Will you spend whatever it takes on a pet?

[Pea-n-Me]

I'll tell you why we spent about $8K on our dog. He was very sick and we were able to do it.

It's a lucky thing we WERE able to because we would have had a bunch of court fees battling the animal shelter we adopted him from. We couldn't hold up our end of the contract(getting him neutered and immunized) until his health issues were resolved, and the shelter took us to court.

We didn't know when we adopted him that he had Kennel cough, ANOTHER type of upper respiratory infection, double ear infections and a bad heart(deformed, Grade V murmer). We had 30 days to get him fixed, microchipped and immunized. Yeah that didn't happen. It took us almost six months to get all of his issues resolved(except the heart obviously) before the vet would do the surgery. We had to bring multiple papers back and forth to the courthouse to prove why the vet wouldn't do it... It was a mess.

We thought about giving him back(the shelter gave us that option) but how could we? He obviously wasn't getting the care he needed there.

Would I have rather spent that money elsewhere? YES! Could I have done something for my children with that money? Yes... But he needed it more at that point. And he shows his love and appreciation every day.
View attachment 216363

........Except when he can see the bottom of his bowl and thinks he's starving.

Wow! Sending you a big virtual for that! Poor guy, good thing he came to you!

We spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $5K when our schnauzer went into what wasn't diagnosed at the time as anaphylactic shock. I had him out for a walk and he jumped as if something bit him. Got him back to the house and he literally dropped dead on the floor. DW and I rushed him to the vet where they were able to resuscitate him, gave him a blood transfusion, and all over a holiday weekend ($$$).

He is still with us 8 years later but never has been the same since. He shakes every once in a while, used to love people and other dogs and now he avoids them like the plague. I suppose as long as he tolerates us that is what counts right?

You too!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would never jeopardize my family's financial welfare, to pay a pet's medical bills.

I'm not talking giving up vacations here. Sure, I'd give up a vacation or a new toy or any kind of luxury for a pet. What I'm talking about is when people say they'd "do whatever it takes". No, I won't "do whatever it takes". I won't go into bankruptcy. I won't sell the family home. I won't cash in my kids' educational savings.

I love my pets. They see a vet regularly. They have all their shots and any medication they need. I will go above and beyond for them (in the case of nursing the cat with kidney disease, that meant giving her subcutaneous fluids myself, making her a mix tape to keep her happy at night, sitting up with her near the end, and even using diapers for a little while). But they are not my children. They are not my husband. I think it would be VERY irresponsible of me to put their welfare before that of my husband and kids. Heck, to me it'd feel immoral.

I would, of course, sell the house and empty our bank accounts to save my critically ill child. Just not a pet, or even someone else's child, for that matter.

There's no way to answer the question of "would you pay x amount for a pet's medical bills". I think we should pay what we can afford, and that number's going to be different for everyone. I won't judge anyone for spending thousands on their pet, because at the end of the day, it's their money to spend.

That said, if you can't afford routine veterinary care, you shouldn't get a pet. Pets are expensive, even when they're perfectly healthy.

I can totally understand that comment. But with so many pets languishing in shelters and being put down every year, I'm a little more open minded about making such blanket statements.

I do not waver on the need to spay and neuter though.

At least in our local shelter, the animal will get basic veterinary care. I've known people who've taken on pets they can't afford, and when they do that they're really gambling with that pet's welfare. There was a cat I knew who died in agony due to a twisted/blocked intestine, because the family couldn't afford to take him to a vet, didn't want to surrender him to a shelter, and decided to just cross their fingers and hope he got better on his own.

It was not kind or humane. No creature deserves to die like that. A shelter would have put him down and saved him a lot of agony.

While I recognize that fortunes change, I feel very strongly that it's highly irresponsible to take on the responsibility of a pet (or even a child, for that matter), knowing ahead of time that you cannot provide for them.

Besides, if you want to help save animals and can't afford the long term costs of owning one, you can still volunteer at the shelter or foster animals in your home. That would be the more ethical approach, by far.

At our local shelter, pets are put down routinely. Lots of them. I guess I'd just rather see some pets have a chance at a decent life than the 100% chance of being put down if they are left at the shelter too long.

