Fidociary Duties

Dear Dog Lady,

What is the best way to say "no dog right now, please wait" to family who are not listening? My 11-year-old and wife claim they have wanted and waited for a dog all their lives and I am the obstacle.

I am in a temp job right now, and after the recent 11 month spell of unemployment, our savings is all gone. I want to build up our savings and have spare money saved away for new job search, dog purchase, and initial vet care.

David, London, UK

David, the best way to deal with your family is, um, like family. You must assume these folks love and understand you most. It doesn’t sound as if you are dead set against getting a dog per se, but you believe a dog on the balance sheet will throw the ledger into the red. Surely, your wife and daughter are aware of the strain on you.

Dog Lady, however, sees the water bowl as half full. You could use the wanna-dog as an economics lesson for your wife and child. Ask them to do all the research on the costs involved – adoption fees or purchase prices, initial veterinary services, food, biscuit and accessory costs. Ask them also to figure out the financial sacrifices they can make. With your wife and daughter fully aware of the price of pet ownership, they can work out a budget as well as a schedule for taking care of the dog. Leave it to them to figure out. If they fulfill these fido-ciary duties, you will know their dog desire is very real and you would be unreasonable to deny them if there’s any possible way you all can all swing it financially. Also, consider this: A dog is a capital investment of love and joy, which will accrue immeasurably to the bottom line.

Posted by Dog Lady at October 21, 2005 07:16 PM