General Discussion

Orrex

(67,111 posts)

92. If you could save either your dog or your human child from a burning house, which would you choose?

Wed Mar 27, 2013, 03:55 PM

Mar 2013

Assuming that the other would be guaranteed to die in the flames.

Some people understand that the family pet is, ultimately, not one of the kids.

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Old Dog Needs $6,000 Surgery. What Do You Do? [View all] Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 OP

My first reaction would be yes, spend it, then right after that, I'd say, 13 years old? joeybee12 Mar 2013 #1

The age issue would give me pause. Gormy Cuss Mar 2013 #8

Well, I'm crazy, because I'd spend anything on my cats... joeybee12 Mar 2013 #18

People come from a wide variety of economic geek tragedy Mar 2013 #2

What I would do is ask several different vets how much they would charge LiberalEsto Mar 2013 #3

The article said that it was a specialized surgery -- they might not have had a choice of good vets. pnwmom Mar 2013 #91

I've lost a dog for being fundamentally too poor for its meds. Robb Mar 2013 #4

Some pretty screwed-up priorities in this world. earthside Mar 2013 #5

+1000 Go Vols Mar 2013 #27

Almost all of us has spent at least $6000 over the past year on frivoulous crap. Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 #31

and for me that represents 1/3 of a years pay RedRocco Mar 2013 #43

Yep. progressoid Mar 2013 #47

I'm an avid dog lover and I could afford the 6 grand. However, I don't think any reasonable ladjf Mar 2013 #88

Thank you, Liberal. narnian60 Mar 2013 #45

To most dog owners, dogs are their "children". darkangel218 Mar 2013 #36

....oh fergawd sakes. alphafemale Mar 2013 #41

I hope you're living in the shittiest home geek tragedy Mar 2013 #44

I spend whatever it takes to make my pets comfortable Skittles Mar 2013 #52

Nice ego-centered opinion. Thanks for sharing. n/t flvegan Mar 2013 #66

None here in the U.S. It's a good thing to save lives, if someone is willing to pay. Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #68

If there is anything in your home that is not necessary to your survival... LanternWaste Mar 2013 #78

This message was self-deleted by its author Floyd_Gondolli Mar 2013 #79

You have a point. It's just not very pointy. sibelian Mar 2013 #85

that's some stupid shit, children aren't dying because dogs are getting treatment JI7 Mar 2013 #98

How much are you spending on internet access? Skip Intro Mar 2013 #100

Depends upon how rich you are. GreenStormCloud Mar 2013 #6

I could afford the six grand... Bay Boy Mar 2013 #7

Age of the dog would definately be an issue. GreenStormCloud Mar 2013 #16

For Some Guilt Would Be A Factor grilled onions Mar 2013 #9

The age of the animal has to play some role in the decision SoCalDem Mar 2013 #10

Had a cat with congestive heart failure Freddie Mar 2013 #53

13 Years Old.... rsmith6621 Mar 2013 #11

A rough situation guardian Mar 2013 #12

I would let him go as peacefully as possible Marrah_G Mar 2013 #13

I would pay it if I had it Worried senior Mar 2013 #14

It too bad that Politicalboi Mar 2013 #15

I'm facing this with my diabetic bichon who is going blind with cataracts. broiles Mar 2013 #17

I hope you have many many more years with your dog. Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 #29

how are you managing his blood sugar? Demonaut Mar 2013 #113

Special diet, insulin twice daily, no treats. broiles Mar 2013 #117

it's tough, lucky to get it in a rough 250 range..btw, my dog developed cataracts too Demonaut Mar 2013 #121

Thanks, I'll look for a lighted ball. broiles Mar 2013 #122

I have lived on a farm pipoman Mar 2013 #19

Depends on the procedure. postulater Mar 2013 #20

That's a tough one Warpy Mar 2013 #21

Age aside, if you are a pet owner its your responsibility FreeState Mar 2013 #22

which pet insurance do you have? shanti Mar 2013 #69

Be careful -- the policies have lots of exclusions. Gormy Cuss Mar 2013 #99

I have Petplan - regardless of which company you get, I urge you to research pet insurance DeschutesRiver Mar 2013 #119

My dog, I come up with the money. tabasco Mar 2013 #23

For my family, I am the Pet Grim Reaper. randome Mar 2013 #24

Not my son, article from NY times. Thanks for your input. Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 #28

Whoops. randome Mar 2013 #34

That's me, too. Mariana Mar 2013 #65

You have it right, IMO. randome Mar 2013 #74

I'm the biggest dog lover out there..... llmart Mar 2013 #25

Your Delphinus Mar 2013 #49

Thank you.... llmart Mar 2013 #58

Try another vet newfie11 Mar 2013 #26

I love my dog but 6 grand is 6 grand. MrSlayer Mar 2013 #30

Pony up, that's what I would do, MadHound Mar 2013 #32

If it were me, I doubt I'd spend it. a la izquierda Mar 2013 #33

Somewhere along the lines you hit the point of diminishing returns Lurks Often Mar 2013 #35