And treating a twisted/blocked intestine is not what I consider "routine care". Nobody would defend not treating that.

I think, again (I know I sometimes harp on this type of point ) there can be middle ground between two extremes. It's true our shelters are horribly overcrowded and millions of unwanted animals die needlessly in them every year. It also is true that pets should get medical care. (I know it varies by state, but her in MA it's required that all animals receive food, shelter and medical care; not sure about other states but when we've discussed this before, I recall there being some states where it's not required.) Vaccinations in MA are a minimum requirement. Spay and neuter are NOT required (anywhere that I am aware of, because laws like that would "trample" on the rights of people to breed them, which is probably material for another thread). Sometimes issues are pretty clear - with cancer, say. It's ok to choose not to do a surgery and euthanize, but it's not ok to leave the animal to languish in pain and suffering, with things like gangrene and what not. If it gets extreme, one can be prosecuted (here).

Less clear are "optional" medical treatments. Let's take the twisted bowel mentioned above. Without a vet's diagnosis, one might not know what the problem is. Animals can't tell us what they're feeling so owners need to be in cue to notice subtle signs that something's wrong, and let's face it, some owners aren't in cue at all, and others may be in cue but don't recognize the problem is as serious as it is - animals seem to sometimes tolerate more pain than humans do. Death, also, may come relatively quickly in that situation so there may not be a lot of languishing going on. But then we have the people who recognize something is wrong, but don't care, and choose not to do anything about it. So circumstances can differ. And as we've seen on this thread, everyone sees it differently. I am not sure about the idea of people taking pets that can't care for them properly just to empty out the shelters. I think a better approach might be education, and perhaps legislation, on conditions for adopting a pet (which there seem to be in many places. ETA Soldier's Sweetie's case highlights how rigid some of these shelter have become, which, again, is probably for another thread).

I guess the bottom line is that reasonable approaches to care for animals fall into a broad category, and as long as basics are met, then that should be fine for most animals. It is extremely sad to see, though, some of the things that are happening with pets who aren't cared for properly. Love and kindness can't be legislated. And I'll just leave it at that.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Oops, I forgot to include a point I wanted to make about lots of assistance being available to those who may need help getting medical care and other things like food, for their pets. Just an example from one of the first sites I pulled up, includes both MA and national resources. Here there is little excuse not to care for your pet properly.

http://massanimalcoalition.com/resources/pet-owners/

Pet Owners
If you are struggling to keep your pet, know that you have options before surrendering him or her. Here is a list of organizations that provide financial assistance for pet owners in need. Each organization has its own rules and guidelines, so explore their websites.

Vaccinations
Massachusetts law requires all cats, dogs and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources works with several nonprofit animal welfare groups to offer low-cost rabies vaccination clinics in cities and towns throughout the state.
http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/agr/animal-health/rabies-control-program/rabies-clinics.html. Most clinics charge from $5 to $15 for the rabies vaccination. Micro chipping, licenses, and other services are available at some clinics.

LuvMyPet also offers low-cost vaccinations for pets at PETCO stores all over the state. http://www.luvmypet.com/

–See also below under Veterinary Care

Spay/Neuter
See the MAC page: http://massanimalcoalition.com/resources/spayneuter/

Veterinary Care
Massachusetts-based resources
Captain Courageous Fund (CCF) – MRFRS
The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society’s Captain Courageous fund offers assistance to caretakers of seriously injured feral and stray cats and to Good Samaritans who assist injured cats out of their own pockets.
Website: Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society Veterinary Assistance
Phone: 978-462-0760
Service Area: Massachusetts and contiguous border areas
How to apply: Email ferals@mrfrs.org

Feline Assistance, Resources and Support (FARS) Program – MRFRS
The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society’s FARS program enables cat owners currently facing financial hardships to keep pets who would otherwise be surrendered to a shelter or euthanized due to the owners’ inability to afford general vet care, food/litter, or treatment for illness/injury.
Website: Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society Veterinary Assistance
Phone: 978-462-0760
Service Area: Massachusetts and contiguous border areas
How to apply: Apply Online or email fars@mrfrs.org for an application

