Now that gas as well as everything else?

Question

Is getting so expensive, heating bills on the rise, food costs sky rocketing and all the fires, hurricanes etc. Do you think we will see more questions about people not being able to afford vet care for their dogs? Do you keep an account "just in case" there is an emergency for your dog?

Wow how could anyone give thumbs down for those answers?

I have to admit my account has less than 500 in it. My mortgage has gone up twice in the past 8 mos. I have a fixed rate but, taxes are going crazy around here.

Answer 1

This is a very realistic question. It is getting so tough to survive financially in our society - especially if you're in human services (like I am - and it means you make peanuts) and you're self-employed (like my husband is - and your income varies widely throughout the year). A couple of years ago, my hubby and his dad went down south to help out with the clean up after Hurricane Katrina - their company almost went bankrupt doing so. So needless to say, we've been hit with some tough times financially. My dog has not starved, he has gone to the vet - but no, he hasn't been to the professional groomers in a while - no he doesn't get the fancy expensive dog toys - no he doesn't get the brand name doggy biscuits, etc. But he does get a lot of love. :)
We don't have a special emergency account, but I'd go without food, cable, cell phones, Internet, etc. for as long as I needed to to pay the emergency vet bill. Yeah I wish I had piles of money saved up and could give him the best of everything and could pay for anything and everything that came along - but I don't. I don't think that makes me a bad doggy parent though. I know some people on here seem to think if you're not rich, you're not a good parent - boohah to that. Money doesn't buy love and attention. :) (Sorry, I just had to vent!)

Answer 2

I am sure that there will be more questions about people not being able to take their dog to the vet.

I feel horribly for senior citizens and disabled because they do not have much money. Even if they don't have pets they do not have much money to live on. How will they afford oil for their heater when it is $3+ a gallon?? How will they keep warm in the winter?? It really is sad. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry.
We need to thnk about the people in our country and we need more programs to help people that cannot afford their heating bills...ect.

Also minimum wage could be higher as well. Everything is so expensive here in my state. It's hard to find a good job and if you do they don't want to offer full time or medical insurance.

I have an account just in case I have an expensive emergency for my dogs.

Why the thumbs down??

Houses here are too expesive. I want to move out of here when I get the chance. I have found other properties for me and my dogs for so much cheaper in other states ($300,000), where as here a property that I want would cost me $2,000,000.

Answer 3

I always try to keep some emergency money in our account, but honestly, it doesn't always work out as well as it could. By the grace of God, I've always managed to have just enough to cover vet care for my dogs, whenever it has been necessary.

I have never and will never deny my dogs of medical care if I even think it's necessary. I would rather go without groceries and not pay my other bills than refuse my dogs the care that they need.

I'm not a free loader, but I do have a bit of insurance that my dogs will never be completely stuck- if there is ever a severe medical emergency, that requires more money than I have, I have peace of mind that my family would help me out. My family loves my dogs as if they were their own and they would never want to see them suffer or leave me in a position to lose them.

Add:
I didn't mention that I ALWAYS have enough money for regular vet visits, including vaccinations, tests and exams. I wouldn't have dogs if I didn't have enough money to give them the most basic care that they need. It makes me sick when people get dogs when they can't afford the day to day and annual care.

Answer 4

We have a savings account that is for emergency casses if needed. If all else fails, we have an emergency credit card set aside as well. So if something happens and my animals need vet care, they will be taken care of properly.

I worry about winter months, with that high heating costs, that people put even just feeding pets on the back burner as well. So many put their pets at the bottom of the priority list when bills come about.

Answer 5

I luckily have a good vet that I pay a set amount to every month. My dogs go to the vet in January and the cats in February. What I pay per month is affordable to me and by the time they are going I have anough for the visits, blood work, shots, heartworm and flea meds and then I have some left over for emergencies. If I run out of money for the year and need an emergency visit for any of them I put it on my credit card and do some overtime at work. Working at the nature center helps as well cuz the rabbit and ferret are seen by the nature centers vet for free.

Answer 6

I believe there will be more questions posted for this reason.
I used to have an account for my animals vet bills.A recent emergency surgery for one of them wiped out that account and then some and I don't know when I'll be able to start it up again but it does'nt matter.If it comes between vet bills and making the house payment the house will just have to wait either that or I'll go get a loan to pay the vet or sell whatever I can.
God has always had my back in helping me find a way and I'm certain He will continue to be there to lend a hand.

Answer 7

We have a credit account at two vet clinics just due to work, so it's not a big problem for us.
I try to be realistic in care choices too. When all is said and done, these are dogs, not children. I see some people spending thousands of dollars on chemo that I know will not really help that much. And you see some people facing choices that are financially unrealistic when it comes to payoff in really helping the dog.
The best advice is to see all sides of the health issue. Just because some procedure is available, doesn't mean it is the best choice. I have seen people do repeated ortho surgeries, and the outcome does not really change that much longterm. I have seen people doing repeated eye surgeries or tooth treatments to try to "save" the tooth or eye. Just remove it. The dog's problems will be gone with one surgery. And they do fine without teeth or with one eye especially when doing the procedures will not really help that much longterm and the outcome will be the same.
We just don't seem to be realistic in petcare in the states.

Answer 8

I think people will find paying vets bills for difficult if they don't have a contingency. All of my animals are insured, that way if anything does happen I don't have to worry about finding the cash in an emergency.

My sister is a vet, and many times she has had people come in with very sick animals who could be treated but were put down because the owners couldn't afford it.

Answer 9

There are people who will use any excuse not to provide adequate care for their dogs all the while spending $$ for themselves on non-necessities.

Yes.. I have several layers of "emergency" money... savings, access to a line of credit, pawn broker and if worse comes to worse... my mother (although she'd be offended if she knew I went to a pawnbroker first). I've refinanced a house to pay vet bills... I have to admit though, I will only go so far with spending on some veterinary issues.. if its going to cost more than $2000 I'd be thinking really hard (dependent upon the prognosis.... its one thing to surgically remove a swallowed toy that is causing a blockage.. a whole nother thing to deal with osteo-sarcoma, chemotherapy and removing a dog's leg just so it can live 6 more months in extreme discomfort).

Answer 10

I have a credit card with a $5000 credit limit on it. I try to keep the balance preferably at $0, but definitely under a couple hundred dollars. This is my emergency card. For both my pets and myself. I also use it for things that are necessary but I don't know if I can afford all at once (like putting new tires on my car this summer).

I'm working on saving up money in a savings account for emergencies as well. Ideally, I would like to have at least enough in savings to live on for 6 months with no income, but it's going take me a few years to get to that point.
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