My situation and looking for some answers...

**marjorie** · 01-24-2011, 06:35 PM

the whole disability thing can be very time consuming and emotional. I was required by my private disabilty company to file for SSDI. Their requirement was that I not be able to work at any job for a period of one year or more. It might be reassuring to your husband to hear that the disability system allows for you to go back to work if/when you are able. It was a big stumbling block for me until I knew that, because it felt as though I was having to say I had no worth after years of supporting others. HTH

**Dianabeth** · 01-26-2011, 02:53 AM

The german shephard is the dog that cost us lots of money and in reality i should let her go to another home however she deals with anxiety and is extremely attached to my son...and we call her our basket case and i know that if i give her away she will lose her mind completely...(she is naughty when we are not home...she has learned to open the door to the house and escape..so we have to make sure the door is locked...she has learned to open the fridge when we are not there and makes a huge mess...if there is flour on the sideboard she pulls it down etc...you get the picture and i am not sure that anyone else can understand her disorder and might not love her like we do...so she stays.....

Is there any way that you can get hold of a crate? If you're not in the house, she can be safe in the crate, and your house will be safe too .......People are often selling them or even giving them away on Craigslist, Freecycle, etc.

~Di

**DebtFreeCPA** · 02-01-2011, 01:39 PM

This is my first post here, but I think I can offer some guidance. Regarding the electricity you should consider contacting your local utility company and have them come out for an audit. I cannot fathom electricity costing that much. These audits are either free or cost a small nominal fee. Before my wife and I moved, we had a nearly 3000 sq ft house and our energy bills weren't nearly as much as your electricity bill (even in the dead of winter) so something seems off to me. Like others have said, get your husband to fill out the disability papers as soon as possible. If you can't find a new job that is closer to where you live, would it be possible to work one day per week at home? That would save you nearly a week's worth of gas per month. I look forward to your replies.

**frugalcdngal** · 02-02-2011, 11:01 AM

Your husband should file for disability. If he is entitled to it, it would be wise to help your family out by claiming it.

**alotofgooddeals** · 02-02-2011, 12:19 PM

when we got her she came with a crate however she wont use it...she breaks them by pushing in between and somehow pushing the doors open and breaking them and she hurts herself in the process...my husband gets irritated with her however the rest of the family absolutely loves her, she is a pain in the hiney but as we say she is our pain in the hiney...she would not survive going anywhere else because of her anxiety..i fear that someone else would not understand her issues and might yell or hit her andi cannot fathom that ever happening to her as she really is a good girl...so i have resigned to the fact that she is ith us till she passes...and we will deal ith whatever arises.....

Originally Posted by Dianabeth

The german shephard is the dog that cost us lots of money and in reality i should let her go to another home however she deals with anxiety and is extremely attached to my son...and we call her our basket case and i know that if i give her away she will lose her mind completely...(she is naughty when we are not home...she has learned to open the door to the house and escape..so we have to make sure the door is locked...she has learned to open the fridge when we are not there and makes a huge mess...if there is flour on the sideboard she pulls it down etc...you get the picture and i am not sure that anyone else can understand her disorder and might not love her like we do...so she stays.....

Is there any way that you can get hold of a crate? If you're not in the house, she can be safe in the crate, and your house will be safe too .......People are often selling them or even giving them away on Craigslist, Freecycle, etc.

~Di

**krbshappy71** · 02-02-2011, 12:30 PM

two cats and two dogs...one dog eats all the stinkin time and has health issues which causes us to have to take her to the vet roughly 2-3 times a year which cost us roughly $130 a time...The other three are very healthy and only have to have rabies shots etc..however should have an animal fund just in case..
The german shephard is the dog that cost us lots of money and in reality i should let her go to another home however she deals with anxiety and is extremely attached to my son...and we call her our basket case and i know that if i give her away she will lose her mind completely...(she is naughty when we are not home...she has learned to open the door to the house and escape..so we have to make sure the door is locked...she has learned to open the fridge when we are not there and makes a huge mess...if there is flour on the sideboard she pulls it down etc...you get the picture and i am not sure that anyone else can understand her disorder and might not love her like we do...so she stays....

Is the eating related to the health issues? Just asking because rationing their food to a reasonable amount can save you money in the long run. Its common for multiple dogs to hog their food even when you ensure there is plenty for everyone. Mine are fed exact, measured amounts every day and fed in their crates or separate rooms (2 do not have crates right now) so they can't get into each other's food.
There is a spritz-scented spray that is supposed to be calming for dogs with high anxiety and it is working well for a friend of mine with her dog that drooled excessively whenever left alone. I have a neurotic dog that does better in a closed room, tailor made for him, than in a crate. You can also try tethering her instead of crating her, just so she cannot get into the kitchen while you are gone or behind your back.

Some dogs are particularly difficult, just keep looking for solutions if you are serious about keeping the dog. Mine are crazy goofballs but I work around their strengths and weaknesses so we both can live sanely together. You can PM me if you want help with a specific dog issue, I'm not a professional but I have worked in a doggy daycare, as a vet tech, and have owned them all my life. Sometimes it just helps to have an outsider look in.

best wishes.