...to think if you can't afford a dog you shouldn't have one?

[Boomerwang]

I can see both sides, that a dog is a huge comfort and companion to those with and without money, but I'm closer to the side of the animal (because I'm that heartless I feel more for animals than people sometimes)

Someone in my family has an old dog in a terrible condition completely caused by his inability to pay for a vet to see it. Last time I saw the dog in this state (I do not go into his house if I can avoid it) I took the dog to the vet, got her fixed up, got her medication and gave her a damn good grooming (german shepherd, lots of stuck shed). Her ear infection cleared up because the medication worked. I paid for the follow up visit and some more drops too.

Fast forward a few months and the dog looks worse than ever, head hanging to the side, barely able to move, coat is more shed than normal coat. I'm angry. Extremely angry. I confronted him and he said he was going to get her put down because she's old and ill.

I just can't comprehend this. He made sure her last months were miserable when he could have given her up to someone who could take care of her. There wouldn't have been a bad ear infection causing her to decay early because someone else would have kept an eye on the dirt in her ears.

What do you think? Should he have done the decent thing long ago and admitted he can't afford to take care of her? (I believe someone else buys the dog food) Or was it fair to keep her and let her suffer in pain because as he says it, it's his dog and his choice?

The dog was put down today. He texted to say he didn't want to talk. That's fine I wasn't planning on talking to him. I watched some old mobile videos I took of myself playing with the dog while he was at work. She looked so young and happy just retrieving a stick. Her entire life was spent like any other dog, being nosey and hoping to share in whatever her humans were doing.

I don't feel sorry for him at all, and I really should, no matter what he did he had a connection to his companion.

My parents owned two dogs. The first developed leukaemia and died not long after starting chemotherapy. My dad was devastated. The second had a tumour in or near his bladder, closing off the urethra. My dad spent thousands of pounds he didn't have getting a titanium stent from America inserted into the dog's urethra so that he could have one more year of life, albeit with a constant urine flow which we managed with hundreds of disposable bed pads. The cost isn't okay for anyone at all, so I completely understand relinquishing control in one way or another, but this was an ear infection, something german shepherds are prone to, but easily fixed.

Meh.

YANBU. A huge part of having a pet is the commitment to their health and welfare. They aren't toys or emotional crutches.
It's an offence in the UK (I think!) not to get treatment for a sick pet.
My dog is a rescue, her previous owner had several dogs taken away because he wasn't looking after them properly.

There is 0 side

You can't afford 55p for hotdogs and 33p for sardines then go fuck yourself.

The RSPCA will-eventually-remove an animal in need of treatment, but I have no idea how Sweden works.

YANBU, OP, I’d be fuming, so angry with him. He’s clearly an idiot. I’d be tempted to find out how you get his other dog removed. I have zero sympathy for people who treat animals poorly.

@Whitneylilyrose
What are you talking about ?

@Boomerwang
I am so sorry to hear that poor girl . She must of had a unplesant ( putting it mildly ) life with your ex .
I am with @Shizzlestix is there anyway you can get his other dog removed and importantly get him banned from keeping any other pets , unfortunately I think even here in the UK that would be difficult as he was not actually abusing her and as far as I can tell has had no other reports against him but it nay be different over there .

I can't report him. He doesn't abuse them, just neglect their grooming and health needs. He can't afford pet insurance and certainly not vet bills. His other dog is young and healthy (as far as I know).

It hit me yesterday. No matter what she was put through, even though at the end her head was pretty much at 90 degrees, she was still eager to see who was at the door and pick up a toy for them. I hope there is a doggy heaven.

Neglect IS abuse.

Poor Ddog.

YANBU it really makes me cross when I see crowd funding for a relatively small (or even large) bill on FB. Veterinary care is nobodies responsibility but the owners and insurance is relatively inexpensive.

It's cruel and selfish. For someone who has a dog and then falls on unexpected hard times that must be heartbreaking, but to get one and not really bother and know you cannot provide adequate care is disgusting.

Yanbu. My SIL just get pets for my DN that she can’t afford to care for long term.

She Spent £400 on a pedigree cat (big furry thing). Didn’t pay to insure it, didn’t neuter him, or get his infections. He got ill and died.

She recently got a dog, which she can’t afford to insure it. Decided she won’t neuter her as she wants to breed her 🙄.

Then her daughter wanted another cat so she bought a kitten From travellers at a fair ground, which had an abnormality with its paw. She couldn’t afford to treat it, the RSPCA basically wouldn’t do it for free as she’s not on the correct benefits so she set up a go fund me which eventually allowed her to get money off her friends to pay for it.

It’s ridiculous and once these animals grow passed the baby stage she’s on the hunt for another cute animal. Currently she wants a pair of rabbits.

“I can't report him. He doesn't abuse them, just neglect their grooming and health needs.”

You can... Sweden’s animal welfare laws aren’t dissimilar to here, it’s an offence to not act on health problems that cause suffering.