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When I don't have a dog, I feel like I'm missing a limb.
I remember something my best friend once said - I had been in a rough spot and the possibility of having to find a home for my border collie had come up. I was distraught and my therapist at the time said since I had always had dogs, maybe I should use the opportunity of not having a dog to find out if I was a dog person or not. After all, she said, I didn't need a dog.
My best friend snorted when I recounted this to her. "You don't need your arm. Maybe you're not an arm person. Or your spleen - maybe you should get rid of that. Technically you can survive just fine without it."
Yeah, I could do without a dog. But it wouldn't feel right.
I was reading over some of this blogger's article about how costly it is to have a dog. He talks about more food and vet care, other minor expenses most don't think of.
I consider myself to be frugal and I adopted 2 large dogs, a cat and fosters kittens. I grew up with dogs and I never thought of owning them was optional or a privilege. My pets helped me deal with my anxiety and go through tough times, like when I found out my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Family and friends are great but dogs hold a special place in my heart.
As long as they are well cared for and thrive under your care, I personally think everyone should at least try to care for one to experience the priceless bond between man and dog.
What do you think?
All it takes is one critical incident to run up a large vet bill.
Anyone who does not have certain fiscal criteria met, is irresponsible to acquire pets, IMHO.
I was reading over some of this blogger's article about how costly it is to have a dog. He talks about more food and vet care, other minor expenses most don't think of.
I consider myself to be frugal and I adopted 2 large dogs, a cat and fosters kittens. I grew up with dogs and I never thought of owning them was optional or a privilege. My pets helped me deal with my anxiety and go through tough times, like when I found out my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Family and friends are great but dogs hold a special place in my heart.
As long as they are well cared for and thrive under your care, I personally think everyone should at least try to care for one to experience the priceless bond between man and dog.
What do you think?
Absolutely not. I think that's an awful idea. Some people are not cut out to be dog or pet owners. Either because they don't like animals (which is totally fine), don't have the time or cannot afford to properly care for them. I don't mean they have to be able to afford expensive food, toys or bedding but they have to be able to afford to feed them, provide shelter for them and provide any needed vet care and medicine.
While you sit there & save your money for What Might happen You are missing out on a Lot of love.
I agree with you. I worry about acquiring a lot of vet bills, but tell that to a shelter dog and I bet any one of them would choose to take their chances.
I read that blog, and I think he is just mouthing off. He lives in an area where people look askance at him because he has no dog (and doesn't want any), so he just feels the urge to shout back at them. I don't think anybody on this earth would claim that getting a dog is a moral duty, or whatever. He is using a straw man argument, claiming he is against something that nobody is in favor of.
At least he has a sister who is quite capable of taking up the gauntlet and argue in favor of dogs. But I have to say I like the comments from most of you guys the best!
Dogs are inconvenient for single people in apartments. I know some who pay a service to visit and walk their dogs. For this they are slaving away? Not to mention getting up at 5 am for a morning walk and a walk after work, there isn't time to do anything else.
If you have a house and a big family, a dog is convenient. They can run around and eat scraps from the kitchen. You might not have to walk the dog multiple times a day.
You definitely don't get rich spending all your money on your dog.
I was reading over some of this blogger's article about how costly it is to have a dog. He talks about more food and vet care, other minor expenses most don't think of.
I consider myself to be frugal and I adopted 2 large dogs, a cat and fosters kittens. I grew up with dogs and I never thought of owning them was optional or a privilege. My pets helped me deal with my anxiety and go through tough times, like when I found out my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Family and friends are great but dogs hold a special place in my heart.
As long as they are well cared for and thrive under your care, I personally think everyone should at least try to care for one to experience the priceless bond between man and dog.
What do you think?
Optional to some, but in our household they are a MUST have. . . Dogs rule, I wouldn't want it any other way. Unconditonal Love to the nth degree!
Optional to some, but in our household they are a MUST have. . . Dogs rule, I wouldn't want it any other way. Unconditonal Love to the nth degree!
I like the way you think
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