Should pet owners that can not afford veterinary care be allowed to own pets?

B

Bread.

Gold Member
Should pet owners be able to own a pet regardless of their income or ability to afford costly veterinary care?

or

Should pet owners only be allowed to those who are well off financially.

The high income can argue that it is essential to prioritize the welfare of the pet. Some will say that pet healthcare "costs nothing" (insurance). But they likely aren't struggling to put food on the table.

The low income can argue that not everyone can afford that type of care and the pet would be better of in their "low income" home rather than on the streets.

As we all know there is more dogs/cats in the streets than there is homes for them. Hence why we have a society that either habilitates or puts down paws born to negligence.

At what point does negligence, malnutrition, population control, euthanasia, pain and suffering come into play?

These are the things we must debate!

Price Is Right GIF
 
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Bread. said:
Should pet owners be able to own a pet regardless of their income or ability to afford costly veterinary care?

or

Should pet owners only be allowed to those who are well off financially.

The high income can argue that it is essential to prioritize the welfare of the pet. Some will say that pet healthcare "costs nothing" (insurance). But they likely aren't struggling to put food on the table.

The low income can argue that not everyone can afford that type of care and the pet would be better of in their "low income" home rather than on the streets.

As we all know there is more dogs/cats in the streets than there is homes for them. Hence why we have a society that either habilitates or puts down paws born to negligence.

At what point does negligence, malnutrition, population control, pain and suffering come into play?

These are the things we must debate!

Price Is Right GIF
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if u can't afford to take care of ur pet when ur pet needs it, then no u shouldn't has a pet...

wat is there to debate about???
 
Where do these animals end up when they don't have homes/people to care for them?

Large portion end up Abused, Dead, or euthanized

Is there a financial quota one must meet to love and care for an animal?

Should a struggling homelessman who shares his food with his best friend not be able to own a pet when the alternative is his best friend being a stray?

Is there a financial quota to have it put down? Spayed or neutered?
 
It's not only about the financial side of it.
Well, some people go so far that they even remove dogs' vocal cords in order not to overbark.
Or as you said they castrate cats in order to prevent them from "spraying".
Not good.

My opinion on this matter is crystal clear.
I don't hate animals. I just think that they belong in nature.

Exemption:
I like only aquarium fish and I take good care of them as I have raised multiple offspring from the original batch.
I just give them away to friends when they reach the capacity limit.
 
I mean that sounds like straight up animal abuse not necessarily neglect.

Are you proposing poor people abuse animals because they can not afford proper care?

I realize not many pet owners are going to come forth and say hey I can't afford it but I still love and provide for my dog where I can. Because this community will ostracize them.
 
brightie said:
Exemption:
I like only aquarium fish and I take good care of them as I have raised multiple offspring from the original batch.
I just give them away to friends when they reach the capacity limit.
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I agree that fish are still pets and the same situation can apply but I think they are on a different spectrum. This because "stray fish" usually but not always thrive when released. Compared to dogs/cats etc it's kind of the opposite.. Though there are few examples like PETA lovers who do complain about dead fish at pet stores and such. For the most part I don't think people really care what happens to pet fish or that the problem is as pronounced as other pets.

But to relate to your example, pet fish are sometimes released onto bodies of waters and they wreak havoc on a ecosystem with native wildlife. Legislative bodies then allow the "euthanasia"(killing) of said fish. So there is relevance.


I realize fish, reptiles, insects and anything living can be a pet. I didn't state it on the opening post but perhaps we should limit the discussion the term "pet" to cats/dogs/farm animals etc. Stuff like that.

just to clarify, fish are indeed pets.
ps. What kind of fish u has
 
True... I just have a weak spot for fish in general They calm me and sometimes when I play my guitar they kind of like it and move/dance to the rhythm of it.
They will never say to me... Wow, your playing sucks bro.😂

...but yeah, captivity sucks.

At the moment I just have Guppies.
I used to keep cardinal neon, scalar fish( angel fish ) discus fish, and even some aquatic snails and beta fighters... but as time passed by I found out that I'm becoming lazy...so yeah, guppy is good and pretty colorful, and easy to maintain.
 
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I think there's enough volunteer free clinics out there.

In some ways I do wish people took pet ownership more seriously as an investment though. I used to volunteer at a shelter and the amount of abandoned animals was heartbreaking.
 
To be honest it really depends on the situation is. Some have fur baby pets for good reason. Some people can afford them some can't. I have seen some homeless people on the street with them. Some use pets for there mental health issues. Pets are very expensive sometimes. But I think everyone could have a pet if they want too. There is free help out there too and you can get free or cheap veterinary service for your pets. This is what I was told by somebody in real life.
 
Princessa said:
To be honest it really depends on the situation is. Some have fur baby pets for good reason. Some people can afford them some can't. I have seen some homeless people on the street with them. Some use pets for there mental health issues. Pets are very expensive sometimes. But I think everyone could have a pet if they want too. There is free help out there too and you can get free or cheap veterinary service for your pets. This is what I was told by somebody in real life.
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Some people have service 🐕‍🦺 dogs. So there!
 
