Page 16 | Why do families who are poor, have pets

hostleg · 2025-08-06T11:58:28+00:00

They are expensive to feed, look after and to recover from illness and injuries. Hear people who have a dog who swallowed something they shouldn’t have - £900 at vets. I’m sure these poor families don’t have £900.

Womblingmerrily · 06/08/2025 13:17

Because people make bad decisions and in our society we buffer the consequences of those bad decisions, leading them to make further bad decisions.

OldWomanInACardigan · 06/08/2025 13:16

littlemisstrytoohard · 06/08/2025 13:04

Because pets are absolutely lovely. They’re good for mood lifting, keeping kids busy etc….
There could be some financial help for the families genuinely struggling…..
Pets should be available to all, not just the privileged

Pets are not toys or something to entertain the kids. They are living creatures with needs. Those needs can be costly. Too many people have an animal, then neglect or abandon it when it needs to see a vet.

Someone I know got a kitten a year ago - all cuddly and cute, for the kids. She didn't bother to have the poor thing speyed (or microchipped, despite that being a legal obligation), so it became pregnant and has just given birth to 2 dead kittens, because it's still too young to breed. It annoys me so much.

SmallPeachKoala · 06/08/2025 13:16

I don’t quite agree that they should be available to all, they should be available to those who have both the time and funds to care for them properly (feed them, walk them, provide an appropriate environment for them to live) and to maintain their health (eg provide regular treatments they need such as flea treatment, have pet insurance for vets fees)

I do understand PP’s point that circumstances change but putting money aside in case of this should be a priority when you own a pet. Perhaps some are not able to do this and have a change in circumstances which is very difficult, although if they could easily afford the pet when they bought it you’d like to think they were in the position to put a bit away to support the animal in future in case of circumstance changes

RandomUsernameHere · 06/08/2025 13:16

Completely agree, having a pet is a luxury and a big commitment.

XenoBitch · 06/08/2025 13:14

I had my pet long before my life took a U-turn and I ended up "poor".

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 06/08/2025 13:12

If you have good insurance, it’s not actually that expensive to own a pet.

DiscoBob · 06/08/2025 13:09

Because they love you even if you're broke. Unlike most people. They give people a purpose in life. They make people happy.

Should poor people not try and be happy? Maybe you should ask why they have a big telly, or tattoos, or why do they vape? They do things for the same reasons as less poor people do. As they're human beings. Amazing as it may seem.

Silverbirchleaf · 06/08/2025 13:08

I agree that people’s circumstances change, but pets cost money and are a luxury not a necessity.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 06/08/2025 13:07

PDSA treat animals of people on benefits etc.

And what about the elderly, who are quite often not well off but for whom a pet is their only companion and a lifeline?

Oreosareawful · 06/08/2025 13:07

littlemisstrytoohard · 06/08/2025 13:04

Because pets are absolutely lovely. They’re good for mood lifting, keeping kids busy etc….
There could be some financial help for the families genuinely struggling…..
Pets should be available to all, not just the privileged

I'm sorry, but I disagree. Pets are a privilege, not a right.

Pets are a lifelong responsibility, and part of that responsibility is to ensure you can pay for their food, vets bills, emergencies etc. If you do not have insurance, you need to ensure you have the capital for a large unexpected expense.

Animals should not suffer because they are owned by people less well off.

Hankunamatata · 06/08/2025 13:06

Sometimes people don't realise the cost of a pet

Jumpthewaves · 06/08/2025 13:06

Many people's circumstances change and they may have been easily able to afford a pet when they bought it, but later fall on hard times. I do understand what you are saying, but I also think for many people they are companions and sometimes good for their mental and physical health.

TomatoSandwiches · 06/08/2025 13:06

Perhaps they weren't poor when they first got the pet?

littlemisstrytoohard · 06/08/2025 13:04

Because pets are absolutely lovely. They’re good for mood lifting, keeping kids busy etc….
There could be some financial help for the families genuinely struggling…..
Pets should be available to all, not just the privileged