Woman shoots dog claiming couldn't afford vet

This tale of unbelievable irresponsibility come to us from Examiner.com:

Dog shot, owner says she couldn't pay for vet

Oct 7, 2008

GREELEY, Colo.


GREELEY, Colo. (Map, News) - A Greeley woman faces animal cruelty charges after she killed her sick dog by shooting it several times because she says she couldn't afford to euthanize it.

Police say 33-year-old Paula Harding was crying Sunday when police arrived at her house, saying she'd shot the dog because she "couldn't deal with it anymore."

Police say Harding first tried to kill the 15-year-old terrier/poodle mix by giving it as many as five anti-anxiety pills Saturday. Harding allegedly gave the dog more pills the next day but later shot it four times with a .22-caliber handgun because the medication didn't kill it.

Harding is free on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.

Harding called the dog "a good friend" but says financial problems prevented her from affording a veterinarian.

OK, first of all, one of the first basic rules about being a dog owner is that if you cannot afford to pay a vet then you shouldn't own a dog in the first place. Second, if your dog needs veterinary care that you cannot afford, you can always surrender it to the local SPCA or Humane Society. And finally, if you have no other choice your vet can have your dog HUMANELY euthanized. According to the Greeley Tribune her local SPCA could have done it for $35.