Help Duke the Doberdane Get the Care He Needs

Please welcome Duke the Doberman/Great Dane into Rescue! He was listed as a "free doberman" on Facebook. He had no vet history, so he needed rabies, distemper, Bordetella, deworming, heartworm test, and HW prevention immediately. He was picked up Thursday and went to the vet today, Saturday.

Let me explain what happens when a rescue takes a dog "free" off Facebook. First, you find out that a Doberman is actually a Doberdane.

He has fleas, so day 1 is a flea bath, Capstar ($43) and a bag of food ($45) . He needs rabies, distemper combo vaccine, heartworm test is necessary, and he needs heartworm prevention. Cost is $170 more on day 2. Then, you find out the dog has anxiety and needs a special, expensive crate. Bought used for $100 on marketplace, by a generous donor.

During his vet visit, we find out he is cryptorchid, meaning that the testicle either never descended, or has migrated, so neuter will be more expensive, and more invasive. Coagulation test, pre-surgical blood work (Chem-10 panel), and cryptorchid neuter, and microchipping will probably add another $450 to the cost.

The ex-owner volunteers, 2 days after surrender, that the dog ate a blanket and a flea collar a week ago. He might need an x-ray and have a bowel obstruction.

By the way, he isn't potty trained, learned the hard way, by the foster, night one. The previous owner gave the dog full run of the house, and he pooped where he wanted. He peed in the house, so he was "shamed" and started sneaking away to pee in dark corners. This was not shared with rescuers, before accepting this dog....

So, when you want that "free Doberman" on Facebook, you better have $1000 in reserve and a lot of patience. Please don't get upset when the adoption fee is $450. The rescue now has at least $800, probably much more, invested in the dog. He has been crate trained, potty trained, dewormed, treated for fleas, vaccinated, neutered, checked for obstruction, had a Chem-10 panel, coagulation test, was treated for anxiety, and will be neutered as a cryptorchid dog. So much effort has gone into "rehabbing" this dog. You are truly getting a bargain!

Your " free Doberman" would have tracked in fleas, peed in your house, and needed immediate vet treatment. He might have chewed up your house, and cried all night long. With a rescue dog, volunteers did everything for you, and they didn't charge or receive any compensation, other than some doggy kisses. You can rest assured your dog won't have Parvo, distemper, rabies, heartworm or intestinal worms. You will not be surprised by the extra cost of spay or neuter if your dog has Von Willebrand disease, or is cryptorchid. Please be nice to rescuers.