Why do people automatically assume all pet owners...?

Question

have tons of money? if it werent for the millions of poor people out there that have given homes to the billions of homeless animals out there, then there would be billions more animals out there dying, suffering and lonely, because if everyone who could afford to spay or neuter and vaccinate on schedule were willing, they couldnt take in that amount of animals. there are way more poor people than well to do. at least these animals have someone to love them, give them shelter and food and water and vet care when it is most needed. they may live a shorter life than a fixed, vaccinated animal...then again they may not...but its better than the streets, where they certainly wouldnt see a vet for every little cough and owie that happened to them. so when people ask questions about home remedies in here, unless it is serious, try answering with thought instead of emotions.

Answer 1

I believe the point Tammy is trying to make is twofold;
1) that for minor ailments, home remedies have some merit, just as they do in treating humans. i.e. after my 12 year old great dane mix plays hard at the dog park, he needs aspirin for a few days ... as recommended on a pet health website and in the right dose.

2) That poor people contribute overall to the homes given to pets, and should not be negated.

Take for an example the following, real life situations:
1) Susan has a good job, a teenage son, three cats and two dogs. she can afford vet care, neutering, and does so. Susan gets sick, loses her job, ends up on disability at a very low rate, and is no longer able to provide routine vet care. Should she surrender her animals, which may be the very thing that is keeping her holding on to any quality of life?

2) The Wilson family has five children, both parents work at low-paying jobs, and one of the children is autistic. They discovered that having a dog helps their son come out of his shell and connect with his world. Should they keep both child and animal from this special bond because they are poor?

3) George has been lonely since his wife died. Depression nearly robbed him of his own life. A friend gave him a kitten, and now he has something to live for and is taking care of himself again. But he lives on social security and routine vet bills are out of his reach. Should he give the cat back and go back into depression and loneliness?

You may think these are isolated incidents, but far from it. All three stories are persons I know firsthand (names changed), and I could share more. I will never forget the dear elderly woman on the phone with me sobbing as she told me about her dog she had advertised in the paper to give away. She could not walk the dog any more, nor afford it's food, so was having to part with her best friend.

I agree that pets should be spayed and neutered, receive routine vet care, and vaccinations. I also hate it when a poor (or any) family takes in a pet that is not only not cared for, but neglected in the back yard. This is far more a travesty than the poor pet owner who dotes on their pet but simply hasn't enough money for the ideal care.

Rather than slamming people, be supportive. Give out information where there ARE low cost spay and neuter clinics, and vaccination clinics. Stress to people how important flea control is. Teach prevention. Educate, educate, educate ... but don't ridicule.

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Answer 2

You shouldn't own pets if you can't afford to spay or neuter them. My family has 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 guinea pigs and we are just above the poverty line. We would rather take care of them than live with any amount of luxury. There are clinics that will spay or neuter up to 4 animals a year free(excluding vaccines) if you prove you're low-income. That's how both of my cats are getting neutered. Giving a hoe to a homeless animal is certainly something wonderful but if you're going to let it breed than you're not helping the problem but contributing to it. Go to http://www.spotusa.org/ to find a low-cost spay and neuter clinic in your area. They might have a program that will let you get it done for free. Be part of the solution, not the problem.

Answer 3

Many places do have low cost and no cost spay and neuter facilities. There is a list at http://www.spayusa.org

There are also low cost vaccination clinics.

I also understand your motive behind the question but something everyone needs to remember is that animals deserve to have the best treatment possible. Vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and medications keep pets happy and healthy. If you can keep animals without vaccinations or who are still reproductively active as indoor pets that is best. Many diseases can be contracted by pet to pet interaction or from bugs or birds. Even the best pet owners don't rush to the vet for every little thing because sometimes it is not necessary.

Answer 4

I understand your point of view. You do have to realize though, that there are few home remedies that can be used on pets. I know that many people do not have a ton of money to spend on their pets. That is why most vets have payment programs and pet insurance is also available. You also need to realize, if people spayed and neutered their pets, there would not be so many unwanted, neglected animals. Do you have any idea how many animals are euthanized across the country every year because pet owners do not alter their pets? Yes, money may be an issue, but many humane societies and spca's offer low cost spay and neuter programs. Bottom line, if you don't have the money, don't own or take in an animal.

Answer 5

Part of me wants to agree with you... In a perfect world, yes, of course 'poor' people should be able to have pets. Of course, in a perfect world, no one would be poor.

But the bigger part of me knows that when you bring an animal into your home you are taking on the responsibility for that pet -- TOTAL responsibility, including medical care when needed. It's a shame that vet care is sooooooo expensive, but there ARE low-cost spaying, neutering and vaccinations programs out there. And most vets will work with you to help you afford proper care for your pet.

