General Discussion

kdmorris

(5,649 posts)

74. This was a hard one to answer... not cut and dried.

Sun Mar 17, 2013, 06:01 PM

Mar 2013

I know a lot of people who do have the wherewithal to get their pets medical care when they get the pet and then fall on hard times. They then cannot pay for medical care, but it seems our shelters are filled with pets who are sent there because their owners could no longer afford to take care of them.

I personally would not acquire a pet I couldn't afford to get medical care for, but I have in the past. With subsidized spay/neuter clinics and shot clinics, even someone on food stamps (like I was) can afford to attend to the basic medical needs of their pets. Of course, now that I'm older, I realize that medical care goes FAR past spay/neuter and shots, but at the time, I thought providing the basics was great and I could save an animal from the shelter.

So... I'm torn. I don't want to see so many animals languish in shelters, and studies have proven that mental health in the elderly (who are usually on limited incomes) improves with the companionship of a pet - rather than being alone. But - I would feel terribly guilty getting an animal that I couldn't afford to help if they had a health crisis.

Long winded way to say - I can see both sides of this equation and am unable to come to a conclusion on what I feel is "right" in this discussion.

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74 replies

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Should people who can't afford medical treatments for pets own a cat or dog? [View all] ZombieHorde Mar 2013 OP

How about Chuuku Davis Mar 2013 #1

Medicaid. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #2

How About use Pet Cemetery Katashi_itto Mar 2013 #17

If you can't afford to take care of an animal, then you most certainly BlueStreak Mar 2013 #3

Make sure a future pet has a clean bill of health LeftInTX Mar 2013 #4

Where is the line on defining medical treatment? MattBaggins Mar 2013 #5

Basic vet visits. ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #6

Even those basic vet visits aren't cheap LiberalFighter Mar 2013 #70

Though in practice I have done the exact... Agschmid Mar 2013 #7

I say adopt the dog if it's going to die if you don't. sadbear Mar 2013 #8

I voted the other way, but that is a good point. PotatoChip Mar 2013 #60

In my area, there is a traveling discount shot operation. sadbear Mar 2013 #62

I get all shots for the dogs Go Vols Mar 2013 #68

That's a good deal! sadbear Mar 2013 #69

You are a "member" after you spend so much money. Go Vols Mar 2013 #71

That sounds like a nice service. PotatoChip Mar 2013 #72

Fortunately, it's a business (not a service). sadbear Mar 2013 #73

What bothers me most is when I see people with multiple pets undeterred Mar 2013 #9

There's a homeless guy with a dog who hangs out near the 7-11 I go to petronius Mar 2013 #10

That's why I don't judge who feel differently than me on this subject. ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #12

That would have been my answer. UnrepentantLiberal Mar 2013 #16

Is that the Guy that CokeMachine Mar 2013 #64

Both of my dogs.. AzSweet Mar 2013 #11

What a swell thing to do! Helen Reddy Mar 2013 #46

we recently spent 4000 dollars on our dog who needed back surgery rustydog Mar 2013 #13

love is free and shouldn't require money liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #14

majorly conflicted about this one.... mike_c Mar 2013 #15

ideally no - even more so people should not have children if they can't afford all their needs - Douglas Carpenter Mar 2013 #18

Exactly, very reasonable attitude treestar Mar 2013 #26

There are SO MANY unwanted pets Le Taz Hot Mar 2013 #19

Those are good points. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #20

Adopting a shelter animal HockeyMom Mar 2013 #32

Should humans who can't afford medical treatments commit suicide? Duer 157099 Mar 2013 #21

I don't think so. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #22

The OP doesn't ask if we should shoot our pets if we can't afford med. care. But if we should go out Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #24

I said "no," but my real answer is, it depends. Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #23

Good points. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #28

I wouldn't deprive poor people of pets, on that ground treestar Mar 2013 #25

You make some good points, but I just want to say that my poll is not about policy, ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #27

I voted no but of course I was thinking about people who deliberately go out and buy one Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2013 #29

I owned a farm, sometimes pets do die. It's best to give them a happy home as long as possible. TheBlackAdder Mar 2013 #30

Great reply. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #31

Per Post #6, You're NOT planning ANY medical care? TheBlackAdder Mar 2013 #48

Like I said in the OP, I will not buy a dog until I am financially stable. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #50

Can you update the OP to make it clear that Basic Care isn't included? TheBlackAdder Mar 2013 #51

I am not sure if that would be good after 77 votes. ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #54

You're right.. It's a flawed poll. TheBlackAdder Mar 2013 #59

I agree, my poll has some flaws. The responses have been great though, ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #61

If you can't afford medical treatments for pets Life Long Dem Mar 2013 #33

Would you rather... TheBlackAdder Mar 2013 #34

Of course it depends on the illness. Life Long Dem Mar 2013 #38

The OP says basic medical bills. (Updated - Refer to Post #6) TheBlackAdder Mar 2013 #39

That's how I took it Life Long Dem Mar 2013 #41

He's asking of others should get a dog without health care of any kind. TheBlackAdder Mar 2013 #47

Guess it depends on how you look at it AndyA Mar 2013 #35

we can't deprive poor people of the right to own a pet. TimberValley Mar 2013 #36

My poll is not about policy, it is about sujective wisdom. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #37

How do you know what medical treatment is needed or will be? Rex Mar 2013 #40

Most of those things can't be predicted, but some things, such as check ups and sterilization, ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #42

Okay so maybe $50 - $100 a year on maintenance issues. Rex Mar 2013 #44

If you're talking basic vet visit... one_voice Mar 2013 #43

Unfortunately, he's not even talking basic care. TheBlackAdder Mar 2013 #49

This just pisses me off libtodeath Mar 2013 #45

Sadly, many more animals would be put down if ability to appleannie1 Mar 2013 #52

Good point. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #53

This is an unrealistic question. DireStrike Mar 2013 #55

Good point. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #58

Ideally, no. But too many homeless shelter pets are killed because no one wants them. MadrasT Mar 2013 #56

Impossible question. A bone marrow transplant to treat a dog's lymphoma can cost $16,000. Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #57

Other: mut be able to afford basic care (vaccinations, sterilizations, etc) REP Mar 2013 #63

Pet Food Stamps OhioChick Mar 2013 #65

Very interesting. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #66

I thought so, too OhioChick Mar 2013 #67

This was a hard one to answer... not cut and dried. kdmorris Mar 2013 #74