Question:
I got into this on CnQ in the past but I thought I'd see what people here thought....
I am a student without paid employment who lives on handouts & a disability cheque. Yet I have a cat & a chilla who live like Princesses. Nonetheless, people have told me in the past, or @ least implied, that I shouldn't have pets. Perhaps I am selfish to want them & constantly be struggling to feed us & pay their veterinary bills, but I can't imagine life without them.
I am going to have trouble feeding myself in the next few days but I have lots of Mazuri & Precise for Hank & Cub. So I have priorities.
But Hank needs dental work soon & I am not sure where the money will come from. After rent, phone & bus pass I have $180 a month to live on. The dental surgery is estimated @ $115.
It's @ times like this that I despair. I have borrowed $200 for Cub's recent vet bill, & it seems like the well is running dry. I don't know what to do but I will keep trying.
If I were rich, all of this could be avoided. But does this mean that poor people shouldn't have anything more than goldfish & hamsters?


Answer:
Neuro, I do remember this thread on CnQ. I didn't realize the members implied that you shouldn't have pets because you weren't "rich". First of all, just because someone has money does not necessarily make them a responsible pet owner. There are plenty of people who have a vast amount of money but aren't willing to spend money on health care, proper diet, etc. They view animals as mere "pets" and nothing else. On the flip side of that, you have people that have little or no money but manage to provide the utmost care for their pets. I would frown upon ANYONE (whether it be with money or little money) to bring a pet into their house and not take care of them properly. Neuro, it is quite obvious your pets are your life and you are diligent about taking care of them properly. I am not going to disagree with you and say having more money wouldn't help you out at a time like this. No matter what it takes, I am sure you will find the money to pay for Hank's dental work.



Answer:
I don't think it's necessarily that pets should be for the rich, but if people aren't going to set aside the money needed to care for their pets, they shouldn't have them.
Working at an animal shelter, I constantly answer calls from people who demand we provide free services for their pets, as they're on social assistance. It breaks my heart to have to say no to people (we don't have a vet on staff, and we don't have the funds to help these people), but it also makes me angry. If they are on social assistance, and aren't willing to make the sacrifices necessary to have the pet, they shouldn't have one.
For two years my rent was more than 60% of my total income. Yet I managed to squeeze my pennies and afford the best foods for my cats, and regular vet care.
My two cents!


Answer:
I agree, just being rich doesn't mean that you can provide the best care for your pets, there are many who can afford pets only to neglect them for the latest video game or another pet they find interesting.
I would say that it is how prepared you are to make sacrifices for your pets and also set aside money for their care. I made the decision to adopt out all of my pets to others who could give them better homes and are better prepared to take care of them and give them the best care they deserve. After a little more than a year with pets (even though it was only a fish for the most of it) I realised that I will never be able to get ahead if I was spending all my money on my pets. At the most, I would break even and scrape through with rent and bill each month in order to provide my pets with what I think is good quality food, bedding, housing, etc. And I don't think I will get anymore pets until I have my own house, car and steady income.
But that is personal choice, and I know that there will be people who will not agree with me and think that I've abandoned my pets. Pika and Sasha have a great home with Brandy on POTN which takes a load off my mind, and she gives me constant updates and I know they are in a great home, even if it's not with me.
neuro, I admire the fact that you are prepared to endure hardship for your pets, so I don't think that money should even be an issue to be used against you. I know it is frustrating when money runs low but I also know that you are getting the best care for Cub and Hank possible. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you and I hope that something turns up that will help to ease your situation.


Answer:
I think a low income has nothing to do whether you should have pets or not. Neuro, you are obviously devoted to Cub and Hank. There should be more people like you that love their pets so much and put them before their own needs.
I would suggest shopping around for vets too. I know not all vets are exotic vets but if you look around, you can find excellent ones. The vet I used to use cost 400% more than the vet I currently use. My new vet is better than the more expensive one and much easier on the pocket book. He is by no means providing discount services either.
Good luck.


Answer:
Thanks for the votes of confidence. My parents often make me feel like I shouldn't have Cub & that I should feed hank no-name cat food. It's good to hear that what I am doing isn't cruel to the animals. They come first, it's just that they sometimes have to get their needs met by me leaning on friends for vet money.
Clearjade, I admire your strength in doing what you had to do for your animals. I too wonder if I will ever "get ahead" while shelling out so much for my pets. But they have been the most loyal friends & have improved my life so much that I don't think I could get by without them.


Answer:
Neuro,,,,I'm not sure about there but I know my vet here will set up a payment plan for me,,,,its alot easier than trying to come up with a big chunk of money all at once,,,,she won't do payments with spay or neutor because that is selective sugery,,but where Cub just needed some work unexpectedly,,she would let me pay in paymeants,,,,its worth asking about anyways especially if your vet knows you qutie well!!


Answer:
I think you don't need to be rich to own/have pets. But I say you should at least have some money for you can take care of them properly


Answer:
I'm facing this issue again.... Hank is going to have to eat canned tuna which I am lying & saying is for me, for a few days.
I also have to somehow afford chinchilla dust, hay, & salad for the guinea pigs soon.
Also Hank has not had her dental surgery yet. She is ok, it's just orthodontic kind of stuff, but it's upsetting. She can eat fine, but it should be done. I am still paying off Cub's vet bill from May.
Once I start working for $$$ (well, I started yesterday actually) things should be better & then I can get a hedgie too.
But in the meantime I am reminded of how an occupational therapist @ the hospital told me to get rid of my pets, or if I kept them, to feed them the cheapest crap. Greeeat, I rescue animals & then subject them to abandonment & poor care?
Social services won't help out w/cat food @ all. I am SOOOOOOOOO happy that I spent my whole GST cheque on supplies for the gp's & Cub.


Answer:
Since this thread is up : here is my opinion:
I don't think animals are only for the rich. If somene is on the poor side, yet can still afford quality foods(not the worst type), fresh water, sutiable housing, and a toy or so(Animals don't need 100's, you can easily make 'cheap' toys yourself, too), and very importantly, have money for vet bills, I don't see a problem with owning them.
When people can't get the vet treatment, can't buy food and other supplies, I don't feel they should own them. The animals after all, would be the ones suffering.