Merwin Memorial Free Clinic for Animals, Inc.
The Merwin Memorial Free Clinic provides free office visits and free outpatient veterinary services including physical exams, vaccinations, nail-cutting, and free medications for sick animals. The clinic does not schedule appointments. Service is first-come, first-served.
Web site: Merwin Memorial Free Clinic for Animals
Phone: 617-782-5420
Service area: Boston area
Location: 542 Cambridge St., Allston, MA 02134
Hours: Hours of Operation (first-come, first-served; arrive at least one hour before closing)

Metro Action Clinic/Alliance for Animals
The Metro Action Clinic provides affordable veterinary medical services to inner-city pet owners.
Web site: Metro Action Clinic: Medical Services and Fees
Phone: 617-268-7800
Service area: Boston inner city
How to apply: Call the Alliance for Animals at 617-268-7800 or use their online Contact Form

Pet Care Assistance – MSPCA-Angell
MSPCA-Angell Pet Care Assistance helps pet owners with limited incomes pay for medical care for their sick or injured pets at MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Centers.
Web site: Pet Care Assistance
Phone: 617-541-5028 or -5030
Service area: animals treated at MSPCA-Angell Boston or Angell-West (Waltham)
How to apply: Call the MSPCA-Angell Financial Office at 617-541-5028 or 5030

Phinney’s Friends
Phinney’s Friends helps low-income pet owners in the Boston area who have disabling illnesses or other hardships. Phinney’s Friends provides vet vouchers for medical care, as well dog walking, daily pet care (grooming, litter box changing, nail clipping), emergency pet food, and pet foster care.
Web site: Phinney’s Friends
Phone: 617-979-8705
Service area: Boston area
How to apply: Call Phinney’s Friends at 617-979-8705 or use their Contact Form

Sampson Fund for Veterinary Care
The Sampson Fund helps pay for medical care for critically ill or injured cats and dogs when their owners cannot afford the cost of treatment.
Web site: Sampson Fund
Phone: 508-240-7387
Service area: Cape Cod and the Islands
How to apply: Call the Sampson Fund at 508-240-7387 or apply at a Member Hospital

Smokey’s Fund – South Shore Humane Society
Smokey’s Fund helps South Shore residents who need emergency medical care for their pet and have true financial need.
Web site: South Shore Humane Society Programs (click on Smokey’s Fund)
Phone: 781-843-5838
Service area: Abington, Braintree, Hanover, Hingham, Hanson, Holbrook, Hull, Norwell, Milton, Randolph, Rockland, Stoughton, Whitman, Quincy and Weymouth
How to apply: Call or e-mail the Pet Medical Assistance volunteer listed on the Contact Us page

Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic
Tufts Veterinary School, together with the veterinary assistant program at Worcester Technical High School (WTHS), runs a low-cost primary care pet clinic at WTHS on Skyline Drive in Worcester, MA. Clinic services include vaccinations, checkups, stable urgent care, simple surgeries, diagnostics, and dentistry, all at low cost.
The clinic serves pet owners in the Greater Worcester area who cannot afford to pay for medical care for their pets. To qualify, you must have an ID card from WIC, SNAP, the Worcester Housing Authority or another qualified Housing Authority, or a student ID from WTHS, as well as photo identification. See Tufts at Tech Financial Policies for more information.
Web site: Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic
Telephone, hours, and directions: Contact Tufts at Tech
Appointments: Tufts at Tech Appointments

Angell at Nashoba
Services: Vaccines, wellness visits, sick visits, surgery, spay/neuter
Qualification: Photo ID and one of the following:
-Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program card
-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) card (formerly known as Food Stamps/EBT card)
-Spay and Neuter Assistance Program certificate
-Letter/lease from the owner’s local housing authority showing that the owner is a participant in public housing
Web site: Angell at Nashoba (Westford, MA)
Phone: 978-577-5992

Fairy DogParents
Assistance with food, medical needs and general wellness for dogs
www.fairydogparents.org

Lillys’ Fund (grants of $250 for pit bull-related needs)
http://lillytheheropitbull.com/pit-bull-resources/pit-bull-grants/

