Daisy Breaks the Bank

Traditionally I go shopping every Black Friday. This year I debated the tradition. Since I have a mortgage payment and a new puppy, money is a bit tight and I need to cut back my spending.

But PetSmart had some great sales. They had 50% off more than 100 in-store items and 50% off crates. Since I have just been borrowing a crate from my aunt and uncle - who used to have a rottweiler, I knew this was the best price I could ever pay for a crate. And I had many other items that needed purchased for her (toothbrush, nail clippers, hairbrush), but I was holding off since her first vet bill was $216 (and $100 to the shelter for the adoption). She's already been a pricey dog.

PetSmart opened at 7 a.m. so I didn't brave the early morning, and only left my house at 6:30. I arrived 10 minutes early and there was a line outside. I debated just waiting in the car until they opened and kind of laughed at the die-hard animal lovers. But then I thought better, I was here and it wasn't that cold out and wouldn't I be bummed if they sold out of the crates - the main reason I was up and out.

So I waited in line and looked though the locked doors to figure out where the crates were. When the doors opened, I grabbed a cart and rushed to the back of the store and stared at the wall of crates. Only one brand and one size was 50% off. And there was only one of them in the entire store! Wow.

Luckily, it was mine. (But I would be bummed to be the next person.)

The rest of the sales really weren't that good. They had 50% off collars, but Daisy already has a puppy collar and I don't know what size she will need as she grows. They had 50% off holiday toys and apparel, but I'm not dressing her up and I don't care if she chews on a stuffed Santa. (I did get her a couple holiday rawhide chews.)

The other really good thing I bought here was a bed. It wasn't on my list, because she didn't NEED it. She lays on the ugly throw pillows that came with my sofa and love seat. But while I was walking around the store, it seemed everyone had a dog bed in their cart. So I wagered it was probably a good price. I bought the cheapest one (marked down 50% off. All the others were only 20% off) in a sage green color. It only came in an XL, but in the store it didn't look that big. When I brought it home, she climbed right on it. She loved it, but it was HUGE. She looks so little on it. I don't have a pic of her on it, but I'll take one soon.

Top Paw Nail Clippers - $13.99
Grreat Choice Soft Slicker Brush - $1.99 sale price
Nutri-Vet Oral Hygiene Kit - $6.99 sale price
Dentley's Peanut Butter Flavored Rawhide Chews - $4.99 sale price
PetHoliday Rawhide Candy Canes - $1.50 sale price
PetHoliday Rawhide Compressed Bones - $2.99 sale price
Grreat Choice Pillow Bed - $19.99 sale price
Grreat Choice Portable Kennel (36"L x 25" W x 27" T) - $33.49 sale price

In case you are adding up the prices, in 15 minutes at PetSmart on Black Friday I spent $90+ on Daisy. I know some of the prices were great, like the crate and the dog bed, but the other necessities helped to increase that bill substantially.

Here's the dog bed. It's polyester, 36" x 45," and machine washable. She loves it. I keep it in my bedroom, and she sleeps more soundly at night on it. She even sneaks back into the bedroom to nap after breakfast (she normally was near me as I got ready in the morning).

Here's the crate. Like I said above, there was only one crate in one size. Luckily, it was the one I think I need. The large one: 36"L x 25"W x 27"H. This crate meets international and domestic air travel requirements (not that I will ever be flying Daisy anywhere). It is said to be tough and durable with reinforced sidewalls. And is easy to clean, constructed in plastic, and has safety door locks. 

Daisy didn't like her borrowed crate. But I thought that might be due impart to its extra-large size and maybe the smell of the last dog. Well, she didn't like this one either.

She has separation anxiety. Even with a toy in the crate, she gnawed at the walls, windows, and door. In less than an hour, she and the crate are covered in saliva. And she has torn up any fabric that has been in the crate with her (or that has been reachable from the outside of the crate), so now the poor dog has to lay on the hard plastic.

Two days ago, I tried something different. I put the crate facing the front window. Fortunately, my house has large picture windows in the front and the back, that she can see outside from the floor (and from the crate). Both days, when I came home at lunch and at the end of the day, she had not salivated. Thank goodness. Although who knows how much barking she is doing at the people walking by and the neighbors outside.

It is a learning process for both of us. And we are both still getting used to each other.

I took her to the vet last night - $101 bill.

In case you are keeping track  - $507 + food ($20) + treats ($3) + toys ($50) + leash ($7) + collars (borrowed) + food/water dish ($5) + carpet cleaner ($5) + pooper scooper ($3) = $600

Yesterday we celebrated our one month adoption anniversary. We did nothing special, because we were at the vet for 1.5 hours and she is breaking the bank (costing more than my washing machine in the same month I had to pay for that appliance). But she is worth it. She is such a good puppy. She is so curious and smart and friendly and playful and loving. I hope she is as happy to have a home as I am to have her.

I'll leave you with one picture of her. My little "angel" and her destroyed blanket. She somehow managed to pull the blanket into her locked crate through the door and tear it to shreds. She still cuddles with it on her new pillow bed. (I probably should add the cost of the blanket to her total amount too.)

P.S. The little skinny-mini gained 4.3 pounds in the 3.5 weeks since her last vet visit. So she is just under 30 pounds. I'm still working on putting some more meat on her bones (feeding her about 4 cups a day of Purina Puppy Chow), but the vet didn't seem too concerned about her weight.