You do not deserve to own a pet?

Question

I asked another question on cat people and one be the responses I recieved was that if a person can't afford to take a pet to the vet, they shouldn't be able to own a pet. I'm not sure how I feel about that. We are hear how manay animals are euthanized and how we should all adopt from shelters instead of stores to save animals and then I hear this. Now if a person can't afford food and shelter for an animal, then yes I agree. But I also don't think every little think your cat has deserves a trip to the vet (needless to say, any serious ailments of course). Anyways, if a person can't afford mulitple vet visits, should they be allowed to own pets or is having then euthanized preferable? I say at least aften being adopted, they have a chance.

This is not about spray or neutering the cat.

So I'm reading all these answers and it seems that people are saying it's better for cats and dogs to be euthanized than be adopted by not necessarily bad adopters just people who don't jump at going to the vet every little problem.

Answer 1

I asked a question about my cat, too, and everyone said -take her to a vet. In my question, I put that I HAD had her at the vet. I was looking for info if others had the same issue, or if I have a cat that just likes to puke. And I agree with you. My husband works seasonal employment, and for me to work outside the home and pay childcare, I made $6 a day. Money is tight! I can't afford to go to the vet every week when the cat pukes. That is more than taking my kids to the doctor! But I lover her, and there isnt any way I would consider not having her. She is happy, fed, taken care of, spayed, loved, and not euthenized. When something big comes up, the vet will go on the credit card and I'll find a way to pay, and I get her shots done and she is up-to-date, but I can't afford the little things to be a trip to the vet at $40 a visit to start the check-up.

Answer 2

Right now I have 5 dogs, 3 cats & 2 guinea pigs. I wouldn't neccessarily take them to the vet for every single thing. We have access to a lot of information these days. Many things can be resolved with dietary alternatives or behavior modifictions. I also do not believe in over vaccinating or over medicating them.

Of course, If my pet needed to see a vet, it would immediately!

Seniors & very young animals health does require a extra attention as their immune systems are weakened.

Pets add so much to your lives. It cannot be replaced, but they are always optional.

If you are on a tight budget, I would suggest adopting a mix breed dog that is past the puppy years, but is still quite young. Or any young cat. Adopt animals that have already been spay/neutered and vaccinated. Their are low cost vet alternatives/clinics around. If you found that your pet had a medical issue you could not provide for, you may surrender your animal to a rescue group if neccessary. They would not let it suffer.

Answer 3

I agree, it's always better to give a cat or dog as happy a life as you can afford, rather then leave them at a shelter, becuase you can't afford to pay a vet to operate on your cat or dog.

But yes, I see a lot of if you aren't rich enough to pay a vet, then you shouldn't own an animal. Even if the questioner sounds like a little kid.

My personal opinion is, take the best care of your pet that you can, they know and understand you do your best, and love you for it.

Answer 4

Well, if your cat is sick or if you notice odd new behaviours in him, then yes, he should be taken to the vet, and every cat needs to go for at least 1 doctor visit a year to get their yearly shot, which costs about 80 to 90 dollars (Canadian) per cat. It seems as if you already know this from the details in your question. My cats are in fairly good health, and if there is something absolutely seriously wrong with them, then I take them to the vet right away. It's always good to have some extra money with you, in case of emergencies. I agree with you, that giving a cat food and shelter is a good thing, because if he was not with you, he may not be with anyone at all, and at least now he has someone to take care of him. Animals deserve to be loved just as much as humans do.

Answer 5

if your cat is sick you should take your cat to the vet or at least phone the vet and see it warents a vet visit. granted I have 2 cats that have chronic problems so anything acute is a little more serious.

a lot of people tend to rush into getting an animal because they are cute, but they really need to sit down and think if they are willing to make a life time commitment to this animal and if they have the time space and money to properly take care of the animal. yes people do fall on hard times finacially, though most vets offices if you are an established client of theirs will take payments. a good thing to do is to put aside a few bucks a month in an emergency fund for your animal. it's just sad that if someone falls on some hard times that the animal is the first one to suffer.

I have a friend who fell on some hard times and didn't want her animals to suffer so I offered to give them some money so they can get some food for the animals.

but is it fair to have the animal suffer with something that needs a vet visit and the people don't have the money for it or have the animal starve for a few weeks because someone can't afford food for the animal?

Answer 6

Why on earth would anyone own a animal of any type. Have them get sick and then decided I can't afford to have a vet check them out. There are two types of pet owners responsible pet owners who get their pets the neccassary vet care that they need. Then there are the other pet owners. Who feel if my pets sick I can't afford to go to the vets. So if they die I can just get another one! Budget before you get a pet set money aside each month even if its only $10.00 a month or more if you can afford it. Do this each month then when a emergency comes up. YOU have the money to go to the vets. I just hate to hear about any pet suffer do to not being able to pay for a vet. Why get one if you can't afford all that goes along with paying for their care. Would you have a child and then when they get sick say I can't affod to take the child to the doctors?? Probably not right. The same goes with a pet. Bottom line if you can NOT take your cat to a vets when they need to then don't get one. If this sounds rude and mean then I'm sorry. it just gets me mad to see people post queastions about a sick cat that obviousley needs to go to and vet then also say either. I'm to busy or don't have the money to go.

Answer 7

No sometimes people that can't afford to own pets shouldn't have them. The pets need to go to the vet at least once a year for their routine shots and exams. It is a responsibility of a person who owns them, to get them vaccinated against diseases that could spread to the other cats that are wild in the area. In my opinion, owning a pet is just like having kids. If you want to have the privilege them, then take care of them. Don't make it someone elses problem.

Answer 8

i think that as long as the person is able to provide food a shelter they should be able to own pets. We do not have enough money to take our 4 kittens to the vet, but we take good care of them and make sure they r fed and have shelter and they r fine, i wish i had more money i would take them to get their shots and all other kinds of things but for right now we can't afford to do that, i spend all my money i get on my cats for food and I'm only 13, but if my cats were taken away I'd die i love them they r a part of our family, so i think that we should be able to own pets.

Answer 9

People who cannot afford to provide the proper care for a pet should NOT have one, period. Proper care entails much more than food & shelter. Pets need love, affection, enrichment (play)and regular medical care. Yes, there are millions of pets that are destroyed daily because they are homeless. There are millions of others that have homes, but live in deplorable, inhumane conditions. They are sick and get neglected and then they suffer. Having a pet is a responsibility one should not take lightly. If you cannot afford a pet but want to help out homeless pets you can volunteer your time. There are many, many no-kill shelters that need volunteers to walk the dogs, clean the kennels, play with the puppies and kittens, etc. They also need foster homes for many of their pets before they get adopted into permanent homes. That enables them to make room in the shelter for other animals and it helps socialize the animals and enrich their lives with human companionship. There are a multitude of things you can do to benefit homeless pets. Adopting one you cannot afford to take PROPER care of is not one of them.

Answer 10

I have three healthy loving cats who probably need to go to the vet for at least an annual check up, but unfotunatly, we're busy and haven't had the funds and time at the same time to get them in for a few years. If they started acting unusual (which is a sign of illness in cats many times) we'd find the time and money to take care of them. I had a coworker take my dying cat in once. Unfortunatly, that was a fruitless trip in the sense that it cost me $60 to find out my cat died, but not in the sence that when his litter mate came down with the same illness a few months later, I was able to get him in and he's still alive 16 years later.

These are my babies! I haven't been in for a physical for many years, either. We're doing fine!