sandgrubber

Yes it's a lot of $. But you assume the vet knew what the problem was before doing CAT scan and other tests. Very likely it was worse than anticipated. When Ihave ended up in similar situations, I have left the vet with instructions to let me know if the bill was likely to be over $Xxxx, or the prognosis was poor. I have been prepared to decide on euthanasia if the cost was beyond me or the expected outcome was short of full recovery.

A large part of this is end of life care. The life expectancy for a Frenchie in the UK is 4.5 years. (See my previous post in this thread for reference). This pup was 5. Chances are it will be back for more expensive and painful treatments in years to come and these will not be entirely successful. If an aged dog gets osteosarcoma or suffers congestive heart failure or equivalent horrors, ALWAYS ask the vet how much time the dog can be expected to live after the expensive treatment and what its quality of life will be. Then ask yourself, is it worth it? It's also worth asking the vet what they would do if it was their dog. Oft-times they know it's basically hopeless and take heroic and expensive measures due to emotional pressure from the client. Euthanasia is sometimes the kindest solution. Also note, there's a reason insurance costs sky-rocket as dogs get old. Sadly, they don't live that long.

Frenchies also have a reputation for ill health. A recent peer reviewed article gave them a shockingly low life expectancy 4.5 years. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2318084-french-bulldogs-are-the-shortest-lived-dog-breed-in-the-uk/ To me the bottom line is "do your homework ". I feel for the dog, and all the other dogs bred will grevious health defects. But if you do buy a trendy breed known for health defects, at least shop around for vets, and do your check-ups for likely problems rather than waiting for an emergency and going to a trendy vet.

Poor gal. Had to sell some designer handbags to pay the vet bill.

I guess I'm hard hearted, but no kill isn't viable when there are more pups born than good homes for them

Frankly, I'd just as soon have the rats killed. A dog's jaws is nowhere near as cruel as rat poison.

I don't know how it is in QLD, but in most places weak enforcement is a bigger problem than weak laws.

I've moved to (snake-free) NZ. I still jump out of my shoes when I see a stick or bit of hose with just the wrong sort of curves

I'd say your friend is either exceptionally lucky or well connected.

Fascinating, but a long way from providing practical advice. Watching my untrained ESSs go nuts around wild pheasants and quail and doing a fine job flushing them, I can believe something quite specific has been programmed into land races. Likewise herding dogs with sheepies. But there a long way from knowing how to get a kelpie to have a soft mouth or a Springer to herd sheep.

f*** the "golden years" stereotypes. A retired, healthy, and financially stable person better able to deal with puppy than a family with two frenzied adults who work full-time and a big mortgage and a couple of kids. Divorce, bankruptcy, unemployment and loss of rental can be almost as disruptive, from a dog's perspective, as death of an owner. Puppies need time and patience. Retirees tend to have lots of both, and some of us have accumulated a lot of knowledge about dogs. As as oldie, I appreciate puppy buoyancy. I don't need to add the sorrow of a dog in its ending years to the pains of my own aging. I now have a 2 year old ESS. His energy keeps me to 10,000+ steps a day and his naughtiness and quirks help keep me from feeling and acting my age.

I'm no longer a breeder but somewhat geeky about genetics. My impression is that epigenetics is potentially important, but there's a lot of trendy garbage written about it and it's going to take a decade or two before there's a solid evidence base.

Only if the others have good judgement. Personally I'd rather see veterinarians and people involved in the breed's purpose, whether sport, working or companion, have equal say to conformation judges. IMO the unfortunate downfall of the pedigree system is due to overemphasis on the surface aspects of conformation that can be judged in the show ring, and inattention to health and temperament. Pedigrees could used well, but have mostly been used to narrow the gene pool to particular showy types. In many cases, health testing is merely an effort to backtrack the effects of a century and a half of 'line breeding', closed registers and consideration of form, while neglecting function.

Inferred motive. The actual may be quite different. I'm reminded of a widow (husband killed in plane crash) and 2 kids who were my tenants years back. She told me she overheard one of her kids say to a friend: "My parents are divorced too. My daddy's dead". Adoption, like divorce, become a norm and advertising that you bought from a registered breeder risks looking like a tall poppy.

Hey. Easy on oldies. I'm 74, but the actuarial tables expect I'll make 95. My dogs will probablybe frail before I am. I'm home all day. I do 6 km daily. My dogs are off lead and do 4 steps to my one. They are seldom left alone, and if I pass early there's a loving home to welcome them. People (and dogs) are individuals should be evaluated as such.

The most absurd FB ruling: you can't sell fish, live or dead, but in NZ, whitebait (ie, fish fry netted on their way from fresh water to the ocean, a traditional delicacy in NZ) are sold freely.

Not 'completely'. You could as well say it recognises the deep emotional bond that develops between sentient beings of different species. I have no love for PETA and extreme AR. But my pets aren't just things I own.

$200 to reimburse some organisation for a vet check, intake services such as deworming and grooming, several days or weeks boarding, and in some cases a spay or castration is not comparable to $2000+ to a breeder. I, personally, shop rather than adopt. But I fully respect those who are proud of adopting from a shelter.

IMO English needs a new word or two to recognisethe two way bond between pets and their owners. If I play and cuddle with a living entity and grieve deeply when that entity dies, it's more than a thing and more than a possession, even though I bought it and have legal ownership and responsibility for it.

It's more complicated. SWFs are rare in shelters. I doubt you'll ever find a puggle. Small terrier crosses are rare. Bull terrier crosses are everywhere.

Sounds like vet schools need to be expanded.

"Detective Inspector Aylett said there was only one dog involved in the incident and wanted to assure residents there were no violent strays running around the city. "That dog wasn't a stray dog, it was known to the occupants of that house," he said." Is this supposed to make people feel safe? No violent strays, just violent 'known' dogs.

What's the fuss? My dogs are family. I adopt them, even when I buy them. They do NOT become fur babies! No argument, FB has some stupid rules about animal sales.

Silky terrier?

It means eugenics.