Why do families who are poor, have pets

Either they weren't poor when they got the pet, they don't realise the cost, or they decide on balance that they're worth it (pets are great for mental health and even increase your life span).

My question would be what made you so judgey?

it still doesn’t give everyone a right to own an animal. They still have the same responsibilities to appropriately feed and care for them, including any vetinary care

I think it’s an example of the short-term thinking people have now. The relentless safety nets provided by the state give people the confidence to make bad decisions. Making bad life decisions doesn’t come back to get you like it used to.

We have had, several times now, somebody pleading poverty on our local Facebook page, begging for cash for birthday presents for their kids or food, saying they cant afford to eat etc. Then a month later, ‘Where can I buy a French bulldog puppy?’.

No, not all "pet people" are like that at all. Don't tar us all with the same brush.

No it clarifies nothing. Jewellery, alcohol and Christmas presents can be thrown away when surplus to requirements, or when the purchaser gets bored of them.

The fact that you condescendingly equate animals - sentient beings, none of whom probably enjoy being 'pets' in the first place, with inanimate objects in your unyielding defence of the terminally feckless who make poor life choices says a lot about your mentality.

Back to the topic . . .I've nothing against people on low incomes adopting animals bred as pets from shelters, providing they're prepared to forgo other luxuries in order to make sure that the animal has a vaguely tolerable existence. Many people that I know do precisely this. I don't think this is the vision that the OP had when the question was posed, though!

I think that having an NHS means that we in the UK have no clue how much medical treatment really costs.

For example Iast time I took my child for medical treatment, he had some stitches and scans. I don’t own a pet but would be equivalent for a pet be hundreds? Thousands? No clue.

If you spoke to a vet and there was no medical treatment is her time £100ph? Dependent on time of day and more if it’s out of office hours?

I live near city centre council flats, there’s several big dogs who spend their days on a tiny balcony. It’s very sad for them.

You can tell your vet that you don't want treatment if the pet is very old anyway.
Most will listen.

Might not be a popular opinion, but much like having babies, some people forget about the lifelong commitment and don't think further than the "cute little puppy/kitten" and the reactions of other people, "Oh they're gorgeous! You're so lucky!"

Bringing a living being into your family is a huge commitment and responsibility. It's not a right.

Because I got my pet when I was married and in a stable relationship.

because I love my pet and they help me manage my MH conditions

because having another living thing to take care of gave me structure when my life was hard

because it’s good for kids to learn about chores and having to do things even when you don’t want to.

in the case of a cat because they catch vermin

I always had insurance with a low
excess and set a small amount to cover flea and worm and vaccinations.

They think animals are their babies, and that means they feel they have to pay for an extra baby and complain about having no money, even if their real babies would benefit from the extra money.

Because pet people lose their minds over animals and don't make rational decisions about how they're going to actually feed and provide medical care for the pet. They think their love conquers all and the world will somehow provide.

Same here. And when they get old, the vet bills are little things that insurance wont cover, or it is less than the excess. But they mount up.

It didn't used to be that expensive I don't think.

I had a hamster a few years ago and it was cripplingly expensive because the vet wouldn't face fact that it had got old and needed to be put to sleep. It was ridiculous the rigmarole that I was put through trying to keep it alive beyond its sensible life span.

I wish vets would stop trying to prolong animals lives beyond the point of sense. If they would stop doing that, then pets would be much cheaper and their lives would be more enjoyable for the pets and the owners.

For much the same reason that they have children. Are you going to start a thread about that??

But surely you should only have a pet if you can afford one or are in need of one for medical reasons. The only people, who I don't mind, are those who take in mistreated or unwanted pets - but even then there should be a limit.

Yh everyone should be able to have a pet - not just the rich - but only people who can afford them. If you can't afford them, don't expect food banks and benefit money go towards paying for them. It's not fair on the pets themselves and other people who could actually do with the money. Makes my blood boil - especially when it's people that don't work, have lots of children and pets but still want sympathy of I can't afford it.

Literally that, I lived in a 4 bedroom detached when I bought the dog

The premiums too. I stopped the insurance for my pet once it got to £110pm. I simply can not afford that. That was 6 years ago. I dread to think what it would be now.

Same. Also, my pets seem to be living to a very very old age.

Beside a change in someone's circumstances I think you have hit the nail.on the head.

We have two cats. Rather than put up the price of cat food the manufacturer started putting less in a sachet. Previously got 100g sachet, now only 85g. We didn't realise and thought cats were just getting hungrier so not we have to buy more sachets or they are on a diet.

This article is American but same issue

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/vet-private-equity-industry/678180/

Hello Jeremy

Until they get older and the excess you need to pay gets higher.

The same reason 'poor' people have children, drink alcohol, wear jewellery, buy Christmas presents and do other non-essential things: because 'poor' people have exactly the same wishes and desires as everyone else and life with nothing but the barest necessities for survival is absolutely miserable as fuck.

Hope that clarifies things for you.

I think the way vets fees have rocketed is awful. Also I have been told large businesses have bought up many smaller practices and this has led to price increases. The Telegraph looked into the rising costs.

www.telegraph.co.uk/money/bills/why-vet-bills-pets-outrageously-expensive/