I would have done the same thing she did. forestpath Mar 2013 #37

Our household income is less than 30K per year susanr516 Mar 2013 #38

I feel ya SmileyRose Mar 2013 #75

My old dog had emergency abdominal surgery for bloat and two days undeterred Mar 2013 #39

That was my initial thought. a la izquierda Mar 2013 #118

I have a 16 yo dog. MissB Mar 2013 #40

Well, in 2005 the splenectomy cost $5000 truebluegreen Mar 2013 #42

yay for your dog Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 #109

Thank you! truebluegreen Mar 2013 #111

I'm into my little dog for $4000 bahrbearian Mar 2013 #46

If you have the money, then it is well spent on a precious member of your family! txwhitedove Mar 2013 #48

If I could come up with the money sweetNsassy Mar 2013 #50

don't listen to people who question what you spend on your pets Skittles Mar 2013 #51

people spend more on whom they love than abstract starving children La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2013 #54

I spent 6k on my dog 7 years ago and I'm glad I did... winstars Mar 2013 #55

My 22 year old cat HockeyMom Mar 2013 #56

When making life and death decisions like this for pets MidwestTransplant Mar 2013 #57

Love has no price. n/t Gore1FL Mar 2013 #59

A member of the family. shenmue Mar 2013 #60

Do what your heart tells you to do. Loki Mar 2013 #61

Entirely reasonable -- it's the author's money to spend as zie pleases. politicat Mar 2013 #62

I lost my Rottweiler when she was almost 13 years old. RebelOne Mar 2013 #63

We have what my husband refers to as the $5000 kitten. ... nessa Mar 2013 #64

gosh Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 #107

She really has. My young son was diagnosed with autism when he was three... nessa Mar 2013 #112

Wife and I have discussed this - our limit is $3,000 for our 8 year old lab mix. cbdo2007 Mar 2013 #67

That's what money's for. Given the age, I don't know that I would have. Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #70

When my 13 yr. old Shepherd, Lab cross mix got hit by car many years ago, I would have Zorra Mar 2013 #71

Why would you ask? flvegan Mar 2013 #72

We recently had to do the exact same with our 13 yr old Louise Dragonbreathp9d Mar 2013 #73

Whatever your choice, please remember Max's dignity. sadbear Mar 2013 #76

Speaking only for myself. Helen Reddy Mar 2013 #77

I spent $2,500 for an operation on my desert tortoise aint_no_life_nowhere Mar 2013 #80

Much as i dislike dogs. jambo101 Mar 2013 #81

I spent $22,000 over 2 years Floyd_Gondolli Mar 2013 #82

I spent over $10,000 treating my dog for diabetes, Cushing's, lupus, and sinkingfeeling Mar 2013 #83

Are you glad you spent the money? Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 #110

Absolutely! She got to live her full life span and little bit more. sinkingfeeling Mar 2013 #116

I think we would do it. MoonRiver Mar 2013 #84

I love my furr babies more than I love humans, but ... Myrina Mar 2013 #86

Lot of interesting posts to this OP. I'm with the consensus, if at all possible, get up the money ladjf Mar 2013 #87

Those are always very difficult decisions. MineralMan Mar 2013 #89

Interesting story. I'm glad the cat lived a long, pain free life after his injury Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 #106

Some people don't understand that the family pet is one of the kids. AndyA Mar 2013 #90

If you could save either your dog or your human child from a burning house, which would you choose? Orrex Mar 2013 #92

I hope you don't have any pets. AndyA Mar 2013 #94

I have owned pets and I have been with them as they died. Orrex Mar 2013 #95

I did. AndyA Mar 2013 #96

I answered the question that was asked. I also replied to you. Orrex Mar 2013 #97

Not everyone has children. AndyA Mar 2013 #104

I'm sick to death of people equating their animals with other people's children Orrex Mar 2013 #105

I would not pursue surgery for the dog Orrex Mar 2013 #93

I don't consider paying high vet bills to be "flushing it down the toilet" Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 #108

I wouldn't do it because of Max's age moobu2 Mar 2013 #101

It depends. Possibly - TBF Mar 2013 #102

I usually tell my clients to "take the money out of the equasion" and think about your pet... Walk away Mar 2013 #103

Depends on the animal and outcome. Zoeisright Mar 2013 #114

Somehow, I am reminded of this song: Art_from_Ark Mar 2013 #115

Two places in Denver that subsidizes pet health care costs. Tender to the Bone Mar 2013 #120