My Babies Are Getting a Puppy but I Honestly Can't Afford It. Any Advice Please

It just plain selfish of you to take an animal you can't afford.

Say no, sorry kids we can't afford it.
Give it back to whoever gave it to you.

Updated

It just plain selfish of you to take an animal you can't afford.

Say no, sorry kids we can't afford it.
Give it back to whoever gave it to you.

salvation army, thrift stores usually have lots of used stuff for dogs/cats, big lots, dollar tree has stuff too! GL!

M

You should not have accepted the puppy knowing you couldn't afford to care for it properly. You have now set yourself and your kids up for disappointment. If you truly cannot afford to care for this dog properly, then you need to do the right thing and find a better home for it. It will suck, but it is better now than later when the kids have really bonded with this dog.

You have to think of your priorities.
Sorry but pets are a luxury.
A dog can live 15 years (more or less depending on the breed) and if you have to choose between food for the kids and food for the dog, you are really going to start resenting the animal - and it's not his fault.
Being a parent means making the tough calls - doing what's best for your family and kids whether they like it or not.
Really - the best thing you can do for all involved is to find a new home for the puppy.
The kids will get over it sooner or later.

Please, please rehome the poor thing. People love puppies and you will probably have no problem finding a good home for him.
If you have trouble affording him now, chances are you won't be able to afford him a year from now or even two when he is all grown and eating more. What if he gets sick? Will you be able to afford even basic treatment or regular upkeep such as flea control?
All that you are setting yourself up for is disappointment down the line, when the poor pup is less adoptable and it will be harder to rehome him.
While your children may be sad to let the puppy go, it is a great opportunity to teach teach them what is truly means to act responsibly in the interest of another living being.
Good luck.

Honestly if you can not afford proper vet care, high quality food, ect, you should not keep the puppy. The dog should not be made to suffer just because you do not want to disapoint your kids. Each time a dog gets hurt or sick vet bills will be a min of $150. Sometimes we spend up to $300 in one month for health care alone for our dogs. Good food will be $30-$50 a bag, once or twice a month depending on the size of the dog. Just be sure you can really provide for this dog before you commit to it because it is harder on adult dogs to adjust to new homes should you decide later it is all too much. A dog is forever (or at least the next 12-16 years)!

My opinion is that if that puppy has been abused, then it REALLY deserves a home where budgeting for his needs is not an issue. He needs to be with a family that is able to comfortably afford everything that is necessary to give him a long, happy and healthy life.
Of course your kids have fallen in love. What kid wouldn't?
I think it might be a good idea to explain to your children that you are taking care of the puppy until you can find another home for him.
Kids don't really understand how much it takes to own a dog and care for it let alone the expenses that are involved.
We have animal rescues in our area that screen prospective pet owners to make sure the animal can be properly cared for. You might see if there is anything like that in your area to assist you. Many have people who "foster" animals until a permanent and stable home can be found.
Some communities have low cost vaccination clinics every so often, but vet bills and things like that aren't discounted.

This is just my opinion.

My kids love dogs and they've begged me a million times to have one and I've had to tell them no. I'm a single working mom with no time to take care of a dog, no desire to take on the expense and furthermore, we like taking off to go stay with people or just get away in the summer. I'm not taking a dog to someone else's home, or a hotel room, I don't want to leave the dog home hoping I can find someone to look after it while we're gone. Openly explaining those things to my kids helped them understand a dog is not a good fit for us. WE aren't a good fit for a dog.
I have a neighbor that is so broke she's had her lights shut off. She lost her car. She doesn't have television. She's got a dog she's had for years and is always having to "borrow" dog food. Her son told me the other day that she's dragged home two kittens. My other neighbor is out of town, but I'll bet you a million dollars when she gets home, the neighbor with the kittens will be hitting her up for cat food. She brought kittens home knowing she can't afford them so she'll just try to get food from someone else. She certainly doesn't have the money to get them fixed.
That just doesn't make sense to me.
Animals are cute and sweet, but they require a lot and they deserve certain things.

I don't mean to sound cold. Maybe you can find a home for the puppy and the new owners will let your kids visit once in a while.

Best wishes.

It will only get more expensive. Find him a new home. It will be easy to find a new home for a puppy.

Kids are head over heels for a new puppy, for a few days, and then they start getting bored with them. By the time they are a dog, they will give the dog a few pats now and then, but YOU will have to do all the work, and all the walking, and all the vet visits, and all the poop cleaning, and keep shelling out possibly thousands of dollars, especially if the dog gets sick or needs tests or surgery.