About home remedies -- most of the time there simply is NOT a home remedy for an illness. If your animal has a bacterial infection he needs antibiotics -- period. If your dog has swallowed a safety pin, he needs surgery. There is no home remedy that can get the safety pin out of the dog, safely!

Another thing -- if you LOVE your pet but can't afford vet care, how distressful is that to YOU? To have to sit by and watch your dog suffer? Wouldn't it be better if you waited until your finances were better, so you could afford vet care?

I could go on and on about people who have pets but can't or won't get vet care for them...but sometimes it's just useless. There ARE programs to help people pay for vet care so 'poor' people need to do the research and learn all they can BEFORE they take on responsibility for another life.

Answer 6

I'm not sure about your motive behind this question, but you do bring up an interesting fact about poor people owning animals. We have three dogs, and I wish there was some sort of health care system for them for low income pet owners. Would help out with things quite a bit, especially with spaying and nuetering and vaccinations.

Answer 7

Its all about your life style and whats important to you,dogs and other pets are the only thing in ones life,I see homeless with dogs and face it we all should be loved as well as give it,I dont assume at all pet owners have tons of cash,youre either a animal lover or not,but in my opinion some people cant take care of animals and shouldnt have them. I b elive if youre good to animals youre good to all people. I am a fireman and a animal lover

Answer 8

In a way I do agree with you, there are schemes in place to help with neutering costs etc, (i know as I take in unwanted cats) and I place neutering as very high on my list of things to do. Also if they are very young I find the money to get them vaccinated as well as it does work out cheaper in the long run. I don't run to the vet for every sneeze and sniffle but I don't stint on flea treatments etc either. It tends to be a case of prioritising (sp) things.

Answer 9

Welllllll Daisy 101 is a real charmer isn't she.
I guess she is saying that pets are only for the Rich and Famous.
I have NEVER gone out looking for a dog. Most of them just stepped up on my porch or were given to me to spare them being put to sleep and I love and loved each and everyone of them.
When I took the animals I considered the animal and not my wallet. . . as with children,I have always found the money for their medical needs one way or another.
It would seem that poor people have bigger hearts and more available time than the Rich and Famous who only seem to be concerned about themselves and don't want to be inconvienced by pets.
It is this same group of Rich and Famous who have encouraged down breeding of larger breeds so they can have the "special animal"they want (designer pets)that will fit their wants and that lends to an inferior breed with alot more medical problems.
When this "designer pet" starts taking up their time and money they now decide the animal is expendible.(When I take on a pet it is for the life of that pet.)
It is the Rich and Famous who encourage Puppy Mills . . . who knows how many puppies from Puppy Mills die every day not to mention the worn out reproducing females that are kept in unsanitary and cramped conditions?
I live in the country and am ever aware of what is done with those "Designer Pets" when they no longer fit the needs of the "Rich and Famous".
I have one of those high dollar dogs that orignially cost $750.00 that none of the "Rich and Famous" had time for.
I tracked him by his vet tag and found out I was the 6th owner in less than a year.
I got him with infected gums , a kidney infection that had the worst smell I had ever smelled ( working in the medical profession I have seen and smelled ALOT of nasty things and nothing compared to this kidney infection),had not had his puppy teeth issue addressed so he has way too many teeth in his mouth and was barely housebroken at the age of 3yrs old and very timid/scared.
This reenforces my statement that when the "designer dog" starts costing money and time the "Rich and Famous" find the animal to be expendible.
My vet wanted to pull all of the extra teeth to the tune of $89.00 per tooth but since the teeth don't seem to hinder the dog's abilitiy to eat I opted to leave them alone and he's doing fine.
This dog is now healthy and in good shape and though not perfectly housebroken (he's still unneutered) he is doing very well on this.
He is happy,frisky and such a loving little dog.
I used common sence and my 30+yrs medical profession knowledge to treat his gums. I have used that knowledge and common sence to treat and care for all of my animals.
Humans should not be denied medical treatment based on their ability to pay and neither should animals who are not owned by people who are of the "Rich and Famous" set.
THANK GOD I have a vet who will take post dated checks. . . .money bags or not,my animals are loved,taken care of and most say they are spoiled .
My 106 lb half Chow/Rotwieller was put to sleep at the age of 13 1/2 and my vet said. . . ."Whatever it was you did,you must have done it right".
The only thing wrong with this dog was arthritis and it was no longer fair to him to prolong his pain/problems nor pad the vet's pocket. (She wanted to do an necropsy on my dog. . . hell he was over 13yrs old what good would it do to do a necropsy except pad the vet's wallet and thin mine?)
Large dogs like this generally die at the age of 8-10 and for my dog to live to 13 1/2 yrs old with minimal vet vistis I too agree. . . I must have done it right. . . .rich or not and I will continue to do so and keep my money in my pocket instead of giving it to my vet.