National programs (grant programs)
IMOM wants to better the lives of sick, injured and abused companion animals. Fights for the lives of companion animals who are at risk of being euthanized because their caretakers are financially challenged. www.IMOM.org

The Pet Fund provides financial assistance to pet owners who cannot afford expensive surgery or medical treatment that their pets need. Assists in covering medical costs beyond the normal expenses of vaccination, spay and neuter surgeries, food and routine veterinary care. www.thepetfund.com

United Animal Nations LifeLine Fund (now Red Rover) helps pet owners care for their animals in life-threatening situations. http://www.redrover.org/redrover-relief-grants and and domestic violence: http://www.redrover.org/redrover-relief-domestic-violence-resources

Brown Dog Foundation offers pet owners in temporary financial crisis an alternative when their pets face a treatable but life-threatening condition or illness. http://www.browndogfoundation.org/
Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance provides financial assistance to cat guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes. http://www.fveap.org/

Cats in Crisis helps cat owners care for cats with chronic or emergency medical conditions through financial and fundraising assistance. http://www.catsincrisis.org/

Canine Cancer Awareness raises awareness of the prevalence of canine cancer, its effects and treatment options. Helps dog owners pay for veterinary care for dogs with cancer. http://caninecancerawareness.org

Cody’s Club provides financial support for dogs who need radiation treatment. Offers emotional support through a hotline and in-person group that meets monthly. http://www.dogdoggiedog.com/pwcAcodysclub.htm

Diabetic Pets Fund offers financial help to assist the companion animals of those in financial difficulties. (Not accepting applications at this time). http://www.petdiabetes.net/fund/

The Mosby Foundation assists in the care of sick, injured, abused and neglected dogs through financial support and public education. www.themosbyfoundation.org

Magic Bullet Fund provides financial assistance for canine cancer treatment when the family is financially unable to provide treatment. www.themagicbulletfund.org

God’s Creatures Ministry Veterinarian Charity Fund spreads God’s compassion to all animals God has made according to the scriptures. Helps with up to $50.00 toward vet bills. www.all-creatures.org

Angels4Animals: http://www.angels4animals.org/

The Big Hearts Fund (financial assistance for the diagnosis and treatment of canine and feline heart disease). www.bigheartsfund.org

The Binky Foundation: www.binkyfoundation.org

The Dog & Cat Cancer Fund: www.dccfund.org

The Onyx & Breezy Foundation: www.onyxandbreezy.org

Paws 4 A Cure: www.paws4acure.org

Pets of the Homeless (pet food and veterinary care assistance for homeless): www.petsofthehomeless.org

Rose’s Fund: www.rosesfund.org

Top Dog Foundation “Bentley Grant”: www.topdogfoundation.org

Pet Food
The Pet Food Stamps program, a nonprofit organization, provides free home delivery of pet food and supplies to low income pet owners. The program fills a void in the SNAP food stamps program, which excludes the purchase of pet food, so that low income pet owners can afford to keep their pets. You can apply for Pet Food Stamps online at Pet Food Stamps Sign-Up. www.petfoodstamps.org

Many Massachusetts food pantries and animal welfare groups offer free pet food to pet owners in need. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) maintains a list of pet food pantries by region. MSPCA pet food pantry statewide list: http://www.mspca.org/programs/animal-protection-legislation/massachusetts-food-pantries.html
In addition, other local food pantries may have pet food available or may be able to provide it if you ask.

In some Massachusetts communities, Meals on Wheels partners with local animal welfare groups to provide pet food to homebound Meals on Wheels pet owners. If you receive Meals on Wheels and need pet food for your dog or cat, ask your meal delivery driver if Meals on Wheels pet food is available in your area. For more information about Meals on Wheels pet food, see We All Love Our Pets (WALOP) and Dakin Wheels on Meals Partnerships.

Southborough Pet food Pantry:
508-485-2147
http://www.southboroughfoodpantry.org/petfood.html

MetroWest Pet Food Pantry: http://www.metrowestpetpantry.org/

Pet Food Bank: www.petco.com

Central MA Kibble Kitchen: www.facebook.com/CentralMAKibbleKitchen. The Central MA Kibble Kitchen is a volunteer animal surrender prevention program in Central Massachusetts, dedicated to keeping pets at home and out of shelters. Our Mission is to keep pet-owners suffering from economic crisis from relinquishing their pets by providing free pet food and supplies until the pet-owner is once again able to afford to care for their pet.

