Pets are a luxury

[Custardandcreamp]

I have a friend who is on benefits and struggling financially. She has a dog that doesn’t get the proper care it needs because of her money troubles, so the dog lives on a small amount of own brand kibble each day and never visits a vet. She threw her carpet away as she couldn’t afford flea treatment when her house was infested, and now lives in a house with boarded floors so her children get splinters in their feet often. She told me this morning she wants to get a puppy and I lost it and said she’s being selfish and cruel to do that when her existing dog isn’t eating how it should. I reminded her pets are a luxury and when you’re on benefits they are to cover important things such as bills, rent and food. She disagreed as I knew she would, and phoned a benefit advisor in front of me asking if she could claim benefits for her dog! Obviously they said no.
im not sure what to do now or if I was being unreasonable to snap, but I don’t think people on benefits who are not in a financial position to spare excess money to care for a dog properly should have one.
I know pets are a life line for many, particularly the elderly, but if the pets needs aren’t being met then they shouldn’t exist for the humans gain. I now feel really strongly that those in a bad financial position should not be allowed to own a pet without a certain amount of spare income a month.
i know this won’t be popular for many, but I’m genuinely concerned about her dog and future puppy so it got me thinking about pets in the same position all over the country, even world. It’s in no way a benefit bash because I went through a bad patch and needed them once upon a time, there are those who work hard and don’t receive help yet struggle financially too and I think this applies to those families aswell, and I know circumstances change such as a job loss, and temporary financial difficulties so this is aimed at those who already have trouble paying for food and bills yet get a pet anyway.
Does anyone think more should be done to ensure pets go to homes that will meet their life time needs?

Are you sure she actually is going to get another puppy? I often say I would love another puppy, especially when I see one, because they're cute. In reality, I don't have the space or the money. I would have enough if I fed my dog cheap kibble, instead of the expensive raw food diet he has now though, which costs me around £40 a week

I don't agree with the pet insurance. It in no way means the pet is taken care of Day to day. I stopped my dogs insurance when the premiums hit £70/month (never claimed).
More realistic is to have a dog license, requiring that they are vaccinated and charge extra unless you have proof of neutering (this is how it is where I grew up in America, partially to curb rabies and of course unwanted pregnancies). That means the dogs will have to go the vet at least once a year for a check up.

My dog costs £350 a month to feed, insure and have dog walks on the three days when we are in the office. Definitely expensive. That’s months of nothing going wrong and no vet treatments, which would easily bump that up considerably.

I don't agree with the pressure to have pet insurance and provide every vetinary need your dog could possibly require. I am 50 and when I was a child vetinary care was much more basic, worst case scenario was being offered surgery costing a few hundred quid and it was sociably acceptable to say you couldn't afford it. Although I sympathise with dog lovers its a bit mad when we live in a country where dogs are expected to have much better care compared with people who live in countries without good public healthcare. Then judgements made saying if you can't afford it you can't have a dog. Dogs require a huge commitment of time and dedication, that should be the bar we judge people by.

yanbu

if is expensive to give a pet, even a small rodent, what it needs to thrive.
anyone wanting to gef a peg should consider if they can give it everything it needs to live well, including veg care when needed.

How?! Between myself and my daughter we have four, who live on our land, so no livery bill, and we bale our own hay. Daughter is a student but still pays all her ponies routine bills from her own pocket from her part time job. But the routine vet costs, dentist, farrier and physio would be waaaay out of reach on benefits. That is before anything goes wrong!

OP, I agree with you. I think a lot of people do not research how much an animal really costs to keep a month and once yoy have them, it is hard to give them up. I had wanted an Irish wolfhound of years, until an owner outlined her dogs daily diet and how much it was costing her! I decided to stick with terriers!

Also, far too much indiscriminate breeding going on - if I was Empress of the World I would stomp out backyard breeding of any animal and give a hefty fine to anyone who bred without a government approved licence. But again, so many people do not do their research and want what they want right now. Good breeders often have a waiting list and ask a lot of questions. When I bought my puppy, I had to provide a vet reference that said my previous dog was seen by the vet for all his regular health check ups and that he was never denied necessary medical help. The breeder called to confirm it all with him as well! When I took on a private rescue dog I had to provide references from people who knew my existing dogs as well as a vet reference. I had to provide proof of address and take a video to show I had the facilities I said I had. Good breeders and rescues who care about where their animals end up should ALWAYS ask these questions and people should be prepared to answer them and WAIT! It amazes me when people who are trying to buy a living creature are offended that anyone would dare ask them how fit they are to look after rather than just taking their money and running!

