Where To Find Free Puppy?

Hey guys, I'm trying to find a puppy for my fiance. He is type one diabetic (the one where you're born with it) and would benefit from a good dog that can help him manage his diabetes. It's very expensive to have a dog trained and they need to start very young.

Instead of going to a breeder, I'd like to find a puppy that someone's giving away for free. I've looked all over Facebook, Craigslist, and Google and I keep coming across places that want to charge the upwards of $500 for a puppy. So where can I find a free puppy? Or even one $100 or less?

If you know someone with puppies, we'd like either a Doberman, Shepard, or lab (open to mixed breeds) and I'm near Olympia, WA and I can travel to Portland, OR or anywhere between there.

Thanks guys!

 

I doubt anyone is going to give a puppy for free. But you can always check your local animal shelter. It’s cheaper than buying from a breeder but if you can’t afford adopting than a dog isn’t for you.

 

When you are selling something.. in this case I am adopting puppies out.. and people call and say oh they want to come meet the puppies they will be there around 6 or so.. and then they never show up!!!!!!! And in the meantime I am waiting around, doing nothing!! Is it really so hard to pick up the phone and shoot me a text.. I can't make it after all!!! Some people just have absolutely no consideration for others!! ... Or... I have a super low adoption fee on these little guys.. like less than a humane society.. and people call and say.. will you take less?? I can only afford to pay so much ect... I am sorry but if you can't afford to pay this small amount for the puppy how are you going to swing all it's vet bills???!!! Any way.. rant over..lol

Smalltownfishfriend

 

Okay. I get what you guys are saying. Thanks.

 

Dogs that are trained for specific medical purposes are expensive for a reason - not just the intense training that takes over a year, but also because not every dog and puppy is cut out for the job. The only way you'd have a shot at picking a possible candidate is to work with a trainer who does it for a living as they know the signs of a possible working dog, and even with that puppies and dogs fail out of training often. It's not something where you can cheat the system if the goal is having an animal that can help manage a health issue.

 

I would love to give you a puppy if you were closer!!! If you want to take a road trip come over to PA and have your pick!!!!

 

I'm not sure you can "teach" a puppy to help manage diabetes without it having the natural talent, but even if you can it definitely takes a special dog and a special trainer. I tried exactly what you're talking about but with panic attacks: He knows if one is coming and from 8weeks could tell when I was anxious, and he's doing ok, but cheesus is it hard to do. And expensive. I drove 8 hours and paid $650 just to get the puppy, and he was actually a reject from a different program. (My type 1 boyfriend at the time wanted to teach him to manage his diabetes, but the man wasn't taking care of himself anyway so there was no point in just messing him up with what he could naturally do)

 

Hey

I love my dog so much. She's 11 now and I've had her since she was 8 weeks old. I got her when I was young (ish) and I didn't quite anticipate how expensive having a dog can be. Just to give you a heads up, I spend about £3000 a year on her (she's a lab/collie mix).

Food- £50 per month- she has food allergies so I do buy more expensive food (£600 per year)
Flea treatment/de-wormer/yearly vaccinations- £18 per month (£216 per year)
Pet Insurance- £600 per year- it was cheaper when she was younger but as she ages it gets more expensive
Dog Walker- Someone to take her our during the day whilst I'm at work £120 per month (£1440 per year)
Misc expenses- new collars, brushes, grooming- Say £100-200 per year

Now you may not need something like a dog walker but even at the bare mininum they cost over a £1000 in food and medical per year. This isn't to talk you out of getting a dog, just trying to give you a picture of dog ownership costs.

 

Hey

I love my dog so much. She's 11 now and I've had her since she was 8 weeks old. I got her when I was young (ish) and I didn't quite anticipate how expensive having a dog can be. Just to give you a heads up, I spend about £3000 a year on her (she's a lab/collie mix).

Food- £50 per month- she has food allergies so I do buy more expensive food (£600 per year)
Flea treatment/de-wormer/yearly vaccinations- £18 per month (£216 per year)
Pet Insurance- £600 per year- it was cheaper when she was younger but as she ages it gets more expensive
Dog Walker- Someone to take her our during the day whilst I'm at work £120 per month (£1440 per year)
Misc expenses- new collars, brushes, grooming- Say £100-200 per year

Now you may not need something like a dog walker but even at the bare mininum they cost over a £1000 in food and medical per year. This isn't to talk you out of getting a dog, just trying to give you a picture of dog ownership costs.

And don't forget those unexpected bills.. like having to take your dog to the emergency room because it ate something like rat poison... I declare that they charge by the minute in there!!!

 

It’s kind of sad how the prices in animal shelters have gone up drastically since I was little. Before you could adopt a dog from an animal shelter for a mere $20, sign a paper, and give them a nice donation. NOW it’s $200 to adopt a dog from a shelter, if you’re lucky. And I find that insanly ridiculous because even “no kill” shelters end up putting animals down when there are too many of them or if they’ve been in the shelter for a while. I would keep looking around, ask friends if they know anyone with puppies, check Facebook marketplace, keep checking Craigslist, etc.

It took me months to be able to find the dog I wanted, and even then he cost $250 from a shelter.

 

It’s kind of sad how the prices in animal shelters have gone up drastically since I was little. Before you could adopt a dog from an animal shelter for a mere $20, sign a paper, and give them a nice donation. NOW it’s $200 to adopt a dog from a shelter, if you’re lucky. And I find that insanly ridiculous because even “no kill” shelters end up putting animals down when there are too many of them or if they’ve been in the shelter for a while. I would keep looking around, ask friends if they know anyone with puppies, check Facebook marketplace, keep checking Craigslist, etc.

It took me months to be able to find the dog I wanted, and even then he cost $250 from a shelter.

Advantage of that is that people will think twice before they'll adopt an animal.

 

We looked into doing this for my son who is also a type 1 diabetic, but decided against it because of the cost of training, and the hassle (in my opinion) of dog ownership. Good luck with your search!

FYI, it may be cheaper to look into getting something like a Dexcom to alert you to lows.