Our Frugal Pug adventure

[MommyBliss]

We have been wanting a dog for about a year now and finally settled on a pug. I tried rescue groups, and found their rules to be absolutely too stringent or hard to get a hold of. I tried breeders, but the price was quite exorbant. I put an ad up on craigslist and was told that their was a pug at our local animal shelter.

The kids and I made our way there first thing Monday morning and were the only ones there for her! She is so sweet! She came home yesterday and she is such a sweetheart. She seems to be our frugal pug. The one I had been considering purchasing would have cost me $400. We got her for $120 total and she comes with a free 1st time vet visit and her shots started. I got all her gear for about 50 percent off, because I got her bed and cute collar for $20 total at Homegoods, this really neat decor store in our area. I know, not neccessities, but my girls and I love stuff like this and we got good prices. Then we went to PetSmart to check into training for her and get her a few necessities. We came across the cute clothing and at 75 percent off how could we resist a few outfits. I got 4 outfits for the $20 I was going to spend on ebay for one. I wanted something to photograph her in. I do photography on the side and I am already planning a photo shoot with the girls and Honey with a certain theme.

Anyway, our frugal pug journey continues, because we stopped at Petco today for a few small things and a man came up to us while we were attending the potty training course they offer for FREE. He asked me if we only had the one small dog and I said yes, he then proceeded to give us a BRAND SPANKING new excercise yard pen for her. He had bought it for their dog that day or day before and their dog, a poodle, could jump out of it, well ours can't and the store wouldn't let him return it, so he gave it to us. I had just seen them earlier in the store for about $70.00. I think we're off to a very frugal start with Honey.

[Milly]

Your story is more proof that a frugal life-style doen't mean not having the things you really want.

My DD found a pedigreed Welsh Corgi at the local shelter. It's amazing the things people will throw out when they tire of them.

Congratulations. I look forward to seeing some photos.

[Spirit Deer]

Congrats on the new family member!

Don't forget to make some tasty doggy treats from scratch! Google for recipes, there are tons out there.

Our doggy's ophthalmologist says shelter dogs know they've been given a second chance, and behave accordingly.

How nice of the guy to give you the pen. No doubt it'll come in handy on many occasions. They're great for camping!

[my4littlebuffaloes]

That is great. We knew we wanted a lab/husky mix (lab for personality and husky to do well in the cold). We looked at tons of shelter dogs (online) and they were all wanting $200 or so to rescue these animals. We looked on craigslist and found a litter of exactly what we wanted for $25 each! Believe me we rescued this poor dog from that place. Way to go!

[Spirit Deer]

Just a note in defense of shelters and their costs, if the pet have been spayed/neutered and have their shots, $200 can be a real bargain. A friend of ours recently had his dog spayed and it cost him $350.

All five of our cats were spayed/neutered when we got them, had been tested for some common diseases, and had all shots except rabies. Cost from the shelter was $80, a deal in our book. The big bonus was their surgeries were all done and we did not have to watch them suffer through the recovery or worry about complications. Loved that!

Jennifer, your puppy is adorable! He's obviously well-loved and lucky to have come to your home and been invited into your family. Good for you and him too!

[madhen]

Just a "second" on what Spirit Deer said. Our local shelter takes in heartworm positive dogs and treats them, which means someone has to foster the dog for a month or more. It also will not adopt out a dog without first spaying/neutering it, micro-chipping it, and making sure it has all of its shots and is heartworm-neg. Cats are also tested for FIV and leukemia.

I had a stray wander in to my property, and after I got done doing all the things that the county shelter would do, my bill was close to $400. The shelter charges $125, so they are a bargain!!

[madhen]

That is great. We knew we wanted a lab/husky mix (lab for personality and husky to do well in the cold). We looked at tons of shelter dogs (online) and they were all wanting $200 or so to rescue these animals. We looked on craigslist and found a litter of exactly what we wanted for $25 each! Believe me we rescued this poor dog from that place. Way to go!

I am very happy that you got the right dog for your family, but if you look at it another way, you also helped a backyard breeder make a profit. (I am basing this on your statement that you "rescued this poor dog from that place.") If you then neutered that $25 dog, gave him all his shots, microchipped him (which your shelter might not do, although I think most are doing it now), and had him tested for h/w, you probably broke even, money-wise, or maybe spent a bit more than $200?

[nancycg56]

Congrats on your new dog! I LOVE stories about shelter dogs. I have wanted a pug for the longest time!

We adopted Zippy, a Jack Russell (vet says he's purebred), about a year ago. He had heartworms, no one wanted to be saddled with the expense and we decided to adopt him and take care of him. One expensive heartworm treatment later, he is good as gold. He's probably the best dog we have ever adopted.

DD adopted her dog from a shelter and she came from an abusive home so she still has some problems but she has come light years from where she was. She is so loving ~ it seems like she knows she was given a second chance.

Please post pictures if you can!!!

[MommyBliss]

Here is a picture of Honey.


She is such a sweetheart. She was spayed, microchipped, and given her shots. I am very happy with our decision to adopt from a shelter.

[nancycg56]

OMG ~ what an adorable dog!!!!!!! I love this picture, mommybliss!

[Darlene]

Pretty lady, cute dog! So happy for all of you!

[Milly]

A truly beautiful animal. Enjoy.

[ubumartin]

Very cute! I am pro shelter. We adopted my dog as a puppy, $150.00 included puppy kindergarten, microchip, shots and neuter.

[dcompton]

What a cutie! No wonder you are thrilled with her. She's definitely worth the pampering and the treats.

[angelbumpkin]

What an adorable dog.