Why do people get a dog if they cannot afford it?

Question

I'm just really sick and tired of people whining on here saying they cannot afford to take their dog to the vet when the animal is sick. Like we are supposed to feel sorry for you for your stupidity. Refusing to give the dog up because "You Love The Dog" is ridiculous. Why can't ignorant people stop thinking about their own personal feelings and start thinking about the dogs life. A dog is not happy being sick and needs help. Give me a break for once. It makes me sick every time I get on here when someone starts complaining and whining that their dog has diahrrea, bloody stool, parvo, worms, and all they said is cry cry whine whine I can't afford to take my dog to the vet. Grow up!!!!!! I love my dog so much that even if he starts acting odd I call the vet right away. I'm not rich but take care of my best friend if he is sick. IF YOU DOG OR PET IS SICK. TAKE "YOUR" DOG TO THE VET OR GIVE THE DOG TO SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO TAKE CARE OF THE POOR THING FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!!!!!!!

Answer 1

amen sister! let me join you in the pedestal. Its not fair to the dog to have to suffer in the ways it does. I would like to make people like that feel the pain the dog feels when they say they can't afford the veterinary care for it. Thats like saying they can't take their child to the doctor if its sick like the dogs get. Maybe they should look at the numbers like the ones I posted below and see the real cost of owning a dog. Love alone cannot keep a dog healthy period. And if they are getting themselves into these situations and having to learn the hard way then whats wrong with borrowing money from friends or family? I'm sure they will understand and you can pay therm back later. Or making some money on the side by selling lemonade like the old days? And I think some vets will work out a payment plan if the cost becomes an issue. And if the dog was a freebe, than simply exclude the breeder\shelter cost and all the other numbers till apply. What the heck are they doing on here posting questioned like you said when their dog could be\is dying on the floor of their house\apartment? I also take my dog to the vet for little things too. Because I know the longer I wait the more its going to cost when the problem gets worse. Common sense people! Common sense. Or did you not have any prior knowledge before you got the dog that now is suffering miserably? Ok I'm climbing down now...good question kittyatt20...I hope it makes people think.

Answer 2

AMEN! I'll never understand why people claim that they can't afford to take their dog to the vet - but have a brand new cell phone and a bag full of burgers from McDonalds - Vets take payments and credit cards - just like regular doctors. Don't accept the responsibility of caring for a dog for it's entire life if you aren't willing to provide Veterinary care - it's that simple!

OH YEAH - AND YES - theres IS pet insurance if you want it. PLUS - most Veterinary bills are high because irresponsible owners WAIT to treat a problem until it becomes SERIOUSLY infected/inflamed/rotted out/broken - if they took care of it or better yet - PREVENTED the issue by vaccinating their dog for $12 they could avoid that "big" bill.

Answer 3

you can take care of an animal at home, no need for a vet. there are natural cures for just about everything. granted... they also are not normally cheap. but if people wouldnt feed their dogs CRAP to begin with, and give them shots ONLY at the appropriate time, the dog can stay naturally healthy. i wont complain about people not being able to afford their dogs, i WILL complain about people feeding their dogs ol roy and other walmart foods, letting their dogs run loose, or keeping them on a chain. sometimes you dont know the situation. when i was very young and dumb, and married a guy that wouldnt keep a job (after we got married of course!!) we were poor, and "rescued" a dog from a tiny home that had 15 dogs (5 pups) and some cats that were all in bad health (she even was not completely mentally developed). even though if she wouldve gotten badly sick we wouldnt have been able to afford more than a small vet visit- she had a home where she had food to eat and something other than a small backyard to share with 14 other dogs lying around in poop. we wouldve just had to put her down. im not going to complain about that! that dog has since passed away, and at a pretty old age too.
id rather a dog be with somebody that cant afford top notch healthcare than with somebody that treats them poorly. so unless youre sure of the situation you cant fuss about somebodys financial limits.
-people WITH money are killing their dogs by feeding them crap and over medicating them. i CAN afford to take my dog to the vet, but will only do so under special circumstances (maybe eye problem, a broken bone, something in need of stitches which will prob never be a problem anyway) theres no need for it!

Answer 4

I agree. A lot of people get a "free" puppy on impulse, foolishly thinking that it will stay practically free it's whole life. Or they may have relatives and friends with dogs who never see the vet, and think that it's okay to do the same. The dog has litter after litter of puppies, gets sick frequently, and never sees a vet. It's really irritating, but it happens.

All a responsible person can do is keep their friends informed of the costs of owning a dog. If their friends have intact dogs, you could kindly tell some of the benefits of getting neutered or spayed, and add that dogs are expensive to own.

Answer 5

As someone who deals with this on a daily basis, I understand how frustrating it is to see some of the questions on here. Our vets offer payment plans to established clients and try our best to work with people to get the proper care for their pets.

People can fall on hard times. Jobs can be lost, tragedy strikes families, money is tight. A number of years ago, my sister lost everything she owned in a fire, including three of her cats. She was badly burned trying to rescue her animals. Her two dogs made it. It was a while until she got back to any kind of a normal life. She physically couldn't even take care of herself, let alone her two dogs. She suddenly couldn't afford them. If one of them became sick, I would've paid for their care. Some people aren't fortunate enough to have someone to step in and help.

On the other hand, you have people who have really nice cell phones, cable TV, eat out all the time, drive new cars, have a lot of new clothes, CD's, video games, you name it. Some are living from paycheck to paycheck because they choose to live that way. The welfare of the animal they love is at the bottom of the list until there's an emergency. Suddenly, all the vets are heartless, because they expect to be paid for their services.

I'm not preaching. Even though I work for a vet, I've had experiences with my dogs with specialists for surgery and for cancer diagnosis and treatment. They didn't take payments. It had to be paid in full. I would've sold everything I had, including this computer, if it came down to it to pay for it. Bottom line, think before you get any pet. You may have sacrifice what you think are "necessities" once you decide to get a dog. I would never, ever take on the responsibility of a living creature unless I could afford to take care of it.

Answer 6

AMEN! You hit the nail right on the head! Dogs are expensive, and a lot of the problem is that people don't research the breed they are getting to see what problems that dog is prone to. They get it as a pup and think it's cute, and then wonder why years later they have hip problems or back problems and why it's going to cost a small fortune to get the problem corrected. I would do anything for my dogs, and would find the money to pay for whatever they needed if I didn't have it somehow!

Answer 7

I agree. If you really love your animal you will help it to feel better no matter what. I know when i was a kid my mom never said, i know your sick but i'm broke this week so you have to suffer. it's the same with animals, they are your responsibility. i think some don't realize the responsibility when they get a cute little puppy-they do it on a whim & when the puppy isnt a puppy anymore they just don't want to take the time.

Answer 8

Check out the reptile section, people buy them without even knowing how to care for them or even what they are! I understand comepletly.

But ranting here will get you bad marks and stuff, I tried already. We should make an animal awareness site together, ^.^

Answer 9

You are wonderful!!! I am sooo with you!!! Once you get a pet it should be a part of your family...like your child... not like an OBJECT...which is the way alot of people act....its really sad....that philosophy goes for pretty much all pets....smile

Answer 10

It's because people are selfish.

I 100% agree.

I don't have a dog because I know I can't afford it or give it what it needs attention and vet wise.