The Mary Hooper Elder Pet Care Program (HELP) provides assistance to deserving senior individuals or households so they may keep and properly care for their beloved companion animals. The program supplies free pet food for cats and dogs.
At this time, the pilot program is for residents of Cohasset, Scituate, Hingham, Norwell and Hull 65 years of age and older, who are enrolled in one of the following qualifying programs: South Shore Elder Services, Old Colony Elder Services, Meals on Wheels, Senior Housing, MassHealth (Medicaid). Cohasset, Scituate, Hingham, Norwell and Hull seniors may also qualify for HELP services in other certain situations including unanticipated financial hardship, disability or high unreimbursed healthcare costs due to chronic illness. The Mary Hooper Elder Pet Care Program is sponsored by the Social Service League of Cohasset on behalf of Cohasset resident Mary Hooper, who had a passion for the elderly and for animals in the early 1900’s. A team of volunteers at the Scituate Animal Shelter organizes and executes the Program. For further information, call (781) 561-7994 or via email at hooperpets@hotmail.com

Berkshire Humane Society
214 Baker Rd.
Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201
413-447-7878
http://Berkshirehumane.org/pet-food-b

Ginny’s Thrift Shop and Food Pantry
52 Mechanic St.
Leominster, Massachusetts 01453
888-530-6779

Lighthouse Outreach Center – Feed My Sheep Food Pantry
65 Middle St.
Fall River, Massachusetts 02723
774-644-7142

Pet Partners of the Tri State
West Stockbridge, Massachusetts 01266
518-781-0362
http://www.petpartnersberkshires.org

The Pet Pantry
PO Box 333- Last Saturday of every month at the Coyle and Cassidy High School
Easton, Massachusetts 02334
http://helpfeedpets.org/

Keeping Pets Safe in Cars
This wesbite features a wealth of great information – http://www.fullcoverageautoinsurances.com/safe-driving-with-dogs/

Other Resources
Other groups that keeps lists of resources (may be duplicative):

Kane’s Krusade/Greater Springfield Area: We are a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit improving the quality of life of dogs in the Greater Springfield MA area and creating awareness about Misunderstood dogs. A Misunderstood dog is any dog that is labeled or judged based solely on appearance, not behavior. Through a partnership with Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center, we distribute C.A.R.E. Kits (Canine Assistance, Resources and Education) with our C.A.R.E. Krew volunteers. Helping families care for their dogs in difficult financial times keeps loved dogs in their homes, out of shelters and off the streets. any people are struggling in these challenging economic times. When people struggle, their pets often struggle. Kane’s Krusade C.A.R.E. Kits are designed to help keep loved dogs in their homes and out of shelters by providing Canine Assistance, Resources and Education. A typical starter C.A.R.E. Kit includes a leash, collar, name tag, food, toys, and treats. We advocate for dogs to live inside with their family, but in situations where dogs must be outside, we are building dog houses. For hot summer months, we can also provide shade tarps and kiddie pools. We can also provide spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchips and have a small medical fund for minor health issues. http://www.kaneskrusade.org

Massresources.org/pet-care-assistance

The Humane Society of the United States has a list of national organizations that may be able to help you: Pet Financial Aid Organizations.

Here is a blog on how to save money on Pet Care: http://beyondbreed.com/saving-money-on-pet-care/

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Our dogs have health insurance so we avoid the bulk of this issue. They are little accidents waiting to happen and it has been very worthwhile. My dogs ARE my children, and I'd do just about anything for them.

 

[Magpie]

At our local shelter, pets are put down routinely. Lots of them. I guess I'd just rather see some pets have a chance at a decent life than the 100% chance of being put down if they are left at the shelter too long.

And treating a twisted/blocked intestine is not what I consider "routine care". Nobody would defend not treating that.

