How come Assistance Dogs are so expensive?
20 March 2017
Cost is a huge issue and something that I need to justify to myself every day - 40k seems like a huge mountain to climb. I have done fundraising before and know that you, the people giving so generously are going to be the true owner of my dog – I will be both career and receiver of its potential. I want to make sure that this care is the best care I can give!
I think the best way to look at the financial cost is to quote the professionals – that is Assistance Dogs NZ.
“To socialise and train an assistance dog costs around $20,000, however additional essential parts of the service, including breeding, kennelling, client training, follow-up, veterinary and food costs mean that the total "Whole of Life" costs are around $48,000”
I think I can do this for cheaper as I don't have all of the administration costs that they are required to have. I will need to pay for things like getting an independent trainer to do the Volhard's Puppy Aptitude Testing right through to purchasing a pup (around $2000 for that). I have put a few enquirers out for what it will cost for initial training and so far the cheapest (not always the best) is around $2997. This will get me up to the standard of sitting for the certification and does not include 'top up' training. Then there is pet insurance, vet bills, food, travel to training... the list goes on and on and on.
The problem I face every day is that I know my CRPS will only get worse, maybe even spread. This means I am constantly trying to find that magic bullet; a cure, or at least something that will allow me to run into the sunset hand in hand with Rose and the kids (and a fishing rod). Realistically the time has come to at least future proof my OWN future, then and only then I will not be so reliant on others to pick me up during a flare.
When discussing this with Rosie I realised that this dog will be a here for me when others are not around, because being in pain, can and is a very lonely existence. Sometimes I just need that touch or a hug or someone to pick up my phone or steady me while I get up – take a look at this guy to see how this can work… Drew Lynch is an American comedian, sometimes it's the emotional support as well as the physical support I want/need.
Oh, one last thing; although I have thought about going through ADNZ, I don't want to take up their resources when I think I can do this myself... I really need to do this myself!