Pet Care Tips For A Tough Economy

From Mother Nature Network's Morieka Johnson:

Our unemployment rate may be dipping, but many U.S. families still struggle to make ends meet. “Doing more with less” requires tough decisions about household expenses, and many pet owners face the possibility of losing their pets. Fortunately, there is a network of resources available to keep pets and their people together. Here are a few options if you need help -- or can lend a hand.

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Comments

[alexwhite09]

05:39 AM on 12/13/2012

Pet food banks are a nice solution if you are unable to buy the expensive pet foods. I think this might help the stray animals. They can get their food from these banks. The idea if implemented correctly can help the animals greatly.

http://www.drronsanimalhospitalsimivalley.com/

[jenniferkizzy]

08:48 PM on 03/13/2012

thank you so much this is helpful i alway's stock pile dog and cat food and medicine for just such an occasion i do it a lot if i don't eat but my pet's do i'm fine but lucky me i have a cool family we work together but this is helpful bye

[cindmill13]

04:32 AM on 03/09/2012

Great article! Plan for pet food bank is awesome idea. Pets are our true friend and they are so innocent. Please save our pets.

[Ann Vaughn]

09:57 AM on 03/08/2012

I have found out that Pet Food Banks be a trap for the Animal Rights to track your pet or pets. You have to fill out the information , how many dogs, your address. And you only get a open plastic bag with dry food spilling out of it and you have to beg for canned, Then it is every 6 months.
BEWARE DOG LOVERS these intatutions have NO HEART. It is there job to bust you for any reason and in this economy they need to keep there jobs so they go looking for the dog lover or Cat lover. So if you think you are on there level helping animals, Think Again Before you go to That Food Bank its a set up. Southerndogg

[Foodgrade]

10:43 PM on 03/07/2012

That dog is just too cute:)

[bcmom]

08:04 PM on 03/07/2012

Shelters and rescues are so overwhelmed with owner surrenders. It is awful. So many are dying because there are no homes. Yet people like mills keep breeding them. People spends thousands of dollars on these poorly bred animals when they could get the same dog in a shelter.

[Ann Vaughn]

10:11 AM on 03/08/2012

I agree cant the puppy millers get better breeding stock. The stud dogs and the brood females shuld be OFA, SERF, Heart tested like good breeders. This shuld be the regulation and law. Make a better dog or cat not discrimination or invasion of privacy. New Regulations make new jobs and Peace. Southerndogg

[Kristin Maeder Shamhart]

06:21 PM on 03/07/2012

Finally an article about pet health that is addressing the ecconomy. I have seen and heard from people struggling and who want to keeptheir much loved pets. But when we moved a couple years ago, we found getting a new vet a real issue due to so many vets pushing things like yearly teeth cleaning etc. Now sure I love my pets, but gee, I know people who can't afford to get their or their kids teeth cleaned yearly and I would want to help them before I pay for my pets every year. Not that we ignore their health, we get vaccines, check-ups and meds if they need them, and we have had their teeth cleaned every so many years. But one vet actually went so far as to suggest chemo for our 18+ yr old cat. I think vets do need to remember that pet owners love their little furry friends but consciencely some of us can not see paying for things like that.

[ckinsobe]

09:23 PM on 03/07/2012

I feel like I am being robbed every time I go to the vet. I try to figure out how much it is going to cost before I go, but nevertheless every time it ends up being way more than planned, always hundreds and hundreds of dollars.. I have been avoiding going the past few years but my "kids" are getting older and I am dreading one of them getting ill.

[Ann Vaughn]

10:23 AM on 03/08/2012

I so agree, I could not afford my beloved dogs and a cat, So i educated my self how to scrap my pets teeth, they sell scallers for this and there are Groomers who do this at a fraction of the cost but keep in mind the Groomer can not save rotten teeth, need a Veterinarian for that one. I also keep anti soft stools, gas X, and other useful things in the house. And it might be as simple as a change of food. What is the old saying 'An ounce of Prevention.. This saves my out going cash. Southerndogg

[Sabrae]

06:14 PM on 03/07/2012

Canned tuna is actually cheaper and far better for your pet than cat food, and dogs do just fine on table scraps.

[Foodgrade]

10:45 PM on 03/07/2012

Chicken is cheaper than pet food. Buy the cheap packages, and on sale stuff. It's easy to steam up for them.

[Sabrae]

11:24 PM on 03/07/2012

That, too. And it's so much better for them.

[jenniferkizzy]

08:49 PM on 03/13/2012

my cat won't eat it but if i mix in some left over dry she'll tear it up also put in a little olive oil in your dog's food good for her coat and skin bye