Sorry your shelter is a kill shelter. As it is, I'd still rather donate time and/or money to something involving animals, than take on an animal I can't provide care for. Too many good hearted, well meaning people get in trouble when the care their animals require outstrips their ability to provide for them. (I'm thinking of cat hoarders, for example, who typically adore their animals.)

Keep in mind, I'm not saying that low income people are terrible for taking in pets, or that they shouldn't have them. Circumstances will vary. Perhaps the animal is a stray you were feeding from your back porch, who's now moved into your home. Perhaps it's a human-habituated wild animal (such as a squirrel or chipmunk). Perhaps you got a kitten from a friend, and keep it indoors all the time, and are willing to surrender it to the Humane Society if it becomes severely ill. Or you have researched and signed up with alternatives such as the Farley Foundation in Ontario, Canada, who will pay for surgeries that will save the life of an otherwise healthy pet of low income people.

Short lived animals (such as rats, whose lifespan is a mere 2 or 3 years) are a good less-expensive option (but you still need to budget for them: https://lilspazrats.wikispaces.com/Cost+of+Keeping+A+Rat)

The point is, pets don't just exist for our snuggling pleasure. They are a responsibility.

 

[mom2rtk]

The point is, pets don't just exist for our snuggling pleasure. They are a responsibility.

Of course I don't disagree with that one bit. I think we just disagree on the minimum financial commitment required. I think the higher you set the bar, the fewer loving homes will be available. And the more pets will have to be put down. Even if someone can't afford expensive surgery, I'd like to hope they would take their pet to the vet when something comes up.

I just think a lot of people forget, or live in denial of the fact that there are so many more pets out there than there are loving homes for them. That's why we will never buy a pet from a breeder. Through the years we have adopted a number of pets from the shelter, taken in a couple of strays, and taken one from an irresponsible family member ready to surrender hers to a shelter. When the vet told us a couple years ago not to adopt from the shelter at that particular time because of a feline respiratory virus making the rounds, we drove outside of town to pick up a stray kitten listed on Craig's list instead.

We can't afford expensive expensive treatments on our pets. We've closed in on $1K each on a couple of cats through the years, but much more than that and we would likely have let them go and adopted a new one to fill the hole in our hearts.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I was thinking about something in terms of having pet insurance. I wonder if people are really discriminating when it comes to surgeries and procedures and such with their pets if they know they're going to be paid for by insurance? I wonder if there have been any studies done on something like this. Will have to look around at some point, curious now.

 

[Magpie]

Of course I don't disagree with that one bit. I think we just disagree on the minimum financial commitment required. I think the higher you set the bar, the fewer loving homes will be available. And the more pets will have to be put down. Even if someone can't afford expensive surgery, I'd like to hope they would take their pet to the vet when something comes up.

I just think a lot of people forget, or live in denial of the fact that there are so many more pets out there than there are loving homes for them. That's why we will never buy a pet from a breeder. Through the years we have adopted a number of pets from the shelter, taken in a couple of strays, and taken one from an irresponsible family member ready to surrender hers to a shelter. When the vet told us a couple years ago not to adopt from the shelter at that particular time because of a feline respiratory virus making the rounds, we drove outside of town to pick up a stray kitten listed on Craig's list instead.

We can't afford expensive expensive treatments on our pets. We've closed in on $1K each on a couple of cats through the years, but much more than that and we would likely have let them go and adopted a new one to fill the hole in our hearts.

Far too many people do not take their pets to the vet when something comes up.

For the record, I don't consider "basic medical care" to include expensive surgery or unusual treatments. I'm talking about spaying, neutering, yearly visits, vaccinations, worming, ear infections, mites, urinary tract infections, accidental injury... a standard level of care. This is a pretty good breakdown, including some tips to cut costs: https://www.moneyunder30.com/the-true-cost-of-pet-ownership

 

[DawnM]

I think, again (I know I sometimes harp on this type of point ) there can be middle ground between two extremes. It's true our shelters are horribly overcrowded and millions of unwanted animals die needlessly in them every year. It also is true that pets should get medical care. (I know it varies by state, but her in MA it's required that all animals receive food, shelter and medical care; not sure about other states but when we've discussed this before, I recall there being some states where it's not required.) Vaccinations in MA are a minimum requirement. Spay and neuter are NOT required (anywhere that I am aware of, because laws like that would "trample" on the rights of people to breed them, which is probably material for another thread). Sometimes issues are pretty clear - with cancer, say. It's ok to choose not to do a surgery and euthanize, but it's not ok to leave the animal to languish in pain and suffering, with things like gangrene and what not. If it gets extreme, one can be prosecuted (here).

