Why do families who are poor, have pets

I don’t disagree, I cancelled my pet insurance when it reached frankly astronomical levels. I do however have enough money to pay for whatever they might need, which as a responsible owner, you really should. If I did not have that money, or access to it, I would not have animals. If you cannot pay for medical care for your own animal, who do you think should?

People are too fond of saying what should be a legal requirement. Car insurance of course is a legal requirement. Insuring your mortgage ought to be but many do not bother! Pet insurance has just boosted the cost of going to a vet, IMHO.

I have pet plan insurance for one healthy 10 year old cat.

Nearly 90 quid a month.

Then his healthcare package at the vets. Nearly 30 pounds a month covers his flea, worm, vaccinations, and a twice yearly full day check up.

Then there's his food, litter liners, litter, water fountain filters, cattery fees etc

Owning a pet is expensive these days.

Fair enough but I doubt many people insure piggies and if you ar going to insure one I again doubt you are ‘poor’ as pet insurance especially for older animals , which are the ones that tend to have the biggest bills , is expensive .

As pets get older, insurance gets very expensive, and you find you are covered for less and less.
My dog is no longer insured as she is very old and I would not put her through anything expensive or invasive.

A simple google shows a number of suppliers of guinea pig insurance.

@Bumblebee72 what about small rodents , they can cost a lot and I’ve never seen anyone offering insurance for pets like guinea pigs which can cost a fair amount to treat . My sisters piggy has been at the vets this week after having blood in her urine and it cost us £250 for a scan ( checking for bladder stones) , pain killers and antibiotics . My definition of poor is people who can’t just hand out that kind of money .

A pet should be insured. Just like a having a car it should be a legal requirement.

Just because someone is poor that doesn't mean they don't look after their pets. And having a pet is not a privilege in the sense you mean though it is in the sense that you have an animal in your life that totally depends on you and you must treat him/her well because they love you.
Animals make excellent companions. They are company for the lonely.

I abominate pet insurance btw - it has caused vet prices to go much higher than many can afford because it's assumed a pet is insured. Very wrong.

We know that only too well. It is outrageous.

You know loads of working people claim benefits, right? And more still claim Child Benefit, not to mention the state pension?

Often the answer though if people don't have insurance and the treatment would be expensive their answer is just to kill the pet.

People can have whatever they can afford. A pet is not a basic human right.

Nothing, it was in response to op's comment about irresponsible people getting pets and not being prepared for their care and upkeep. I think this should be more to the point of this thread, bc in my opinion simply being poor should not preclude you from having a pet (although costs should of course be a consideration).

Under no circumstances? Where's the cut off point? Millions of people in Britain get some sort of benefit, including the NHS and free education. I take it you have private medical care & pay school fees for your DC?

People should not own pets if they can't even provide for themselves without claiming benefits.

What's this anything to do with poor people owning pets?

BauhusOf Eliot Agree totally! It really pisses me off when people complain about so-called "poor people" who dare to have anything nice or indeed anything at all .Why on earth should the "goodies " all go well off people .Animals are an excellent addition to a family .Children learn so much from pets about relationships .caring for a dependent creature helps build empathy and compassion.Our NDN is a PDSA vet, and is a very nice chap.Used to work at Expensive vets ,but enjoys helping"poor" people and their pets .Blasted Poor! with their wide screen TVs and tattoos .drinking their money away and eating in Spoons how blasted dare they!

They can have whatever they want and can afford but the issue with animals is the upkeep and what happens when they are ill so if people don’t have a reasonable disposable income then getting any pet is an irresponsible thing to do irrespective of how good they are for you . If the pets already live with you and your circumstances change then that is a different situation .

My idiot next door neighbours got their kids a staffie puppy. For the next two years I heard nothing but arguments over who should clear up it's messes and who should take it for walks. The poor animal got shouted at and argued over. I'm glad I have moved.

What has that to do with poor people?
Or are you trying to say it was only the poor idiots who got dogs during lockdown or that buy pets as presents?
Given that the cost of some pets, especially dogs, practically tripled during lockdown, those buying them were definitely not poor.

Pontificating again 🙄🧐😂

At least I don't have to use hidden swearwords to try and insult people. You clearly are unhappy with your life, maybe sort it out instead of spending so much time fighting strangers onto her internet 😂. I stand by my comment, people these days do not know a right from a privilege, because a lot of them chose to be victims their whole life...by the looks of it...you included...

Who the F are you pontificate what people have the right to or to define who is deserving or undeserving? Step down from the soapbox, get a hold of yourself FFS. Life is more complex than your expert opinion. Oracle, the all knowing, who preach their wisdom and (self) righteousness in this echo chamber.

Because some people are selfish and self centered, and think everything is a right not a privilege.