mosquitoes- we do not have mosquitoes or biting flies in my area

So, he has so far been totally healthy and never had a health problem. He is very happy and has a very large wire cage (10.5 square feet), he also gets to run around in a 36 square foot dog kennel in the grass, that has a roof and wire on the bottom. He gets to be in for a few hours at least a day.

So, my only concern is that he is getting older, and will probably be more susceptible to disease. My parents will not allow him to be in the house, but they might let me keep him in the basement. Our basement is a nice and cool in summer, but not too cold. I have a cage I could keep him in, but it is only 24 inches by 36 inches. I would still be able to let him out in the pen during some of the day, but not all the time. He doesn't really like being inside and is unhappy when he is in a smaller cage. He seems pretty happy outside, I am not sure what to do though, suggestions?input?

I adopted 2 rats from my local humane society a few months ago. Their names are Sunshine and Hiccup, Sunshine is 1.5 years, and Hiccup is 1. They are very very active, and not very snuggly. However Sunshine will let me pick her up without much of a fuss. Hiccup on the other hand squirms and freaks out a little whenever I pick her up. I have been trying to get her used to it, but she still seems scared of me and being picked up. I have been taking her around the house on my shoulder which she seems okay with, but if I even touch her she tries to get away. Does she just not like attention? She is a lot better than she was, and now she will take treats from me during play time or in her cage, but not when I am holding her. What else can I do to get her used to me?

I am considering adopting a small dog from our local humane society. I have been reading about how you have to be the leader or "top dog" with little dogs because people often treat them like humans and then they think they are the leader a develop behavior problems. So I will make sure to do this by training him to heel and not letting the dog do certain things whenever they want to (like jumping on the couch) as well as not letting the dog jump on people. However I want to be able to train the dog to not bark continuously at other people or the doorbell. 2 or 3 barks when something happens is okay but how can I teach the dog a command not to bark, will they respond to the command? I really don't want a dog that barks and barks at everything, but I need to get a small dog because people in my family have allergies (not severe allergies). I WILL NOT use shock or "not bark" collars so don't even mention it.

I have had lots of small pets including rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and hamsters, but in a few years when I don't have more than 1 other pet I am considering getting a ferret. i have been researching them a lot and so this is the list of things I need that I came up with. I won't be getting a ferret for at least 2 years, maybe more, depending on how long I have my rabbit/guinea pigs, but I want to get as much information as possible. I will be getting Ferrets for Dummies as I heard this was a good ferret book, other recommended books and websites would be helpful too.

Cage: Midwest Pets Ferret Nation Double Unit

Ferrets: Adopting 2 ferrets from Lane Area Ferret Shelter and Rescue

Travel Cage: Small dog carrier

Toys: Tunnels, metal cat toys w/ bells, squeaky toys, paper bags, golf balls, cardboard boxes, digging box, ping pong balls, stuffed animals, bins, old jeans/clothing

Bathing: Ferret shampoo or baby shampoo, planning to bath a few times a year

Litter: pelleted- Healthy Pet Dust Free cat litter (cellulose) or Yesterdays News

Heavy ceramic bowl

Securely attached water bottle

Bedding: towels/ cloth/fleece

2 litter boxes

1 hammock (total of 2 hammocks because the rescue gives you one)

Gerber Duck Soup chicken baby food

Diet: Whole prey--- getting healthy, humanely killed, mice rats and chicks from The Gourmet Rodent

Questions:

Is a heavy ceramic bowl good when feeding a whole prey diet or if not what is?

How can I switch the ferrets to a whole prey diet from a dry ferret diet?

What is the minimum amount of time the ferrets need out of their cage a day? (I can ferret proof my room and play with them for a few hours I just want to know the requirements)

What should I look for when picking a pair of ferrets from the shelter

Also, do I need to feed Ferretone or Ferretvite with a whole prey diet?

And, techniques on litter box training them?

I have had lots of small pets including rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and hamsters, but in a few years when I don't have more than 1 other pet I am considering getting a ferret. i have been researching them a lot and so this is the list of things I need that I came up with. I won't be getting a ferret for at least 2 years, maybe more, depending on how long I have my rabbit/guinea pigs, but I want to get as much information as possible. I will be getting Ferrets for Dummies as I heard this was a good ferret book, other recommended books and websites would be helpful too.