Less clear are "optional" medical treatments. Let's take the twisted bowel mentioned above. Without a vet's diagnosis, one might not know what the problem is. Animals can't tell us what they're feeling so owners need to be in cue to notice subtle signs that something's wrong, and let's face it, some owners aren't in cue at all, and others may be in cue but don't recognize the problem is as serious as it is - animals seem to sometimes tolerate more pain than humans do. Death, also, may come relatively quickly in that situation so there may not be a lot of languishing going on. But then we have the people who recognize something is wrong, but don't care, and choose not to do anything about it. So circumstances can differ. And as we've seen on this thread, everyone sees it differently. I am not sure about the idea of people taking pets that can't care for them properly just to empty out the shelters. I think a better approach might be education, and perhaps legislation, on conditions for adopting a pet (which there seem to be in many places. ETA Soldier's Sweetie's case highlights how rigid some of these shelter have become, which, again, is probably for another thread).

I guess the bottom line is that reasonable approaches to care for animals fall into a broad category, and as long as basics are met, then that should be fine for most animals. It is extremely sad to see, though, some of the things that are happening with pets who aren't cared for properly. Love and kindness can't be legislated. And I'll just leave it at that.

We don't know exactly what killed our last dog. She was in a lot of pain for about 24 hours one weekend. We called the Vet and she said to monitor her for the remainder of the weekend and since she wasn't eating, we should give her rice and chicken broth. Well, she ate that and completely perked up! So we thought she was good. Then about 3 days later I found her dead in her favorite sleeping spot. I assume she died in her sleep.

 

[Lulubelle17]

I'm wondering if she spent that much over the life of the pets, probably with a few spaced-out over time procedures. I have an English Mastiff, and we all know that big dogs come with big bills. I purchased insurance on her and pay about $60/month with a $500 deductible and a 90% coverage, and that is just for big emergencies. That said, if I had to spend $15,000 for one single procedure I would most likely choose to put the dog down. However if you consider the monthly expenses for heartworm and flea prevention, I will probably spend that much over her life span.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

^ Good points.

Children cost around $250,000+ each now, not including college. $12K seems like a bargain in comparison, lol.

 

[disykat]

I will pay money as needed, but I also will draw a line. When my elderly dog was in extreme pain that the painkillers they were giving her couldn't control, I was given the option of driving her two hours for $1000 worth of tests to see if she had cancer that might be treatable with chemo or putting her out of her pain immediately. I chose putting her out of her pain. I felt like I made the responsible choice. We loved our dog and did our best for her. No one can tell me differently.

 

[MinnieMouse84]

Absolutely. The only exception would be if she were terminally ill and suffering, in which case I'd let her go.

 

[Diznygrl]

Well, we spent an exorbitant amount of money trying to treat our cat's mystery illness. He was only 10 years old at the time and was completely active and normal until a week after he had his routine vaccinations. We took him in for a teeth cleaning and when they checked his blood they said he was severely anemic on the brink of death and needed to be whisked away to a bigger vet office to have an emergency blood transfusion. There were many tests done over the course of months including a bone marrow biopsy to try and figure out why his red blood cell count was so low and wouldn't stay up, but everything came back normal. No signs of cancer, nothing.

Now I loved that little rascal with every fiber of my being so it really didn't feel right at all to just give up on him when we didn't even know WTH was wrong with him. He would show signs of improvement with medication but then he would go for another blood test and it was down again. So yes, he did have multiple blood transfusions, surgeries, and medications over the course of 8 months. Toward the end(which of course we didn't know was the end) he had to have another oral surgery because his immune system was so suppressed at that point he had an infected (non-cancerous) growth on his gums that needed to be removed. He never really bounced back after that surgery though and within a couple of weeks he just died one morning, in my arms.

