Dog food allowance and other social welfare benefits

Dog food allowance? **** off. I hope I get banned.

The Department of Intergration is paying for the housing of pets belonging to Ukrainians, but as far as I'm aware there is no social welfare allowance for pet food.

https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/11/tanaiste-defends-states-payment-of-up-to-1m-a-month-for-ukrainian-pets/

It should be 10r a week well it used to be anyway

You can claim food allowance for slugs as well if eating your flowers.But not if hedgehogs are eating the slugs

If your mam is struggling with feeding and vetinary bills for the dog than its time to get rid of the dog. Unfortunately she cannot afford to have a dog.

You cant expect the taxpayer to fund your pet.

Or, rather than just "getting rid of" a dog they've owned and (presumably) loved for more than a decade, they could look into whether there are any supports available to help them keep the dog rather than just dumping it at the first sign of hassle. Y'know, like they're doing right here???

The OP is doing their best to help their mother keep a loved family pet. I have no idea why some of you on here seem so offended by that.

By all means, disagree with the concept of taxpayer money being used in whatever way, but there's no need to be so unpleasant about it.

The only allowance for dog food is for guide dogs; and its not very much. And its a tax credit at that.

what kind of dog food is she buying ?

try the dig on the Lidl stuff , about €10 a month

You could try getting in touch with these

and see if they have counterparts in Munster. Or she could use her free travel to bring the Dog up to Them.

Could you not help to contribute?.

Good for you………….but circumstances change in people's lives….. they do not always have the same level of income, someone retires, a partner dies etc. Telling an older person to dump their pet at the already bursting doors of an animal rescue centre is just selfish and pushing the problem onto the rescue centre . These centres are run entirely on charitable donations! They are not Government funded. Have you ever supported any of these rescue centres by fund raising ?

Have you thought about the depression and loneliness this lady might suffer if she dumps her dog? Its by far the better solution to ask for some help to keep the dog and that is what the OP is doing here for his mother.

Im sure she can still afford to keep the pet if she makes other small sacrifices.

Whats next - she may need a car to get around too but cant afford it. Does that mean the government should fund the tax, insurance and running costs that go with owning a car.

We all have limited income and we have to make choices on what we can afford.

Buy in as much bulk as you can.

Buy in Lidl/Aldi or other 'non- branded' dog food shops.

If you buy Pedigreee etc. then expect to pay Pedigree prices.

Dog pouches are good value - mix them with a ceral mixer to make them go further.

Feed the dog twice a day AND feed them when you are sitting down to eat.

I have 2 dogs and when we all sit at the table for dinner there is a plate there for them also.

With some training they will sit (on the floor obviously and not on a chair !) and they will take food from a fork when offered to them.

Then any leftovers should be fed to the dog first before you compost it - this further reduces the purchasing of dog food.

Feed them 2 slices of ham every night at the same time - ( the cheapest ham available in Lidl/Aldi/Tesco) - this can then be used as a way of giving them tablets and is a nice 'supper' for them.

If your dog is 11 years old then it is unlikely to be eating a lot of food.

If you are experiencing high vet bills then 'shop around' - the CSPCA in Mahon have a Vet next door (Goolds Vet) and they are reasonably priced - you can even defer payments with them.

There are also other good vets in the Blarney area that are more than willing to take staged payments.

Furthermore, If you dog is now a burden to you I personally will take the dog for you if you prefer.

I have looked after elderly dogs in the past and can offer them a good 'retirement home'.

PM me if that is your wish - thanks.

What breed of dog is he, and what sort of surgery does he need, OP? Some breeds aren't expected to live much past 11 years anyway, so the surgery might just be an effort to extend life by a few months. This is not always worth doing and sometimes the nicest thing you can do for a pet is give them a few good days and say goodbye. Have a talk with the vet, explain you're not in a position to pay for very expensive treatment but you want the best for the dog.

On the other hand, if you have just found that the regular expenses such as food and meds are too much I would definitely agree with what others have said here. Look at doing something, anything, to cut back on costs elsewhere. A dog can be so important in an elderly person's life, to take that away unless you have to is a very big decision.

I agree re not having one if you can't afford it…is it expensive to euthanize a dog or maybe she could give it up for adoption if option 1 is to expensive?

Maybe you can go begging on your local high street, because even the homeless seem to be able to keep a dog.

They asked a question and it was answered, albeit rather unkindly. I didn't get any sense of "expectation" from the OP, just that they were exploring possible support options. I think you probably need to let go of your pearls at this point.

I didnt say anything insulting or wrong so there is no need for you to be insulting towards me

🤣 Ah Im happy to help my elderly parents have whatever they need. I wouldnt expect the taxpayer to fund their dog!

This whole thread has to be a windup anyway.

I’m sorry to hear your Mam is struggling and her dog is unwell. Some people on this site don’t realise that social welfare is for when people fall on hard times. While I don’t know of a specific allowance she could apply for supplementary welfare allowance for the vet bills, they are unexpected bills and she was able to look after the dog when she was working I understand from your post. Loneliness is a big killer and some people think people should live a miserable existence just because they’ve gotten old.

so many people saying get rid of it!

don’t have a pet unless you can afford it, circumstances change. You can’t get rid of a companion of 11 years just like changing socks.

Well maybe that’s a solution and the GP can prescribe anti depressants? Or additional care assistants to visit her.

i can’t help feeling that they haven’t really thought through the implications of her losing her pet.

When my parents dog died dad lost interest in going to walk daily, his declining mobility means the HSE supply a care assistant to help him exercise and go walking. Don’t think that is cost effective.

anyway the OP asked, the answer is no but I think there are a few useful suggestions here which might help.

This is definitely true. A bit like the way lots of people suddenly go downhill when a spouse dies. Apart from the possibility that a dog keeps you moderately active, there's the idea that having somebody to take care of is as sustaining as being taken care of.

Lots of elderly people are painfully aware that they are an inconvenience to others, needing to be driven around or helped with everyday tasks. Your dog doesn't see you as an inconvenience or a burden, and that is vitally important to the person's sense of identity and purpose.

Never mind that she must love the dog and grief is debilitating.

The social welfare Additional Needs Payments will cover prams and buggies, but I don't see pets mentioned:

1. What an Additional Needs Payment is
2. How to qualify
3. Rate of payment
4. Apply
5. Contact

What an Additional Needs Payment is

An Additional Needs Payment is a payment available to you if you have essential expenses that you cannot pay from your weekly income or other personal and household resources.

You may get this payment even if you are not getting a social welfare payment. It may be available to you if you are working and on a low income regardless of the number of hours that you work.

We can provide Additional Needs Payments for:

• the increased cost of heating and electricity
• essential repairs to property and replacing household appliances and furniture
• assistance with deposits for private rented accommodation
• furniture, bedding and other items if you are setting up a home for the first time
• funeral costs
• recurring travel expenses such as for hospital appointments or visiting relatives in hospital or prison
• child related items such as prams/buggies and cots, and essential child safety equipment
• assistance with immediate needs such as food, clothing and accommodation expenses following an emergency event such as a house fire
• other additional exceptional needs as they happen

The Additional Needs Payment does not cover non-essential household or personal expenses, or costs that are the responsibility of another government department or agency.

e10 a month-must be a small dog on rations

no, that’s the price of a 12kg bag . 400g a day will be enough for a big dog

https://groceries.aldi.ie/en-GB/ALDIIE/p-complete-dry-dog-food-with-chicken-vegetables-12kg-earls/4088600355085