Hi Julie; thanks so much for your post.
I'll be very open and frank with you and tell you exactly where I am with this.
I saw this thread, just as I see the threads for lots and lots of other dogs here. Usually my reaction is "oh what a lovely dog, I really hope they find a good home soon." I saw the pictures of Barney and read his story and for some reason, he's stuck in my mind to the point where - he's sending me Barney!
Based on the reassurance you've given me in your post I have now spoken to my husband about Barney. We have agreed to sit down tonight and have a really good conversation. I do want to caution you that my husband and I had agreed to wait at least another year before introducing another dog - the fact that he wants to discuss it is a good sign, but I don't want to get your hopes up and for you to be disappointed if he says no!
I should share with you our situation because after all this you may decide we're not suitable for Barney! I live in Hampshire, we have three cats (as mentioned), no children but young children visiting perhaps once a month or so. We both work - but we're exactly six minutes from home! - and so getting home at lunchtime is easy. We have about 145 foot of a back garden backing onto fields, and for daily walks Rosie is taken up to our dog-park where she can socialise with lots of other dogs, there are two large fields surrounded by gorseland and woodland that we ramble through. On weekends we go to the forest where there is a large lake; Rosie loves to swim, I can barely get her out of the water. We have friends with a caravan on a beach in devon and we try and spend the odd week and weekends with them at the end/start of the season so that our dogs can enjoy the beach. As for Rosie, she is a bit full on, but she loves the company of our friends 10 year old Labrador when he comes to stay with us and he tends to go all puppified and silly. The dogs getting on would of course be paramount - Barney sounds like the cats would be no problem.
I never take on any animal without making 110% commitment and being certain it's the right decision. I know you will appreciate this; because otherwise I'd be wasting your time. Today I contacted two of my friends who have had dogs in the past with HD - they both tell me exactly the same you, that HD is manageable with the supplements and their dogs lived out their last few years pain-free, with management of diet, exercise, and medication. However, they've all told me that the metacam and glucosamine costs were quite high, and based on the medication Barneys on and his weight, my vets quoted me 65:00 per month (sorry my pound sign isn't working!) Obviously there is a big difference to what it's costing at the moment, so perhaps Barney's dosage is a great deal less?
I'm aware that in Barney's case the liklihood is that an existing condition probably wouldn't be covered by insurance, the insurance premium for an older dog is likely to be higher - and as we already have Rosie, plus our three cats, vet bills and insurance costs are something we really have to consider. I hope you understand; it's a shame cost has to be a consideration but I'm really trying to be really responsible here and make sure the welfare and future health of everyone in our doggie and feline family is secure.
Anyway; we are talking tonight and I should be able to post a bit more towards the end of the evening.
I would really appreciate some some more detail about the medication costs and Barney's dosage. Unfortunately if the costs is as described by my vet could make this a bit too difficult for us. However the costs as you describe would be no worries, so I really need to understand this better.
Thank you for your kind reply and reassurance; I really do appreciate the time and effort you've made to help me.