If there had been a definitive diagnosis (i.e cancer with a dismal prognosis), then we would have foregone chemo and just kept him as comfortable as possible during his last days. We did that with a previous cat. But it was the NOT KNOWING that kept us trying to make him better. With every step we thought maybe THIS will be the answer. We had to try. He died in September and I don't think I'll ever get over the nagging feeling of not knowing the real reason why he got sick and died and if there was something else that could have been done if only we knew what was causing it.

 

[si-am]

For me, it depends on the prognosis and quality of life after treatment. I guess age comes into play, too. I'd be willing to spend thousands on a young pet with a good prognosis, but not so willing for a 15 year old pet with an iffy prognosis. Being a pet owner is hard!!

We had our 13 year old cat put down last year when his diabetes got out of control and he stopped eating. I loved him so much-- but we couldn't justify spending so much money and putting him through so much just to keep him alive, either, when his quality of life wasn't that great to begin with. Prior to his final illness, he was doing okay with twice daily insulin injections, but he wasn't the healthiest or happiest cat I've ever seen, either. :-(. At the end, we felt the kindest thing to do was to let him go. It was more an emotional than a financially driven decision, though.

 

[North of Mouse]

No! Cannot stand to see pets suffering just because humans don't want to let them go peacefully. Know one personally now.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dogs are twelve and while I love them, I am not going to spend something other than reg. care, like meds, exams, blood work, etc.

If I had a young dog and it needed some treatment/surgery that would extend life, I would consider it.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I did. I spent alot of money on my dog when she got lymphoma for chemotherapy. I was told by 2 vets that it would help her and extend her life another year or two.
Add in someone I know who did it with their dog and had a positive outcome and I was all in.

In the end it didn't add more time to her life - she was nearing the end of the chemotherapy and had a seizure at home and passed away. At least the chemo didn't scare her - she would be wagging her tail and smiling her doggy smile at everyone while having it and she was her normal happy self at home.

One of our cats has diabetes and gets insulin shots twice a day and spends a day at the vets every 6 months to confirm that he's getting the correct amount of insulin. He's the really laid back cat and just saying his name gets him purring away.
I think that's the most I'd ever do for a pet though - definitely wouldn't go through something as stressful (for me anyway) as pet chemo again.

 

[Duchie]

I'm sort of in the middle on this. I always say that it's just a dog/cat, but when I'm there in the vet's office I almost feel guilty about not wanting to do treatment. The thing is that most of the time, all of the tests and xrays always seem to be so inconclusive - we can try this, or try that, and it may work, but in the end there's always this huge big expensive test to know for sure. At least, that's how it's been on the last 3 or 4 we've had.

It's heartbreaking to have to make that call. Which is why when the pets we have right now are gone, I think I'm ready for a pet break for a while.

 

[sweetpeama]

Considering that I was willing to take a bunny into a vet after hours to save my daughter's broken black mini rex when she died in our arms this question is a toss up for me. Part of it is I happened to go out to where the show rabbits reside and saw her having a seizure. I brought her in the house and we started working on trying to bring her back around. I think part of it is that we found her still alive and part that my daughter had lost another rabbit just 3 months earlier. Since time is really of the essence with rabbits we keep a rabbit first aid kit on hand and I have since done some research on how to perform rabbit cpr as well as what to do when they are laying there breathing but in a listless state. ( Unlike a cat or dog where you rub them to stimulate them you don't with a rabbit because if there are any toxins that will speed the flow through them. Keep them in a warm area using towels and even warm water in a hot water bottle or any plastic bottle you happen to have around. CPR is done using the index and middle fingers). Since we had a number of yellow jackets and wasps around we are guessing our sweet girl got stung and had an allergic reaction. Incidentally the one who passed just before had also gotten stung soon after my daughter got her over 2 years earlier and seemed to be fine ( the only reason we knew she was stung is because my daughter was working with her and brought her into the house saying her rabbit had been stung by a bee ( we have more yellow jackets and wasps so I think it was actually one of those). After that we started keeping children's benadryl or more acurately the store brand around to give the rabbits in case of a sting as recommended by several breeders and veterinarians because when they start having a reaction there is not time to get to help.