A question I’ve been getting a lot lately: “What happened to your dog???” I get this question via email, through blog comments, on Instagram, Facebook and in person. It’s taken me awhile to put together my response because it’s a painful one. But today, I’m ready to share.

The Tail of Genevieve (aka Gigi) the Hound

Gigi showed up emaciated and covered in scratches in our friends’ yard in late September. They (and we) tried to locate her owner, but she came with no tags and no one responded to our advertisements with her photo. We took her to the vet to scan her for a microchip and she didn’t have one. Our theory is that she was a bear hunting dog who got lost from her pack and couldn’t find her way back to them. Our friends kept her at their home for a few days and then planned to take her to a shelter as they already have a dog and can’t keep a second.

Continue reading The Tail of Gigi The Dog at Frugalwoods.

Our beloved greyhound, Gracie (better known as Frugal Hound), passed away a year ago and I thought it would be a fitting tribute to devote a Reader Suggestions to the topic of frugal pet care. I miss everything about Frugal Hound. Compiling your advice and seeing your adorable pet photos was a wonderful way to celebrate the integral, loving role that pets play in our families.

Over the years, Frugal Hound inspired a series of posts on thoughtful, budget-conscious pet care:

• Frugal Pet Ownership Starts Before You Even Get A Pet: this post discusses the importance of researching what type of pet will work best with your family and lifestyle. As quite a few readers note below, understanding what breed will mesh best with your lifestyle is an excellent way to cut costs and, ultimately, provide a pet with the best possible quality of life.

Continue reading Reader Suggestions: How To Save Money On Pet Care at Frugalwoods.

I didn’t want to write this post. Or more accurately, I didn’t want to have to ever write this post. I am sad to share that Frugal Hound died unexpectedly last week. We are grieving and still reeling from how quickly she left us, but I felt it was important to let all of you know about her passing since she was such an integral part of Frugalwoods and of our family.

The Blessing And The Curse Of A Sudden Death

Last Monday, Mr. Frugalwoods and I were awakened early in the morning to the sound of things being knocked over downstairs. We rushed down to find Frugal Hound struggling across the floor, without the use of her hind legs. She’d had a stroke or seizure that rendered her mostly paralyzed. We laid her down on her bed and tried to get her to relax.

Her breathing was labored and it was soon clear that she’d lost control of her body and its functions.

Continue reading Remembering Frugal Hound at Frugalwoods.

Our sweet Frugal Hound, who is now eight years old, had her annual veterinary visit last month–her first as a “senior canine”–which reminded me of all the ways in which we care for our girl frugally. It is, without a doubt, more expensive to have a pet than to not have a pet (same goes for children… ) but it doesn’t have to cost anywhere near the astronomical sums I hear thrown around. Like every other aspect of our lives, Frugal Hound’s care is, well, frugalized. Side note: I love writing about my beloved Frugal Hound, so if you’re looking for even more on this furry topic, please enjoy:

• Our Approach To Affordable, Responsible Dog Care
• Frugal Hound’s 10 Tips For A Simpler, Happier, More Frugal Life
• Weekly Woot & Grumble: To Swap A Hound
• Frugal Hound Costs $930.35 Annually
• Weekly Woot & Grumble: Frugal Hound All Around!

Continue reading Frugal Pet Ownership Starts Before You Even Get A Pet at Frugalwoods.

Last week, Frugal Hound had her annual doggie wellness exam and vaccinations, which set us back $116. Far from bemoaning this expense, Mr. Frugalwoods and I were delighted to fork over the funds because it means Frugal Hound is a healthy and happy creature. Plus, we had the ever-entertaining experience of trying to get her to step up onto the scale at the vet’s.

Mind you, this dog is very tall and this scale is very small–it’s a raised platform that’s less than 2 inches off the ground–but every year, she is not having it. Shots? Fine. Exam? No problem. But step up on the death scale? Heck no. At each visit, the vet has to pick her up and hoist her on top of said scale (which, by the way, is covered with a soft pad) where she proceeds to tremble and quiver for reasons known only to her walnut-sized brain.

Continue reading Our Approach To Affordable, Responsible Dog Care at Frugalwoods.

A note to new readers: while we often delve deeply into financial topics (such as How A Year Of Extreme Frugality Changed Us and Strategic Luxury: The Difference Between Frugality And Miserliness), we also like to keep it irreverent and downright silly. Because hey, who doesn’t need an investigative interview series conducted by a dog?! And so, I hope you’ll enjoy Frugal Hound Sniffs! If you’d prefer a more, ahem, financial independence-related post, start here.

Greetings, Internet.

It’s your trusty enterprise reporter, Frugal Hound, reporting for dog sniffing duty. I hope you enjoy this photo of me looking pensive and intelligent. I feel it truly captures my mission as a journalist–tough, but with an empathetic side.

Speaking of press, my parents were in Boston.com yesterday, which is all well and good for them, but I note there was scant mention of moi… downright offensive I tell you.

Continue reading Frugal Hound Sniffs: Shoeaholic No More at Frugalwoods.

