"Naturally Complete" from Purina's Dog Chow line ...

ORIGINAL: abbysdad
This whole, feeding a premium food is equal to or less expensive, is very general and not really true a lot of the times, and I hear it all of the time.  You have to look at it on a case by case basis. For instance it costs me $40.00 for a  35 lbs bag of  Natural Balance Ultra Premium, and for my  75 lbs dog it is recommended to feed  4 cups a day.  I feed Purina One, and I usually can find a 37.5 lbs bag for $20.00 and the recommendation on the bag for a 75 lbs dog is 3.5 cups a day, so it would be more than 50 % more to feed the NB.

Yeah, but you're comparing an overpriced bag (usually $33) of one of the more grain-heavy foods to a bag of Purina that's on some sort of huge sale, seeing as it's regularly $30 at Petco.

I'm in no way taking an opinion on what people feed, because people tend to choose for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which is they've never heard of a lot of the premium brands.  There isn't as much of a price difference between foods as people would like to think.  Especially when you consider facts like Purina One measures about 4 cups to the pound and Eagle Pack, for example, measures almost 4.5 cups to the pound. Solid Gold measures 4.85 cups to the pound. Once you start taking a detailed look at the foods, there isn't that much price difference in most cases.

Dyan--NO, this has nothing to do with WHICH BRAND of food.  It has to do with being able to afford food period without having to save or be strapped or get 1/2 now and 1/2 later because money is too tight.  Earlier it was mentioned $20 or something like that was an issue.  To me,  that's cutting things way too close. (And I'm just using that as an example, I'm not picking on Lizzie's mom)  As I said, it's not JUST food, to me I have money if she gets sick, breaks her leash, I lose her Frontline and have to get more, etc. 

Maybe it's me, again, I know there are going to be times in life when things are tough.  But, if someone (and I'm not even really talking about anyone specific) is having trouble why get a dog at that point???  Do you realize how many posts on here state that a dog is having an issue and the owner cannot afford vet care??  Or, I don't want to take the dog in if it's nothing.  Do you know how many times Willow's been to the vet and it turned out to be not much of anything??  Yes, owners should be able to afford anything a dogs needs for the most part. 

Maybe I'm the only one here who has money set aside if my car breaks or I need extra cash for whatever reason. 

ORIGINAL: willowchow

Maybe I'm the only one here who has money set aside if my car breaks or I need extra cash for whatever reason. 

 
You're not the only one. I grew up having no money because my parents got divorced when I was young and my mother couldn't afford to buy us stuff. I watched her struggle and I didn't want to grow up like that so I have this tendency to squirrel away money. I have 2 different savings account and I've set one up in my sons name. I put money in them when I get paid(every 2 weeks). Nothing major.. like $20 or so in each of them. I also have 2 emergency credit cards that are stashed in the event, God forbid, that something happens especially if it involved the critters. You all know that emergency vet care can cost an arm, leg and an ovary and those places usually require a payment right then and there before they treat your pet.  

You know what, there were a few times when we first got Willow that she needed to see the vet and we weren't prepared.  And, we did work it out, borrowed from Peter to pay Paul, etc. 
 
But, I really felt like she deserved so much better than two parents like that.  I remember my parents always made me feel like I was taken care of, that whatever it was, they'd be able to handle it. 
 
And, that's how I'd want my kid to feel and also I know Willow doesn't know what's going on, but I do. 

I agree with Lori.  We are just now getting caught up financally.  We have had our electricity cut off once, our phone cut off twice, and have literally lived months in the red.  And yes, there were times when the only thing we could afford was mac and cheese--and the generic kind at that-lol.  However, when it came to Sally's nutrician and health care I always made sure she was taken care of in the way that I felt that she should be, even if it meant going overdrawn or feeding her boiled chicken for a day or two until we go paid.

I like it better than Blue Bell

 
Oh Sandra. You know why Blue Bell tastes so good? Because cows think Brenham is Heaven. My wife was raised around there.

Do you, as a human, eat meat raw?
 
Some vegetables are certainly better raw. Lettuce for example.

Quite true.
 

I get your point that for the same amount of money, a person might get a food, still affordable that is tweaked a little better, provided the dog can handle that other food. But you need to back off of the money thing. Otherwise, you're saying that a person who makes less than $40k a year can't have a dog. Then, I would have to laugh at you to your face. And so would most people that I know locally.
 
