someone i know has an entire dog and bitch both rescues, and no job, lives back at home with parents etc. now im a great believer in "if you cant afford the dog then you shouldnt have it".......but...i know shes completely skint and her parents wont help her so im just trying to find out if theres any way she can get cheap neutering under some voucher scheme or something? any ideas?

Perhaps they could try their local 'dogs home' I'm in Manchester and a neighbour had their dog castrated at the Manchester dogs home  for £40 & speys £65-70 (apparently for all, not just those on benefits).
Angela

What about PDSA?

Dogs Trust does it but only certain areas:
http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/az/s/subsidisedneutering/default.aspx

think I've sent you a PM but its the first time I've tried that so not sure it'll work!

apparently not the pdsa as she lives at home with parents so cant get any house benefit or something? She has tried that and thats what she told me anyhow. personally i think her parents should pay up, but theres no telling her!

shes not in right area for this but ill suggest to her that she contacts them to see what they can do to help. (not that i like sponging atall grrrrr  but feel sorry for 2 dogs locked in crates 3 weeks twice a year!)

is there a pet vaccination branch anywhere near her?
thats a normal for profit vet chain but very cheap compared to everyone round here- ie mate had his male kitten castrated last week there for £20-- and that was all in - pre and post checks etc.

Are they pedigrees or crosses that she has taken on. Why if they are rescue's have the rescue centre'd not paid for it themselves, thats the normal protocol right?

I'd be having a word with any animal rescue/charity place to see what they can do to help. Blue Cross, Rspca etc.
Is she on any benefits herself? Just wondering how she pays for the food and upkeep of a dog.
Could her local vets do her a deal or put her on a payment plan?
Or she darn well get off her back side and go and work(if she is not too ill/injured to do so), i'm sure her parents would still look after the dogs while she is working??

from what i know, she is unemployed (but having loads of interviews) and on job allowance or some thing. she has tried BC but they say no as she now lives with her parents (who work) which i find strange but thats what she says. The bitch came from breed rescue (uneutered) and the dog is its son (groan inwardley) from earlier accident. her parents dont even like the dogs so make no effort to help her by allowing her to keep them seperate parts of house when in season(better than nothing) so she has to crate them in her bedroom. Idont really know her other than i know her as someone who volunteers at the local dog home kennels, shes not the brightest spark, but she loves the dogs and it wasnt a problem until her life took turn for worse and she had to move home. she had to pay out £1000 for a cruciate op last year and she pays it off weekly at local vet, but he wont (quite rightly so) fund her a 2nd time.

Usually, PDSA will cover anyone who is in receipt of Housing Benefit, and/or Council Tax benefit. So just because she doesn't pay rent, if she is eligible for Council Tax benefit then she should be covered. (I have been in similar situation when living with relatives, so no HB, no rent but qualified for CT ben).

Depending on where she lives, Friends of the Animals if they have a branch in her area, are there to help people caught in the poverty trap. They offer reduced rate vaccination and spay/neut and there is no qualifying rule.

Would just like to say that PDSA although they seem to be a "free" service DO have an up-front charge for vaccs/neutering. And if you go to them for other issues, they give you an "estimate" of the costs of treatment at the end, which appeals for a donation towards it. I have never, even in my most poverty stricken days, ever walked out of there without donating as much towards a half of that estimate that i could, if not all.... (providing of course it didn't leave me without electricity or dog food).

Edited to add: http://www.friendsoftheanimals.co.uk/
may help people outside their catchment area as well.

Hi Sam

THere's a vet near me who specialises in doing reduced neutering etc.  I'm sure that they are part of a group so will try and find out if they do any in other parts of the country if you like.

Sam if they came from breed rescue I'd be asking for some assistance. Did they hand over both dogs together?

> if they came from breed rescue I'd be asking for some assistance

I agree, they should be able to help, I know my breed main rescue does.

already suggested the rescue option but she says they cant help. shes begining to annoy me now as she tells me she has an ipod.....surely this would cost the same as a neuter???? Oh i despair, try to help folk but spongers will always be spongers :(

> shes beginning to annoy me now

Don't doubt it, but you want to help for the sake of the dogs.
Could you make a call to the breed rescue to see if they would help and make contact with her? Or can you state the breed on here and maybe someone with the breed works for rescue on here or can help pass on the msg?

When I was on a low income,I found out my local council ran a scheme(and stil are)where,they,a vet(I expect the vet has to offer to help!)and you,all paid a third of the cost of neutering dogs.It might be worth enquiring.

> Could you make a call to the breed rescue to see if they would help and make contact with her?

Yes, thats an idea, just to see if she is telling the truth or not. I would do that purely for my own satisfaction more than anything but I would also want to say to her 'well actualy.....