A note to new readers: while we often delve deeply into financial topics (such as How A Year Of Extreme Frugality Changed Us and 11 Ways To Be A Frugal Weirdo And Love It), we also like to keep it irreverent and downright silly. Because hey, who doesn’t need an investigative interview series conducted by a dog?! And so, I hope you’ll enjoy Frugal Hound Sniffs! If you’d prefer a more, ahem, financial independence-related post, start here.

Howdy, Cyber Space.

Frugal Hound–your source for the latest news and gossip on personal finance pets–reporting for duty. Today’s interview is a triple delight!

I’m pleased to welcome all three pugs from The Daily Whisk and I hope you’ll join me in exuberantly sniffing August, Magic, and Mirabel!

1) Who are you? What are you? And who are your parent(s)?

Continue reading Frugal Hound Sniffs: The Daily Whisk at Frugalwoods.

A note to new readers: while we often delve deeply into financial topics (such as How A Year Of Extreme Frugality Changed Us and 11 Ways To Be A Frugal Weirdo And Love It), we also like to keep it irreverent and downright silly. Because hey, who doesn’t need an investigative interview series conducted by a dog?! And so, I hope you’ll enjoy Frugal Hound Sniffs! If you’d prefer a more, ahem, financial independence-related post, start here.

Greetings, Internet.

Lest you labor under the delusion that this blog is written entirely by humans, I’m here to provide you a respite from their philosophical frugal ramblings. Leave it to a dog to write posts comprised of only the best things: cute photos and treats!

In today’s installment of my world renowned Frugal Hound Sniffs column, I have the pleasure of sniffing Bodie, the dog hailing from MindfulRiot.com.

Continue reading Frugal Hound Sniffs: Mindful Riot at Frugalwoods.

Frugal Hound turned six last week! Our little greyhound is entering doggie middle age. And she couldn’t be cuter! To mark the occasion, we presented her with a pterodactyl toy we bought for $2 a year ago–oh yes, I’ve been known to buy dog toys on sale well in advance of the celebratory day.

Sweet, devoted Frugal Hound is our constant companion on this frugal journey and hasn’t complained one bit about our cost-saving measures. While I believe it’s entirely possible to care for pets frugally, there’s no doubt they’re an extra expense. All told, the Hound costs us around $900 each year.

Nothing to sneeze at, but vastly less than if we took her to a groomer, had a dog walker, and paid to board her when we travel. Although she’s a luxury in our lives, we value her presence much more than that $900.

Continue reading Frugal Hound’s 10 Tips For A Simpler, Happier, More Frugal Life at Frugalwoods.

A note to new readers: while we often delve deeply into financial topics (such as How A Year Of Extreme Frugality Changed Us and 11 Ways To Be A Frugal Weirdo And Love It), we also like to keep it irreverent and downright silly. Because hey, who doesn’t need an investigative interview series conducted by a dog?! And so, I hope you’ll enjoy Frugal Hound Sniffs! If you’d prefer a more, ahem, financial independence-related post, start here.

Howdy, Cyber Space!

Frugal Hound here, reporting for interview duty. Today I’m sniffing a lovely specimen of dog–Mushu the Shiba Inu from Debt Discipline.

It’s not often that Mrs. Frugalwoods finds a dog cuter nearly as cute as me, but she was embarrassingly enthusiastic over Mushu’s photos. There was a lot of oohh-ing and ahh-ing, which I didn’t appreciate as this is a serious journalistic endeavor.

Continue reading Frugal Hound Sniffs: Debt Discipline at Frugalwoods.

A note to new readers: while we often delve deeply into financial topics (such as The Privilege of Pursuing Financial Independence and 11 Ways To Be A Frugal Weirdo And Love It), we also like to keep it irreverent and downright silly. Because hey, who doesn’t need an investigative interview series conducted by a dog?! And so, I hope you’ll enjoy Frugal Hound Sniffs! If you’d prefer a more, ahem, financial independence-related post, start here.

Greetings, Internet!

Taking a break from my rigorous napping lecture tour schedule, it’s your trusty hound interview series host, Frugal Hound. We continue our survey of personal finance pets today with two fine feline specimens from across the pond.

I’m especially delighted to introduce you to these two tasty lovely cats who live the frugal life, just like me. While I feel it’s tantamount to torture that I wasn’t allowed to sniff these cats in the fur, I am still pleased to bring you this riveting interview with the Frugal Cats of The Frugal Cottage.

Continue reading Frugal Hound Sniffs: The Frugal Cottage at Frugalwoods.

A note to new readers: while we often delve deeply into financial topics (such as The Privilege of Pursuing Financial Independence and 11 Ways To Be A Frugal Weirdo And Love It), we also like to keep it irreverent and downright silly. Because hey, who doesn’t need an investigative interview series conducted by a dog?! And so, I hope you’ll enjoy Frugal Hound Sniffs! If you’d prefer a more, ahem, financial independence-related post, start here.

Howdy, Cyber Space.

Frugal Hound here, your one and only source for pet interviews with a personal finance flair. Today I’m joined by pet royalty–Lady Sally of Messy Money. I too have tried convincing my parents servants that I’m of a royal bloodline, but they still persist in calling me Peanut-Pumpkin and other such degrading names not fit for a noblewoman. The shame.

Continue reading Frugal Hound Sniffs: Messy Money at Frugalwoods.