I worked for a company for 4.5 years, giving it my all, doing everything required, digging, putting up with a job boss no one else could stand (and that is not an exaggeration), working in the rain, at 40 F and falling with a 30 mph north wind, working on a steel floor frame in January on top of a hill at 16 F with a 25 mph north wind, working until I can't feel my extremities anymore. I started in the electrical trade in March of 1983 but my study and knowledge of electrical and electronic stuff goes back to 1974. I attained a journeyman, then a master license. At this company I mentioned, I ran a couple of jobs for them. And made them money every time. The last job I took over was several months behind. I finished it in the allotted time with half of the crew I was supposed to have and still hit the profit margin. And was laid off as if I were the last hired helper. So hard work and loyalty and experience and talent didn't mean anything and I was out of a job as much as anyone else. And I couldn't pay my property taxes. Well, thanks to overtime and some side jobs, I paid them in June, 5 months after they were due.
 
It can be wine and roses one week, and hot dogs and chips the next.

I agree, Sandra. It's called getting old.  I defy anyone here to live to the equivalent of 120 and not have a few problems with your kidneys, regardless of what you ate.

Maybe I'm the only one here who has money set aside if my car breaks or I need extra cash for whatever reason.
 
Actually thats kind of my point about saving a few bucks on one thing to put aside for another.
When my kids were babies I didn't work. We lived on DH paycheck and that could have been bigger. Half of the time you take these kids to the doctor when they are young, the doctor says "its a bug, just take them home and give them aspirin and liquids!"  I didn't even drive at that time, had to have my neighbors run us to the doctor at times, and eventually joked with them by saying "next time I ask you to take us to the doctor, tell me no!"     I could have had more money to run to the doctor all the time if I was working, I must admit. BUT I stayed home with my kids and a lot of times its the same with dog. People that are at home with babies or old parents to keep an eye out on, are the ones that have a little more time for their dogs,,and maybe not quite as much money.    I agree if they are flat out broke, they sure shouldn't be going out and getting a dog, and I suppose some people do that.  Again, when my kids were small I fed two dogs grocery store food,,,and bought it while it was on sale (for the most part) and used a ton of coupons...and took them to the vet when they needed to go. My pitty lived to about 16 yrs old. So I have to believe a lot of other dogs out there that are eating grocery store food is healthy and living long lives too.

Having an emergency account or credit card is wonderful and I think most of us that are a bit older do just that.  But to me that money isn't AVAILABLE for my groceries or theirs...it's for emergencies, like the ax falling which is pretty danged common in radio no matter how good a job you do.  We live on a pretty tight budget that includes money going into savings every pay day.  Now I could lessen the amount that goes into savings and just stay home and NOT go through the demoralizing process of looking for a job...again....but I treat my savings deposit just like a regular bill.  And yes, I have an emergency account set up for the dogs.  When Tyler had to have a tooth extracted due to an abcess, I decided to have his nueter done then rather than have him put under twice.  Now I could have pulled money out of their emergency account for that, but since the vet was willing to do payments that fit my budget, well, that money can stay where it is for a REAL emergency.
 
My husband works in a field that offers very little in the way of job security.  Some companies are better than others, but regardless of the numbers he delivers (in ratings) if SALES doesn't do their job and corners have to be cut, guess where the cuts come?  In the programming side of course, because the old adage is that sales people pay for themselves.......but too often they don't. Either because they are lazy, or young and inexperienced or have been around so long that they don't work to grow their account base and when a major client goes out of business, everyone suffers.  And since I've WORKED in advertising sales, I can honestly access the situation.
 
So yeah, WE live on a pretty strict budget that happens to include savings.  And, I can understand how someone might have to readjust their budget a bit to spend twice or more the amount on a bag of dog food.  So?  Should I not have dogs because I have to plan for things like nueters?

get your point that for the same amount of money, a person might get a food, still affordable that is tweaked a little better, provided the dog can handle that other food. But you need to back off of the money thing. Otherwise, you're saying that a person who makes less than $40k a year can't have a dog.

 
Ron--I'm not sure if that was directed to me but if it was. . .
 