Cage: Midwest Pets Ferret Nation Double Unit

Ferrets: Adopting 2 ferrets from Lane Area Ferret Shelter and Rescue

Travel Cage: Small dog carrier

Toys: Tunnels, metal cat toys w/ bells, squeaky toys, paper bags, golf balls, cardboard boxes, digging box, ping pong balls, stuffed animals, bins, old jeans/clothing

Bathing: Ferret shampoo or baby shampoo, planning to bath a few times a year

Litter: pelleted- Healthy Pet Dust Free cat litter (cellulose) or Yesterdays News

Heavy ceramic bowl

Securely attached water bottle

Bedding: towels/ cloth/fleece

2 litter boxes

1 hammock (total of 2 hammocks because the rescue gives you one)

Gerber Duck Soup chicken baby food

Diet: Whole prey--- getting healthy, humanely killed, mice rats and chicks from The Gourmet Rodent

Questions:

Is a heavy ceramic bowl good when feeding a whole prey diet or if not what is?

How can I switch the ferrets to a whole prey diet from a dry ferret diet?

What is the minimum amount of time the ferrets need out of their cage a day? (I can ferret proof my room and play with them for a few hours I just want to know the requirements)

What should I look for when picking a pair of ferrets from the shelter?

I have had rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rats. I used to have a lot of rabbits but found homes for all except one because they are a lot of work, but I do love my little Holland Lop ''Bucky.'' He is the sweetest rabbit ever and he follows me round the yard and lies with me in the shade. I think me an him have the strongest bond out of all my pets. Since he isn't neutered (he is 5 years old now and I was worried he would be too old) he sometimes has his ''moments'' which is bothersome but understandable and I never get mad at him but my next rabbit I will get younger and have neutered. I have a guinea pig named Panda and I know they need company so I have been trying to find a single female guinea pig that I can adopt in Eugene, OR without much success. I love Panda and I like to hold her and give her veggies on my lap. I love her soft squeaks (and LOUD squeaks) and she is cute. However she will not get any exercise unless motivated by veggies, so I have to give her veggies to her by spreading them all over her giant pen so she has to run around and get them. So I love holding her and watching her but sometimes it is hard to tell if she enjoys being held and petted or not. I adopted 2 rats from my local humane society. I love them dearly, but they are females and pretty active. They aren't as interested as being rubbed/scratched or held as some of my other females have been. However they ares still cute and fun and they love coming up and getting treats during play time, I just wish they were a little more snuggly/affectionate. So after reading all that in the future what would be good pets for me? I like pets that are openly affectionate and show their love for you similar to a dog. I am thinking of only having 1 or 2 animals from now on so care/cleaning ect. doesn't seem like too much and so that I don't have to worry as much about a pet being too much work because I won't have so many. I was thinking maybe male rats? Any other suggestions are helpful and you can provide care information as well.

It really makes me angry how all the big pet companies seen in pet stores and just everywhere (Like Hagen, Superpet, Crittertrail, Kaytee, etc.) have horrible products, cages that are too small and break, food that isn't healthy, and totally expensive toys and things that will just get destroyed. I don't think these companies even do research or care about the animals, they are all about the money! How can pet rats be sent to homes alone, with no company in 10 gallon aquariums, with a fatty seed mix and one little hiding spot? Why is it that so many people go to pet stores, buy pets and are totally uneducated? This must be why there are so many pets in humane societies and pounds! Anyone who actually cares about their pet and does research, then has to order basic things like food and bedding online sometimes! This is horrible, why do people only care about money, where is our kind and caring nature!? I wish I could go up to Petsmart and replace all their super pet and crittertrail cages with martins cages and 20 gallon aquariums, but would they ever agree to that? No! Is there anything we can do about this, it is so hard to stand by and watch pets die because of fatty treats, no exercise, and just improper care overall. How can we educate people about how this is wrong? How can we make them understand the work involved in pet ownership? I am only 15 but I wish there was something I could do.

