Explain something to me about pets

[Briarius]

I grew up on a farm and we always had a couple dogs and cats and a parakeet. My cat lived until she was 16, and we'd had her since I was born. Given this background, I don't understand how people can justify spending thousands of dollars on a dying pet. I loved every one of our dogs and cats then, and I love our cats now, but I can't fathom or justify to myself spending a grand on them if they were severely injured or sick.
I don't mean any disrespect to how people choose to spend their money or their choices, I just don't understand it.

edited because I can't spell

[Borgnine]

1. I just have one cat.

And she's a part of my family. After awhile, you don't even view it as an animal or lesser creature.

[intrepid_wanderer]

6. nice Dr.

nice

[BlackVelvetElvis]

2. To many pets are more than an animal who lives with you.

they are loyal companions, children, best friends. Money means nothing next to what they give us.
I admire people who love that much.

[shesemsmom]

3. Last year my Hubby was unemployed

and we had a very sick parakeet that was one of the family. If spending the grocery money would have saved him, we would have spent it. It's called love. He was quite a guy for a bird. He didn't know he was a bird though. We got him almost from the nest and he never flew. He walked all over 2 rooms of the house and spoke in sentences. He had a huge vocabulary and thought he was a people. When he got sick we did everything we could and it wasn't enough. We grieved until we got another pet and still grieve for him. Oh yes, I can understand what pet owners go though. They are family!!!!!!!!

[Bluebear]

4. My two dogs aren't my pets

They are my buddies, they comfort me, they ask nothing in return but a little attention and food, I love them more than you could imagine, probably too much.

I would and have spent thousands on them...if I knew they were truly dying, then I would give the final gift but until I and my vet were sure, well, the checkbook's open. Color me a sap I guess :)

[intrepid_wanderer]

8. but.. the dog cannot ...

earn a salary... or truly fend for you through illness...

hrmmmm

[enigmatic]

22. Neither did my ex...

That's when I wised up..

[koneko]

5. It depends

To me, it matters more if the expense will help the pet.

If it means lengthening it's life for MY expense and dread at mourning the loss, I won't spend the money. But if the expense will make the pet comfortable, then I don't care how much I spend.

I would never make a pet suffer longer for my sake. I have a phenomenal vet, and I have always trusted his judgement.

[liberal43110]

20. I agree; if I can truly help my pet, and not simply prolong his suffering

...then I would spend anything I could for him. I do, however, recognize that death is part of life, and that quality of life is important. I am not interested in prolonging anyone's (human or not) suffering.

But I would spend anything to help my cat if he were sick. I love you, Scooter!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. Simple. It's worth it to them because they don't want them to die.

[intrepid_wanderer]

9. excessive Them-dom... ALERT!!!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. yeah, I knew that when I posted it (I mean THEM)

:evilgrin:

[intrepid_wanderer]

21. I cannot believe nmsa needed them their edits to get them in theyah w/ 'em

[XanaDUer]

12. That's our reason!

Even tho' $ is tight right now, our cat was getting very sick and having scabs on his body.

We took him to the vet, got him special (expensive) food, give him some kind of anti-inflammatory medicines, and new flea treatments, and he is running around like his old self.

[Ironpost]

10. because I love my pet, or maybe its my pet loves me.

[Briarius]

11. I guess it's just a fundamentally different viewpoint

I loved our dogs, but they were still dogs. Some were put to sleep at the vet, some were put to sleep other ways, but we were always humane about it and we never let them suffer. :shrug:

[XanaDUer]

13. It depends

Was it a fundamentally healthy and young pet who, say, broke a leg and it would have cost more money for treatment than putting it to sleep?

Or, putting an old, sick, and suffering pet to sleep and not keeping it alive to make yourself feel better.

Big diff to me.

[Briarius]

14. For example

my wife's (LynzM) grandparents have a black lab that had two hip replacements. He's not an overly old dog, but I can't imagine spending the money for that. I know they love that dog, but as cruel as it sounds, there are tons of dogs in shelters that would love you just as much and be just as good. :shrug:

[lenidog]

15. Its real simple

To many including me, pets are family, plain and simple. Its like asking someone why they spent thousands of dollars to treat their kid.

[Tsiyu]

16. It has been a decision dependent on $$$ for me

There have been times when our family had the funds for "frivolous" vet bills. Take, for example, the 30-year-old "Christmas pony" my kids adored. He got "choke" and was dying. The kids were despondent.

I had to flush out an INT for a week, after he got home from an equine hospital stay that cost a small fortune.

He only lived another year, but it was worth it.

Would I do it again? hell, yes, if I had the money and my business squared away.

Right now, vet bills are one of the last on the list. I doctor them myself the best I can, but I couldn't ever dream of being heroic financially.

[cally]

17. I haven't had to make these decisions yet

but I mostly agree with you. I love my pets and I spend the money for vet care. I just can't put the pets above the humans.

About 10 years ago, we were told to get a hip replacement for my dog. It would cost us a lot of money. We agonized over this but decided to not do it. We chose to love him and care for him but not fix the hip. We were told that he would be in so much pain that he wouldn't live for more than a few years. Turns out he's doing fine and recent xrays show no hip damage. He's 14 years old.

[enigmatic]

19. They aren't my "pets"..

The kitty that lives w/ my wife and I is a part of our family. And if a member of my family were sick, I'd do anything in my power to be them well, money or not.

[barb162]

23. I don't understand how you say you "loved" every one of your

pets but at the same time you wouldn't spend a "grand" on them if they were injured or sick.

[Briarius]

24. I loved them as pets

they weren't a child or family member, they were pets. I guess it's just a different viewpoint.

[barb162]

25. to me, pet= family

[Blue Diadem]

26. I consider it being a responsible pet owner to take care of their

medical needs. They didn't ask me to accept them as my pet. I chose them and because of that, I owe them proper medical care whenever they need it.

If they are suffering and nothing can be done, it's also my responsibility to make sure the vet ends that suffering.

[tibbir]

27. My dog got some kind of fast-growing cancer

that's pretty common for them. We spent a lot of money at first getting diagnoses until they finally figured out what was going on. The specialist was going to do all this advanced medical treatments to prolong her life when I told him to wait a minute: I'm on a fixed income and if I can money to buy her quality time let's go for it but if it's only going to buy a few months I can't do it. I asked the vet for his advice and he said if it were his dog he'd take her home and feed her steak. We did and she got some pleasure until it seemed like she was starting to suffer. We had to make the decision to have her put down and it was one of the hardest things we ever had to go through. She was truly a member of the family and we still miss her today.