ROTT N CHATTER, August 1992, Volume 1 Number 1

 

                            WHERE'S THE BEEF?

 

                Dorothy Stephenson of Ventura, CA. writes:

   My beef is with the various animal welfare organizations and the

veterinarians in Ventura County, CA.  I am a Senior Citizen and I had a six

month old Rottweiler who needed to be spayed.  I called around to many of

the veterinarians here in the County and found out, to my dismay, that the

price was completely out of reason for my fixed income and very limited

budget.  I then began to check around for available help and I found I could

get a $10.00 voucher from the Humane Society and a $40.00 voucher from the

County.  However, before I could recieve the spay voucher from the County, I

had to pay for a license for an 'unspayed' female which came to $35.00.  So,

why bother?

 

   Most of the veterinarians here charge $55.00 for up to 35 pounds and

$1.00 for each pound over.  We all know that a healthy 6 month old

Rottweiler weighs  at least 50-55 pounds even after light feedings for a few

days.

 

     The cost to me for spaying, license, etc. came to $99.50.

 

   I also have a Rottweiler that is now 1 1/2 years old.  You may wonder why

I have two Rottweilers if I am on such a fixed income.  Well, my older

female was given to me because she was the tiniest of the (backyard) litter,

I had offered to watch over them and the mother while their uncaring family

left for vacation.  I would have taken all of them if I could have.  My six

month old was being taken to the pound unless someone took her (she was

considered incorrigible).

 

   It seems that I am doubly penalized because I love Rotties.  I not only

have to carefully budget for my dogs, but because they are large dogs, it

takes that much more.  Where are the organizations and veterinarians that

aid Senior Citizens to care for their pets regardless of size?

 

   Incidently, I live alone and they are my dearest companions.

 

   That is my beef, what about yours?