I have a rat that I adopted in May from our local animal shelter (along with a friend we introduced to her). They said she was 1.5 years old. Recently, like a week or so ago, I noticed she had a tumor on her belly. I was worried, but was busy at the time and never got around to scheduling an appointment. The tumor is now pretty big, almost touching the ground. She still doesn't seem bothered by it, though she is a little slower than before. I am about to go on a trip (leaving on Sunday) so there is still time to schedule a surgery perhaps. However I am still not sure what to do. She could be 2 years old by now (since her birth date isn't exact) and what if She doesn't live very long after getting the surgery? since she is old, she could die of cancer or another old age disease not far from now. She is fairly healthy otherwise, but since she is older is it a good idea? Also, last time I had a vet perform a tumor surgery on my rat it cost 200 dollars and I don't know if I can afford it now (I am only 15 and have to pay for it myself). A friend suggested getting the surgery and then volunteering at the clinic to lower the cost, but do you think that would work? I knew that the vet there was experienced with rats, but I am now wondering if there is a vet that is good with rats but has lower prices? I don't know if there is time to talk to a vet and know they are good with rats as well as get surgery before we leave on our trip. I know it is all my fault that I left this off, and I hate myself for it, but now I need to figure it out because I will not leave my rat when she has a tumor and I know she will be in a horrible state when we get back. Does anyone have suggestions of what I should do? Please try to answer all the questions and thanks in advance for helpful, caring answers!

A while ago I was interested in sugar gliders but decided not to get any because of expenses and worry that I wouldn't have enough time. I am 15 and so I am at school during the day (except in summer). I recently read different information from what other sources had said. The information made it seem more possible for me to get one and have time for it. I read they can have a diet that you buy online and give to them as well as fruit and this powder supplement thing. I also read you need to hold them a lot, but I could do other things while they were hanging out on my shoulder in in my pocket. Like I could be doing the dishes or cleaning my room while holding them because they don't try to run away (if they are bonded to you). If I could, I would be able to spend lot's of time with them because I love animals and like to have them with me as much as I can. The only thing I never read about is cleaning. I would provide a "kitchen" which is a biggish clear plastic container that you put their food in so it doesn't get everywhere. So with that in mind... how much cleaning do they require of their cage and how often? The website I was at seemed to indicate that you could just use newspaper in the bottom and change it out every day, replace branches and things as they get soiled, and spray a safe disinfectant on the cage/accessories once every 2 months. So would that be okay? Also, I am looking for a fairly low maintenance pet (not like a hamster/gerbil, but less work than a rabbit or rat) but one that will also bond with me and spend time with me. Would they be a good choice? I know you are supposed to get 2, but if I could only afford 1 would it be okay if I just spent a lot of time with the glider? Also, is there a cage anyone would recommend that is large enough but less than $200? Finally I read young gliders do better in smaller cages. I have a cage that is 12 X 16 X 36 inches, would that be a good cage for a young glider? Anyone who has had sugar gliders feel free to offer tips/advice on anything about them.

These are the websites I used:

http://www.sugargliderinfo.org/index.php

http://mynasga.org/

http://www.asgv.org/

I have a 5 year old rabbit that I rescued from a bad situation. He is really sweet, and I have bonded with him so much that he follows me around my yard and lies down with me in the shade, our yard is all fenced in, but he doesn't even try to run away anyway. However, sometimes if he smells a rabbit or my guinea pig on my clothes, or if something inspires him, he tries to mount my arm or leg. He has also peed on me and my friends a few times. I understand this behavior can be stopped by neutering him, but I am worried he is too old. Is it okay to neuter a 5 year old rabbit? Also, would that affect his bond with me? I don't want his personality to change because he is so sweet, I just wish he didn't have that urge. So should I neuter him or not?

