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This post really hit home. We lost our beautiful female English Mastiff last year at a young age of 5. We spent about $1,000 that we did not really have to spend trying to save her and finally putting her to sleep. Her burial fee was $400 alone. We still have her aging brother and worry about him as he is getting a bit slow now. Love our dogs to pieces but with the downturn in the economy and a lack of work in our profession, we are wondering how far we should go with a pet. The vets are very well trained today with all the new technology and tests available and they should command a high price for their education. But I think the future holds that only the rich will have pets.
You have my empathy on every point, except I disagree with you regarding the future. Even though growing up in the projects in LA, we were not allowed to have pets because of the cost, this rule was imposed by my parents. I still see many poor and homeless wandering the roads, with their only asset left, being a mangy (but loyal) dog. Although pets may not be as "pampered" in the future as they are today, some of us will never accept a world in which "only the rich will have pets".
You have my empathy on every point, except I disagree with you regarding the future. Even though growing up in the projects in LA, we were not allowed to have pets because of the cost, this rule was imposed by my parents. I still see many poor and homeless wandering the roads, with their only asset left, being a mangy (but loyal) dog. Although pets may not be as "pampered" in the future as they are today, some of us will never accept a world in which "only the rich will have pets".
I hope you are right and I hope there is not some governing agency that will vet people wanting a dog or a cat in the future. I can't imagine life without one.
I know people that have put a codicil in their wills about an amount of money comes with their pet(s) for someone to care for the pet(s).
Of course you have to make sure you trust the person/place does not take the pet and money, then has the pet put down.
We would consider such a codicil if necessary.
You can also contact your local animal shelter to see if they have any arrangements to take pets in should the owners predecease them.
The Oregon Humane Society for example, will take care of a pet for the rest of its life for a bequest in the pet owner's will.
They will try to rehome the pet if that is what the owner wishes or will find a place for it to live out its days. There are also places across the country that will do this. Many have really nice facilities for the pet to spend its final days.
I hope you are right and I hope there is not some governing agency that will vet people wanting a dog or a cat in the future. I can't imagine life without one.
Before they vet people wanting pets, they should vet people wanting children!
Before they vet people wanting pets, they should vet people wanting children!
Tried to rep you but I've got to spread it around. You've got to slow down these reputable comments!
Back on topic:
I've seen folks get really caught between the rock and hard places concerning medical care for their beloved pets. Medical care for pets (dogs in our case) can be a serious amount of cash.
My heart goes out to folks who are on short financial rations with pets, a serious medical issue with a pet can be very expensive.
Earlier this year, we had an issue with one of our dogs, seizures, which our regular vet then referred us to a specialist group for neurology. Spinal tap, etc. etc., total tab was north of $4K, plus ongoing meds. Not cheap or included in the budget.
Folks in retirement have to set some limits upfront or otherwise get seriously jammed going forward.
I've had many large dogs over the years and numerous pedigreed cats. I give them immunizations myself except for rabies vacine which requires administration by a vet. I've had three dogs get cancer in their old age. (spread out over a period of 30 years) The vet wanted to perform chemo on them and I said no. I had to draw the line. I watched for signs of pain but the dogs seem to handle the cancer pain free. We played catch, went for walks and spent as much time as possible together as the cancer took over. Each dog died naturally from the cancer with me comforting them.
One of my cats was a stray who used to visit the job site. He was a character! He got hit by a car one day and we took him to the vet. The bill was $3000.00! I took him home after the surgery and he lived with me for 15 years till he disapeared one day when he got outside into the yard. I spend a hundred and fifty a month on designer pet foods, anti-heartworm and flea treatments. My 9 year old German Shepherd got dermatitus. I took her to the vet and paid $150.00 for treatment. She still has the dermatitus! I've spent another $50.00 on over-the counter treatments for her skin condition. When she dies of old age, I'll be down to one dog and two cats. Pets are expensive!
Fairwinds... so true... I rescued 2 cats and they were actually litter siblings so very used to each other... the female normal.. the male very hyper... bought the pheromones that you plug in etc. still has an issue with things... I comfort him the best I can but cannot baby sit during the day since I have to work 40 hrs. a week to keep saving for retirement and to buy their special food... I love them so much and do try to get the males issues solved but without a psychoanalyst for cats... not sure what else to do but just love and support... expensive but wouldn't have it any other way..
Some time ago I started a thread on this very topic and we had this very same conversation. Our 10 1/2 year old Boxer had a seizure yesterday on top of or part of his heart problem. We know the end is near as the possible causes of the seizure are obviously not good and 10 1/2 is old for a Boxer. As I have said previously he has been very expensive and through last year was costing about 5K a year. He has been on prescription food for years and that is about $90.00 every six weeks etc. He spent the night at the State Univ Vet hospital and that along with blood test was $420.00. A full range of testing would be 3K and at this point we said no which they more than understand. My wife and I were discussing the topic of pets and cost while waiting for our dog to be discharged today and we realized that the State Vet Hospital with all its equipment and staff was probably self selected by those owners willing to pay. Many pets would never make it that far and yes clearly the pets owned by the more affluent get better care and other pets probably don't. For better or worse that is probably reality.
Retirees wanting a dog or cat...I just noticed on my local shelter's website that seniors can get a dog or cat who is over the age of 5 for free. The dog or cat is spayed/neutered, and has all its shots. Check it out at your local shelter. Age 5 is not really young for a pet, but it's not old by any means. The dogs of course will need walking several times per day (hopefully, unlike my friend who just pushes her dogs out in the back yard instead of walking them). Give a lonely pet a good home in 2012.
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Pets are expensive!