Chaotica_x0x said:
I think there's enough volunteer free clinics out there.

In some ways I do wish people took pet ownership more seriously as an investment though. I used to volunteer at a shelter and the amount of abandoned animals was heartbreaking.
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I live in top 10 major city USA. I'm not a PETA lover but I have owned a pet. I have not heard of free clinics. Okay let me be clear. The clinics I know do exist are brick and mortar clinics. Usually offering care at a discount.

The ones I have heard are free are usually mobile RVs offering care. The problem with these is that they're only offered at certain times and there is usually some wait-list or lottery type system because theres not enough of them.

If you meant to type shelters instead of clinics then I could say about the same. I know volunteer shelters exist but they too are usually overcrowded.

Princessa said:
To be honest it really depends on the situation is. Some have fur baby pets for good reason. Some people can afford them some can't. I have seen some homeless people on the street with them. Some use pets for there mental health issues. Pets are very expensive sometimes. But I think everyone could have a pet if they want too. There is free help out there too and you can get free or cheap veterinary service for your pets. This is what I was told by somebody in real life.
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I have seen homeless people feed their dogs first because they care about them more. I know they don't receive the best care in the world but if they can live happily I think that's a better alternative than being a stray or ending up in a pound til they grow old or have to be put down.

Even the "cheap" vetcare is not cheap though. Services for those clinics are almost always several hundred dollars.
 
That fact this planet requires money to treat animals is disgusting. Insurance is a scam.

Cost me £687 last year to get Alfie’s tooth fixed. They took out the wrong one on the wrong side.

Vets are supposed to love animals- as soon as they’re dead out they come with the chip and pin. I know where that machine would be launched if that was my pet.

Also depends on situation. Can’t imagine what it’s be like to be a child with a puppy then through no fault of their own LIFE dealt them a shitty hand and could no longer afford the pet. That’s sad.

Also I’d rather give up the child- they won’t get out down the pet would.
 
Luka said:
That fact this planet requires money to treat animals is disgusting. Insurance is a scam.

Cost me £687 last year to get Alfie’s tooth fixed. They took out the wrong one on the wrong side.

Vets are supposed to love animals- as soon as they’re dead out they come with the chip and pin. I know where that machine would be launched if that was my pet.

Also depends on situation. Can’t imagine what it’s be like to be a child with a puppy then through no fault of their own LIFE dealt them a shitty hand and could no longer afford the pet. That’s sad.

Also I’d rather give up the child- they won’t get out down the pet would.
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we have no kill shelters here. they dont put down because, they help quite a bit with at cost/low cost with proof vaccines and prevention as well as assistance to keep your pet in your home with food/ supply give away's and so forth.

i had my dogs teeth done 2 years ago it cost me $900. they took out 11 teeth. this was after i noticed one of her teeth were loose.

my vet and most the vets here lay out their euthanasia costs. one of the best things about almost all of them, is, its the only procedure they bill with 30 day payment frame . idk if i could be functional to do anything after.

my dog was born with addisions disease. i did not know about it, nor did it show signs until she was already almost 2 yrs old. the glands on top of the kidneys responsible for producing cortisol dont work. vet visit testing and diagnosis of this was well over $3000. and i put that on a credit card, so at the time i didnt have the money, but as a human and morally i couldnt leave her like she was so testing and the vet visit was necessary, does that mean i have no right to own my dog? she ended up being ok, she is on a daily med and has to get an injection of meds every 28 days. i see the vet 2 towns over every month. sometimes more if her levels are off. it requires more attentiveness than most people would give to a dog. it requires planning and time. i make it work and budget it in and have for 9 years. i dont have pet insurance. i have a no penalty savings account that i put monthly payments equal to what i would pay for insurance plus some. i can see where people who dont have the budget would choose other options. but that doesnt mean they should have never gotten the dog.

a pet is a commitment of their lifetime(span) you should go into a decision to own a pet based on many factors including monetary, but i see no problem with people or places lending a helping hand to get through a low spot. and just because they cant afford some purina or frontline one month does not make them unfit to own a pet.
 
There are so many low income families that have animals that can’t afford animals. I’m on the fence about it definitely.
My sis in law is a vet tech and she tells us all the time about how people come in that can’t afford their bill and the owners will surrender their animals because they can’t afford the bill. My mom in law and sister in law own some of the dogs that have been surrendered. My sis in law will literally just pay for the bill herself and take the animal home.

That’s why I’m on the fence about it because some people who can’t afford the bill will give up their animal so it can get help. 🤷‍♀️

Growing up poor myself I have had animals that my dad and I could have never been able to afford vet care for and fortunately for us we never had to get vet care for the animals. I do think animals need a check up every year or every couple of years to make sure things are fine though.
 
with the cost of vet bills you don't even really have to be "poor" to not be able to afford it if your pet is seriously injured or ill. there should be more government or privately funded clinics set up so animals can be taken care of regardless of whether their owners can afford it. i'll gladly pay more money in taxes if my money was going to something like this....instead of wherever the **** it's going. #vetcareforall #animalsocialist
 
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