Woman buys dalmatian puppy off Craigslist, ends up with $10k in vet bills (2024)

A woman who bought a puppy from Craigslist has ended up paying over $10,000 in vet bills, but she told Newsweek she wouldn't change a thing about her best friend.

Kailah Pink, 28, lives in California with her partner and their three-year-old Dalmatian, Bobbie, who they took in during the pandemic when Pink was working from home, having "always dreamed of having a Dalmatian."

They found an ad for a litter of puppies on Craigslist, and instantly fell in love with the second-smallest in the litter, little girl Bobbie, and drove an hour to pick her up.

More From Newsweek Vault: Pet Insurance 101: How Much Does It Cost and Is It Worth the Price?

Pink had researched the breed, and was aware of and prepared for their high energy and potential health issues, but nothing could have prepared them for Bobbie.

Just two days after getting her, Bobbie ate a bee—which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as Pink told Newsweek that while they were at the vet: "We found out she had a bacteria called giardia which comes from drinking water with bacteria in it before we got her, which could have eventually made her really sick."

"She also broke a toe the first time we let her run into an open field when we visited my boyfriend's parents in Illinois for the first time," she added.

And when they got her spayed, already an expensive procedure, her high-energy came back quickly, and she ended up bursting her stitches, "costing $2,000 in an emergency surgery on top of the $1,000 spent to get her spayed just a few days prior."

More From Newsweek Vault: The Top Rewards Credit Cards for Pet Owners

Woman buys dalmatian puppy off Craigslist, ends up with $10k in vet bills (1)

Pink's life with her expensive pet has now gone viral as she detailed some of her costs in a video to her TikTok account @kailahpink, which has close to 300,000 views since being shared on August 20.

More From Newsweek Vault: Compare Top Pet Insurance Plans For Dogs

A slideshow starting with the pair on a hike showed the words: "I paid $1,000 for a Dalmatian on Craigslist and here's how it went."

It showed the tiny puppy curled up on a bed, when she ate a bee and was found to have giardia, being obsessed with food, hating loud noises, and her vet bills reaching astronomical highs—but also showed the sweeter moments, with Bobbie loving car rides, having "judging" facial expressions, and "making stank faces toward me."

And TikTok users responded in a big way, with one commenter writing: "LOL what we do for fur babies," and another reassuring Pink "At least she still has that cute puppy face."

"You need to claim them on your taxes," another laughed, while one thanked Pink for "taking such good care of her."

Bobbie, as a Dalmatian, also requires a low-purine diet as she was prone to urinary tract infections and kidney stones, so rather than organ meat, the couple feed their pup "chicken eggs, quail eggs, lamb, chicken, salmon, duck and veggies," which costs the family an extra $15 — $20 a week, with Pink preparing her meals from scratch.

Woman buys dalmatian puppy off Craigslist, ends up with $10k in vet bills (2)

Bobbie is allergic to beef and turkey, and got sick from playing with other dogs at the dog park, and along with her illnesses, injuries and swathes of vaccinations, Pink estimates she has spent "a little over $10,000 as a conservative estimate" in vet bills for Bobbie.

And on top of all that, Bobbie has a habit of "eating my most expensive shoes, including Chanel and Christian Louboutins"—but doesn't bother chewing anything not made out of "genuine leather."

Despite it all, having Bobbie is "absolutely" worth it, Pink, who also has an Instagram dedicated to her dog, @billiondollarbobbie, told Newsweek.

"She's my best friend. She wakes me up at 7 a.m. for breakfast and waits patiently while I prepare it before she goes outside. She's a socialite at the dog park and regularly has three to four dogs chasing after her.

"She cuddles me at night and is the most smart and mischievous dog I've ever met. I take pride in treating her like a princess because who doesn't want princess treatment?

"Things might not always be easier but I'll make sure she lives the happiest and longest life possible."

That said, Pink added": I would definitely recommend pet insurance starting from when you get your puppy."

Dalmatians like Bobbie were the 47th most popular breed of dog in 2023, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). Described by the AKC as dignified and reserved guard dogs, they are loyal and loving toward their owners, and a popular choice for active families thanks to their high energy.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

Woman buys dalmatian puppy off Craigslist, ends up with $10k in vet bills (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6065

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.