The kind of food doesn't matter, if a person can afford Beneful comfortably and that's what they want to give and the dog is OK with it fine.  I'm not saying they should get any type of "higher" quality if they can't afford it.  But, the point is they should be able to afford something, whatever kind that is.  And, if the lowest priced dog food is too much for them on a regular basis then no, my opinion, and nobody has to agree with me, is they shouldn't get a dog.  I'm certainly not making 40k a year but I can afford Willow.  I budget my money and save for problems.  That's all I'm saying.  If a person cannot do that or doesn't do that they no, I don't think they are being very responsible. 
 
Dyan--I agree with you.
 
Glenda--I agree with you too.  And, as far as saving for neuters, etc. the fact that you do have the money to save is just my point.  You DO have the money, you plan for medical issues just like us.  You don't say, we'll I really can't afford to take the dog to the vet. . .As far as food, to me, it shouldn't be THAT tight that switching is an issue . . .but that's how I feel, not saying anyone has to agree or not.

This is a bitter sweet story that was in our paper about 4-5 years ago and i never forgot it.  There are a lot of homeless people in in this area because we do not have such cold winters.   I use to wonder why the heck these folks didn't get jobs, just wanted to free load...hit soup kitchens, panhandle for money, etc.   I figured they were all wino's who didn't want to work.   But then our paper did  a series on them.  It turns out that it is awful hard to get a job if you do not have an address and phone, and if you dont' have a job, you CAN'T get a place to live or phone. So many truly do want to work and are in a limbo.  Of course there are those that DO NOT want to work, just live on the street, but many do not.
 
Anway, the reporter came up on a guy with a dog and the guy asked the reporter if he could spare a few dollars so he could buy some food for the dog.   The reporter really didn't know what to make of it, but gave him money and said to buy some food for the dog and for himself. He watched (and followed) the guy go down the street and tie the out front of the grocery store and go in.  he followed.  The first asile the guy hit was the dog food aisle where he got a bag and a coupel of cans of the cheapest food, then proceded to get stuff like bread, peanut butter, cans of viena sausages and sardines and some fruit.  No beer, no wine, only food for the dog and for himself, the dog's first.
 
The reporter interviewed the guy after he came out.  He had lost his job when his company downsized and things got bad and his wife took the kids and left him. (he had pictures of them all together).  AT first he was unable to get a job because he was "over qualified" and then after losing his house and car, he had no home, ended up on the street and unable to get a job because he had no home--which he couldn't get because he had no job.   He had found the dog some months back, a stray (more likely dumped) puppy and couldn't stand the thought of it out there alone starving and more than likely getting run over, so he had taken it and was doing the best he could be it and according to the reporter that mutt was crazy about the guy.
 
There was no follow up so i have no idea what happened to the guy and his dog, but I truly hope someone who read it, and especially someone who loves dogs, helped him get a place to stay  and a job.
 
I have never came across one with a dog.  And when I see one that has sign Willing To Work For Food, i go to the nearest grocery store and buy such things as bread, peanutbutter, crackers, small cans of fruit, tuna, sardines, potted meat, even cookies and chips, and take them back and give them to the person.   I learned what to get from reading that story about what that homeless guy picked up for himself...and a few things that can be kept for a while without spoling.
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In all reality, it's probably not practical for me to have 2 dogs that will be around 100 lbs or more. I have about 6 years of college left...so i'm probably not going to have extra money for a while. I DO buy innova, frontline, get vaccinations, and everything i should. Both of my boys were neutered at 6 months. I work at Macy's and Petsmart part time. I choose to spend my money on my dogs rather than myself. They get new toys everytime i'm at the store...and i rarely get new things for myself. My mom is a single parent who makes about 65k a year...not really enough to support herself, me, and my little sister...so she pays my car payment and cell phone bill, and the rest is my responsibility. If i didn't have the decent money i have now to have the 2 dogs that i have, i would still probably have a small dog from the pound ( so he'd be cheaper) I feel like that even if i had to feed Ol' roy...that my dog would still be in better hands than someone that feeds TWO and then leaves their dog in the backyard with no love all day. I think it's great that people do the best that they can for their dogs, even if they;re not rich. I think as long as a person can afford vet care, they should be able to have a dog. My mom got a little terrier when she was in 7th grade...when college rolled around she took the dog with her. For years she fed Mighty dog canned. The dog was euthanized at 22 years of age. Although i choose to feed premium foods, i think that there are other things more important in ownership of a dog.