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How much does it cost to care for a guide dog? (self.Blind)
submitted 8y ago by coolestnameavailable
I am a college student helping to raise money to support a guide dog for a friend. I am working on setting a funding goal for the campaign. We want to raise enough money to cover all the expenses for the dog, for the entire working life of the dog.
My friend gave me the following figures for expenses *per month*:
Medical - $400
Dental - $80
Grooming - $30
Food & Transportation - $80
According to these figures, this puts the total cost of owning a guide dog over the course of eight to ten years at just under $70,000. Are these figures accurate? If not, how should I approach my friend with the notion that his figures were inflated and I don't feel comfortable raising that much money?
Edit: formatting
My friend gave me the following figures for expenses *per month*:
Medical - $400
Dental - $80
Grooming - $30
Food & Transportation - $80
According to these figures, this puts the total cost of owning a guide dog over the course of eight to ten years at just under $70,000. Are these figures accurate? If not, how should I approach my friend with the notion that his figures were inflated and I don't feel comfortable raising that much money?
Edit: formatting
Zach_of_Spades 5 points
Your friend is either tragically misinformed, or is trying to screw you royally. Source: I am a guide dog user of just over 6 years.
First of all, the medical expenses... There are vets who take care of service dogs pro bono. Even if there are none of these vets in your local area, the dog only needs a checkup every year, shots, and visits if he gets sick. Even without the free services many vets provide, the medical expenses should be along the lines of 400 bucks a year maximum.
Second, grooming. Guide dog schools give extensive training on dog grooming, along with providing brushes and other assorted grooming stuff. The master grooming his own dog is also an important part of the bonding process, and is emphasized by many schools as a technique for keeping your relationship with your dog at the high level required to be a good working team.
Food... Uh, 80 dollars a month on food is insane. The standard food for a guide dog from the school I attended is Purina One. It costs around 35 dollars for a 40 pound bag. This should last a month and a half to two months.
As far as transportation, that has nothing to do with the dog.
Sorry to say it, but this is a scam.
It is infuriating to hear about people trying to get by with this level of fuckery.
Think of it this way. Your total expenses a month ad up to over 500 dollars. This amount of money would be enough for the guy to hire a personal driver to take him wherever he needs to go.
If it cost this much money to have a guide dog, there would be nobody with them.
Please, please, please, please don't give this guy any money. He will take it and be laughing his ass off all the way to the bank.
First of all, the medical expenses... There are vets who take care of service dogs pro bono. Even if there are none of these vets in your local area, the dog only needs a checkup every year, shots, and visits if he gets sick. Even without the free services many vets provide, the medical expenses should be along the lines of 400 bucks a year maximum.
Second, grooming. Guide dog schools give extensive training on dog grooming, along with providing brushes and other assorted grooming stuff. The master grooming his own dog is also an important part of the bonding process, and is emphasized by many schools as a technique for keeping your relationship with your dog at the high level required to be a good working team.
Food... Uh, 80 dollars a month on food is insane. The standard food for a guide dog from the school I attended is Purina One. It costs around 35 dollars for a 40 pound bag. This should last a month and a half to two months.
As far as transportation, that has nothing to do with the dog.
Sorry to say it, but this is a scam.
It is infuriating to hear about people trying to get by with this level of fuckery.
Think of it this way. Your total expenses a month ad up to over 500 dollars. This amount of money would be enough for the guy to hire a personal driver to take him wherever he needs to go.
If it cost this much money to have a guide dog, there would be nobody with them.
Please, please, please, please don't give this guy any money. He will take it and be laughing his ass off all the way to the bank.
Zach_of_Spades 1 points
I forgot dental.
Just, no. Feed the dog those little tooth cleaning treats and brush his teeth. $20 per year.
Just, no. Feed the dog those little tooth cleaning treats and brush his teeth. $20 per year.
homeschooled 4 points
A dog does not need groomed every month, does not need to see the dentist every month and does not need that much medical attention every month, unless there is some type of continued education for guide dogs that I'm not aware of, and that's being lumped in?
That's an awkward conversation to have. I would contact a guide dog organization and ask that question. Then give him their answer and adjust the fundraising goal.
That's an awkward conversation to have. I would contact a guide dog organization and ask that question. Then give him their answer and adjust the fundraising goal.
homeschooled 2 points
I just found this from a website that seems credible, might be helpful as a link to show your friend.
http://www.guidedogs.org/apply/faqs/
Financial ability: You must have the ability to financially cover the expenses associated with the maintenance and care of a guide dog including food, monthly preventatives and veterinary expenses **(approximately $900 to $1,200 a year).**
http://www.guidedogs.org/apply/faqs/
Financial ability: You must have the ability to financially cover the expenses associated with the maintenance and care of a guide dog including food, monthly preventatives and veterinary expenses **(approximately $900 to $1,200 a year).**
coolestnameavailable [OP] 1 points
Thank you. This should prove very helpful. There is an uncomfortable discussion in my future
homeschooled 2 points
I would avoid going in thinking that way, because it doesn't have to be awkward. Just adjust the fundraising goal and say that you checked with an organization and they said at most it will be $1200, and you don't want to overshoot the fundraising goal to an unrealistic number. I would just leave it at that.
cerealcable 1 points
Seems odd to me that you would have a crowdfunding campaign to pay for day to day expenses as well. Also, I'd believe most of the larger schools would help if there were actual financial issues.
dmazzoni 2 points
I agree with the others, those numbers are way too high. If you're legally blind organizations like Guide Dogs for the Blind provide the dog for free. The major cost is you have to go to their center and get trained.
After that it's the same cost as owning any dog - mostly food!
After that it's the same cost as owning any dog - mostly food!
Tardis79 2 points
Not sure of the details but some businesses offer pet insurance. Might help with those medical costs that look to high to me.
coolestnameavailable [OP] 1 points
Thanks this is a great thought. I'll look into pet insurance.
DnBDeafNBlind 2 points
Id investigate the medical part, an unwell guide dog doesnt sound right. Also im in the uk so i cant help, sorry.
coolestnameavailable [OP] 2 points
So you're saying that $400/month would only occur in the case of a guide dog being sick?
DnBDeafNBlind 2 points
In medical bills yeah 400 to me implies it takes medication/s but that doesnt make sense since its a service dog and you have everything else listed.
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