Dogs can live 15 years or so. It's a HUGE commitment when you already know you can't afford it. Tell your kids the puppy is only visiting until you can find it a real home. Your kids will cry etc. but they will be FINE. Maybe you can get some little pet as a replacement that's not so much time/money.

here in Fairfax County, VA - our local shelters have TONS of donated goods...

Depending upon the puppy, age, breed, etc. I would consider taking the puppy to a shelter or a foundation (Lost Dog Rescue Foundation, for example) to have the puppy given a home...

Children need to understand that pets cost money - yes, they are cute but they grow up...if you cannot afford it - then you need to give it up.. Yes, the children will be disappointed - but which would they rather have - a meal to eat or a puppy in hand?

Do not let the children control the household. I don't know how you took a puppy in anyway that you couldn't afford - you set yourself up for a fall on this one...sorry!! that's my take.

EDIT: I have to TOTALLY agree with Jen C - we purchase Eukanuba dog food and it's $30 a pop....we have to take Grady in for his 1 year check up and shots - that's $380......this doesn't include chew toys, bones, treats, etc...I spend an additional $50 a month on chew toys and treats...

I agree with the others who feel that you should find another home for the puppy. Your kids will have to get over it. An abused puppy will take lots and lots of love and work to rehabilitate. Unless you are good at training a dog like that, you should give him up to someone who can. It's for the puppy's sake.

This can be a good, although difficult lesson for your kids. We can't always have what we want. Hope this helps...D.

I would post an ad for him on Craigslist or classifieds. Please put your kids before the dog. Even if they're sad now, it is better in the long run!

Personally if you cannot afford the dog, you should find him a different home. But if you just cannot part with him bc your kids love him you can go on freecycle.com and advertise that you are looking for these pet things. Go to garage sales. Put up a sign at your grocery store asking for pet stuff. Make a list of dog expenses with your kids (call the vet to find out the cost of a check up, and other necessary dog appointments) to show them all the costs you will have over time. Then come up with a plan to have your kids start earning money. Lemonade stands every weekend. Washing the neighbors cars. A garage sale. Whatever you can think of. When my son was 6 he would set up a lemonade stand and make $15 each time. People thought he was cute and would give him a couple bucks for a 25 cent cup of lemonade!

First of all, you need a vet. Ask around the neighborhood for one whose office is nearby. A good vet needs to have good references, but doesn't need a fancy office.

You can also ask your neighbors about where to get puppy equipment, food, etc. Keep an eye out for garage sales and look on craiglist for used items. Look for baby gates, too - they are handy to have, since you want to keep the pup where you are until he's educated enough to be trusted out of your sight (think toddler!).

Where I live, there are animal organizations that are glad to give direction and (possibly) assistance. We also have a clinic that spays/neuters pets at relatively low cost. You might look online in your area for such organizations, or ask the vet you contact.

Think of this pup as a four-footed child. He needs physical and emotional care. He needs education and the kind of watchful love a toddler needs. It takes more time and energy than it does cash (but it takes some of that, too), but if you and your husband want to do it, you CAN do it and be happy with this new family member all the rest of his life.

You're not talking about a new puppy, you're talking about a new, abused puppy. You truly should not have accepted this dog knowing what you know about your finances. Abused pets (while they are amazing to rehabilitate) are more time consuming, costly and take a lot more love and attention than just a puppy born into a great home.. It sucks for your kids but keeping a dog you can't afford and don't want is the last thing this dog needs, find a good home for it and probably do it fast.. explain that the puppy needs a special home and you can't give that to him now. Tell them that once you can afford it you will go find a puppy just for them that will be so happy in your home. I had a dog for like 8 years as a kid, it died, I cried and a few days later I was fine.. Kids get over this stuff pretty quick with all the other things going through their head. Good luck.

Join Freecycle it's a yahoo group. But even if you get all of the basic supplies free, feeding and vet bills can get expensive.

you need to try free cycle or craigslist! good luck!

craigslist has a section where free stuff is listed. also, there are lots of local shelters that give free shots and free/neuter spaying for people who can't afford to go see a vet. good luck!

Go to thrift stores for supplies. They usually have a lot of old blankets for bedding, and leases, food dishes, and even dog crates for sleeping and transporting. You can shop around to find the best price on food, and check local Vets for their low or no cost spay and neuter clinics. Get it fixed as soon as possible. We have an animal hospital that does half price shots every 2nd Sunday. Call around to local shelters and ask what else is available at low or no cost to you. Check out a book from the library on how to control and train a dog. That is free.