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Thank you phonelady for bringing up this topic. I am petless right now and I keep debating with myself about getting another. Not only am I concerned about who would care for a pet if I traveled, but also taking care of them when you are ill or immobile, even if that's temporary. My past few pets required fresh vegetables and it was always a pain to have to go out in bad weather to buy it. The same with live crickets and I can't stand stocking up on crickets. I've been thinking about a cat again, but concerned about the expense and the care requirements. At least, kitty can eat packaged and canned food. I don't want the responsibility of a dog.
I will only want a cat or two when I am older. Less maintenance. I will miss having a dog, but pet other people's. and even walk them. for a while I didn't have a dog and would tell neighbors with more than one to 'give me one' to walk, lol.
Thank you phonelady for bringing up this topic. I am petless right now and I keep debating with myself about getting another. Not only am I concerned about who would care for a pet if I traveled, but also taking care of them when you are ill or immobile, even if that's temporary. My past few pets required fresh vegetables and it was always a pain to have to go out in bad weather to buy it. The same with live crickets and I can't stand stocking up on crickets. I've been thinking about a cat again, but concerned about the expense and the care requirements. At least, kitty can eat packaged and canned food. I don't want the responsibility of a dog.
I would LOVE pets but can no longer afford them. The cost of vet bills is prohibitive even when the animal is healthy. If it gets sick there's no way I could pay.
Some foster programs will cover the food and vet bills. Just a thought. Puppies and kittens will generally get adopted pretty quickly, but "mature" animals not so much. I know someone who fosters quite a few dogs.
Thank you phonelady for bringing up this topic. I am petless right now and I keep debating with myself about getting another. Not only am I concerned about who would care for a pet if I traveled, but also taking care of them when you are ill or immobile, even if that's temporary. My past few pets required fresh vegetables and it was always a pain to have to go out in bad weather to buy it. The same with live crickets and I can't stand stocking up on crickets. I've been thinking about a cat again, but concerned about the expense and the care requirements. At least, kitty can eat packaged and canned food. I don't want the responsibility of a dog.
Why not foster? You get to love the pet and spend time with them but the rescue pays for everything! And you can do long term or short term. Lots of rescues will even deliver food and supplies to you!
I love pets and I am a big dog person. Right now I have a 17yo GSP, a 5yo Weimaraner, and a 2yo Doberman. All rescues. I love them but I know they do restrict my movements. Many times I have had to just stay home because it's hard to even find a pet sitter who is comfortable with 3 large dogs. And they do eat a lot! I have had to admit going forward there will be no more big dogs. The day will come when I can no longer hoist a 100lb dog into the back of the SUV to go to the vet. It's just not safe to have a dog you can't lift in an emergency.
My dogs are well trained and socialized. They are walked regularly and have great lives. When they are gone I will miss them especially since I have never found little ankle biters with the personality of my big guys. I imagine I will always have a pet. If I had unlimited funds, I would probably have a lot of them!
I hear ya! I'm on my 5th Doberman and also have a rescued Collie. Just lost my Pointer/Rottie mix at 14-yrs-old. Frankly, I wouldn't want to live without my dogs - ever. Never permitted to have them as a kid, and it was SUCH a desire of mine. That desire, once fulfilled, never faded - and never will.
I don't have the problem of getting kitty sitters when I go out of town. I've got several neighbors who are more than willing to step up because they like my cat. If they have pets, I return the favor.
It's the what happens if I die first thing that worries me. I've heard there are pet "retirement" homes where someone from a nice pet sanctuary will take a pet in perpetuity for a donation or mention in a will. Of course it's always better if you can find a friend or relative to take the pet in.
Well I know when these dogs go to the rainbow bridge , I don't want anymore pets . I would like to travel after I retire and you simply cannot travel with pets . I also don't want to leave a pet behind to have my family have to re home . Do any of you feel the same way ? I have already told my adult kids and my husband that these will be our last pets . two are elderly and probably have 5 yrs at the most , the youngest one is 4 which means she will be close to 14 or 15 when my husband wants to retire . So are there any of you already retired or close to retirement who feel the same ? I also want to note that I wish older people would think about it long and hard before they get a pet for company knowing that the pet might outlive them .
Here's the deal. I don't want a pet to outlive me or to be alive during a time when I am in a terrible decline and can no longer dispatch my responsibilities. There will come a time when having a pet becomes an extreme expression of selfishness and irresponsibility. One man's opinion, YMMV.
I hate to admit it, but I am getting more and more ready to be pet-less. I have 2 old boys age 14 and when they go, it might be the last.
I have always had trouble with animals peeing in the house, both cats and dogs. My loveable dog now has Cushings disease, drinks a ton of water and has many accidents lately. I just moved into a new house, bought all new drapes, and half of them have pee on them already. He is a sweetheart and I love him to death but this is getting expensive. Now he wears a belly band when I am not home.
And I had a cat who insisted on peeing on the dining room carpet no matter what I did. Ended up replacing the whole wall to wall carpeting. The cat had to take valium. I should have done the same.
The vet bills are enormous when you have a sick animal. There are NO inexpensive vets these days. So, as much as I really really love them, I hope I am done.
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