What would you do?

[skyguy2007]

Patsi and I have sent two of our beautiful greyhounds to the rainbow bridge this year, both were just shy of 13, one with cancer and the other various ailments. Rescuing only seniors, we understand the financial obligation taking only special need dogs 8 years of age or older. Our vet bill averages 5k per year, and we're glad to do it.

Here is where I start having a problem, should people take a pet in even though they couldn't afford to care for them if something other than normal care happened?

If you have a pet, what's your dollar limit?

I'm simply curious after reading this article...

Poll: Money is a huge consideration in pet care - Yahoo! News

[Niccivan]

I have 3 dogs, and naturally expenses were taken into consideration when we got each of them. I'll admit that when I brought home Koko 2 years ago, I wasn't prepared to handle all the expenses that came with having a dog. With that being said.....

when Koko was fighting for her life last year, there was no amount of money I wouldn't have spent to save her life. I would have emptied out my bank account and then some.....

Financial responsibility should absolutely be taken into consideration when getting any pet. You should never expect that your pet won't get sick or need to go to the vet for some unforeseen reason. If you can't handle those financial obligations gladly, you should think twice about getting any pet.

[LadyWrestler]

Personally, I don't want more than one pet...which I have. At present, I don't have the time or desire to try to care for more than one inside pet. For the one I have, I would put my full financial resources behind her, if needed, for her to continue enjoying her life with me. In addition to that I do provide considerable help for outside wildlife on my property...with food and water, summer and winter...including heated water in winter. I have even made some wild-life shelter opportunities, away from the house, on my property, which are used at times. When I'm away for more than a day, which is rare, a family member takes care of things for me. Does that make the outside wildlife my pets? My partial pets? Or does it just make me a nut? Those are the 64,000 dollar questions!

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As for your question: "Here is where I start having a problem, should people take a pet in even though they couldn't afford to care for them if something other than normal care happened?"

If we are talking about an animal shelter adoption, and an animal's chance to be with an animal loving person who can and will provide for basic needs and care, including neutering, but can't afford to provide extraordinary and very costly care if needed, I would have to say yes. After all, what alternative is there for that animal? I think we are all smart enough here to know the answer to that one.

If we are talking about a breeder purchased animal that will surely be kept alive and properly cared for until sold, then I would say no.

.

[cellist]

Both of my parents grew up on farms. Consider milking Bessie everyday and then one day having her for supper. They were always very loving and caring for our pets but they would have never considered paying for any kind of animal surgery. I always understood their reasoning, but I know I've shelled out whatever it took for surgery for my pets.

[kimmy]

I had a beautiful Rot that I had for 9 years, this girl would change a diaper on a baby if she could had. Great with kids and everyone. She let you know when someone was around and was the perfect dog. In her 8 year of life her hips were failing her. I took her to the vet, gave her some of my meds and did everything we could. She was at the point where she could not get up anymore. The vet said there was a surgery that she could has had to help her but it was almost 3 thousand dollars , it would take her 3 months to be back to semi normal and it would last at the most a year. I could not see her get in that cond again if we would had the surgery for her so I decided to put her down. If I knew she would had made it another 2 or 3 years without the pain I would had robbed a damn bank if I had too.. but watching her go through that was too painfull for her and us.. She was one of the best Dogs I ever had and miss her everyday... Still brings tears to my eyes cause I miss her so bad but she is in a good place being taken care of now..


RIP My Katie Girl :-(

[skyguy2007]

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As for your question: "Here is where I start having a problem, should people take a pet in even though they couldn't afford to care for them if something other than normal care happened?"

If we are talking about an animal shelter adoption, and an animal's chance to be with an animal loving person who can and will provide for basic needs and care, including neutering, but can't afford to provide extraordinary and very costly care if needed, I would have to say yes. After all, what alternative is there for that animal? I think we are all smart enough here to know the answer to that one.

If we are talking about a breeder purchased animal that will surely be kept alive and properly cared for until sold, then I would say no.

.

Great point Shay!

[Niccivan]

Personally, I don't want more than one pet...which I have. At present, I don't have the time or desire to try to care for more than one inside pet. For the one I have, I would put my full financial resources behind her, if needed, for her to continue enjoying her life with me. In addition to that I do provide considerable help for outside wildlife on my property...with food and water, summer and winter...including heated water in winter. I have even made some wild-life shelter opportunities, away from the house, on my property, which are used at times. When I'm away for more than a day, which is rare, a family member takes care of things for me. Does that make the outside wildlife my pets? My partial pets? Or does it just make me a nut? Those are the 64,000 dollar questions!

---

As for your question: "Here is where I start having a problem, should people take a pet in even though they couldn't afford to care for them if something other than normal care happened?"

If we are talking about an animal shelter adoption, and an animal's chance to be with an animal loving person who can and will provide for basic needs and care, including neutering, but can't afford to provide extraordinary and very costly care if needed, I would have to say yes. After all, what alternative is there for that animal? I think we are all smart enough here to know the answer to that one.

If we are talking about a breeder purchased animal that will surely be kept alive and properly cared for until sold, then I would say no.

.

While I agree with this, there are some people that adopt pets that can't provide even for their basic needs, like food. How many dogs do you see on those animal cop rescue shows where the dogs were left outside to die basically because they couldn't afford their food. Hell, they couldn't even be bothered to fill up a water bowl from the sink.