I currently have pet rats, but I am thinking of getting degus when I no longer have them (they are both over a year). I want to make sure I do plenty of research so I am ready to take on the responsibility of degus. I currently have my rats in a large modified bird cage, with added levels/hammocks. It fits 2 rats comfortably (used multiple calculators) but I don't think it would be big enough for degus. I am wondering if there is a cage I could get, that I could use with my rats now, and also with the degus. I'm looking for something around 100 dollars, maybe a little more, but not too much. The Critter Nation seems a little expensive, so maybe a little less than that. Any suggestion? Also any good websites/information on degus would be greatly appreciated.

I have a rabbit, a guinea pig (I am currently trying to find a friend for her), and 2 rats. My rats live in my room, in a large bird cage with 3 added levels and tons of hammocks and toys (I typed the dimensions into several cage calculators including ones that include levels and it fits 2 rats comfortably). My guinea pig lives in a Midwest Pets Guinea Habitat cage that is similar to a C&C cage. It is 7.5 square feet and when I find a friend for her I am buying another so it will be 15 square feet. My rabbit lives outside in a very safe and secure situation. First of all, I live in the city Eugene, Oregon so there is very mild weather here. It rains a lot but temperatures don't ever go below 15 or 20 degrees Fahrenheit and don't go above 95 degrees at the most. In my yard there is a large wooden frame covered in chicken wire, with a roof, and a door (that securely latches.) It is about a 5 or 6 foot square. Inside of that, is a wire cage, the length of the enclosure, attached to the wooden frame. The whole thing is right under a bunch of tall shady trees and bushes, it is never sunny there. In the winter we put Plastic around 3 1/2 sides of the enclosure, so that he is warm and safe from the rain/wind. It also makes it hard for predators to get in or scare him. We provide him with plenty of hay to burrow in in the winter. In the summer we take the plastic off all sides except the side that the back of his cage is on (so predators can't get to the cage as easily), but it is still very well ventilated. His cage is about 10.5 square feet and 18 inches high. Even though his cage has a wire bottom, about 1/4 of it is always covered with a large generous handful or hay so he never has to sit on the wire. I change the hay daily and I scrape out the droppings/hay under the cage weekly. Also weekly, I wash and disinfect his food/water dishes and scrape the bottom of the cage. I also spray the area under the cage with bleach. For exercise, My rabbit has a 6 foot by 6 foot dog kennel with a roof and wire on the bottom. The kennel is in the shade over some nice grass. There is a stool for him to play on and some brick platforms too that I made. I put him in it every day for at least 1 or 2 hours, but usually 4 or 5 hours (more on the weekends). I don't put him out if it is raining really hard or very windy. I give my guinea pig exercise in a large corner of my basement that I covered in towels/blankets and then put a pen around the corner. I spread her veggies all around and she also has boxes/toys to play with. She runs around for about 2 or 3 hours a day. For my rats, I have very thoroughly rat proofed my room and I let them out while I do some of my homework or whenever I have time to watch them, usually at least 1 hour, but more often 2 or 3 hours. For diet, my rabbit and guinea pig get 1/8 cup Oxbow pellets (guinea pig for the guinea pig and rabbit pellets for the rabbit of course) and 1 packed cup, or 2 loose cups of vegetables. They also get a large handful of unlimited orchard grass hay. My rats get a handful of Harlan Teklad lab blocks and about 1 tablespoon each of treats/fruits/veggies. I spot clean my guinea pig and rat cages daily, and clean the whole cage weekly. Here is the thing: This description of what I do is really what I try very hard to do, but sometimes I get really busy with homework/chores/events and things I have to go to. So sometimes I don't have time to spot clean, or do a whole cage clean, sometimes I clean the cage every 2 weeks, or I can't spot clean for a couple days. Sometimes I don't have time to let my bunny out, or it's raining. This is not really on a super regular basis, but it happens and I feel really bad. I really really want to give them best care I can to my animals but school and parents seem to get in the way a lot. If I stopped doing my schoolwork, then my parents would make me get rid of my pets. I have a very special bond with each of them and I also let my rabbit run around my fenced yard. He sticks close to me and follows me around. If I go inside to get a tissue, he will be waiting at the door for me. I love them very much. In the summer things like that won't happen very much, and next year I am going to a school with less homework, but 1 hour longer than most school days. I think it will be a better fit and I will have more time for my animals. In general am I a responsible pet owner?