Your friend's situation does not sound ideal but cheap kibble won't kill her dog. She no doubt loves him very much and if he is fed and warm and happy, that will be all he cares about. Although it would worry me that he perhaps isn't seeing the vet when he should - things like a dodgy tooth can really develop into huge bills. But if she finds herself stretched with him, she should not be getting another.

Horrible thing to say. Why shouldn't someone on benefits have a pet?

Personally I don't want my taxes paid in benefits to anyone with more than 2 children. Children are not essential, they are a choice as much as pets are.

No, vaccinations (as in yearly boosters) shouldn't he mandatory. Most vaccinations after the initial and the first years booster give protection for at least 3 years.

I just paid a hundred and ten quid for the cat equivalent of ibuprofen and advice to have her rest her sprained leg. Why do they always so this on weekends?

I think luxury is the wrong word because luxury implies frivolous and our relationship with our animals isn't frivolous. But no one who can't afford to keep their pet healthy and happy should have one. They're not an entitlement, they're living beings.

You are absolutely right in your assessment, OP

Hats off to you for not mincing words.

The woman is clearly not taking g responsibility for either animals or children in her care.

I would wonder if she's one of those people who avoid facing reality by surrounding themselves with dependent animals and then kidding themselves that they are loving, giving people whose hearts are made of pure gold.

Their lives are a sad, selfish ego trip, in other words.

I think anyone who can't afford a pet they already own (financially or in terms of the time required to care for it) should probably not get another. However, the people that really annoy me are those who get dogs they then leave alone for 8 hours+ day in day out. I find that incredibly selfish.

I do not understand why people who are already living in difficult or complicated circumstances make their lives harder by getting a dog. It seems to happen quite a lot. It's one thing falling on hard times when you already have pets, but totally selfish to deliberately introduce a pet into those circumstances.

This!

Have a friend who hasn't worked in over 11 years. Her money runs out quickly. But she felt she could afford a puppy. We all talked her out of it

KnickerlessParsons · Today 16:27
I agree too. I don't want benefits payed for by my taxes to be spent on pet food - unless the pet is a support pet such as a hearing dog or a guide dog or something.

Hold your waters kinickerless, no one gets free dog food - I mean god forbid right? 🤣

PDSA offer free /heavily subsidised treatment (if you fall in to certain areas and there are lots of areas covered) People on benefit who may be at home should absolutely be able to have a pet if they want one. Ok they have to buy food, but Chappie is cheap and recommended by vets.

Depends on the pet. But I agree about people thinking they're entitled to own a dog. Was on local news recently how many cats and dogs were brought during pandemic (when more people had free time and disposable income due to furlough) are now being dumped at shelters. Dogs are so expensive and high maintenance.

Pets are a luxury and you should definitely only get them if you can afford their care and take on the responsibility.

However, circumstances can change so while you may be able to give them excellent care one week, the next you may lose your job and find yourself struggling.

I've got many pets but find myself currently on benefits, however I always ensure my animals receive the best I can give them even if it means me going without myself, as for me the responsibility is lifelong and I won't just rehome them if the going gets tough.

Was on local news recently how many cats and dogs were brought during pandemic (when more people had free time and disposable income due to furlough) are now being dumped at shelters. Dogs are so expensive and high maintenance.

And given that over that period quite ordinary puppies were costing at least several hundred £'s. and quite ordinary breeds were in the £,000's, it wasn't people who were poor buying them, was it? My dog is a very spectacular, ISDS registered blue merle border collie. Such dogs before the pandemic were selling at £700 - £1,000 tops. During the pandemic, they were reaching £3k - £5k! Please tell me how many people on benefits could afford that? I saw many other breeds in the £5k - 6k bracket. Cruelty or neglect are not related to income.