‘Never get another animal’ - AIBU?

[Gettingpets]

I see this on here all the time.

Fair enough if it is ‘we got a puppy last year but we both work full time and the kids aren’t interested and walking him at weekends gets in the way of all the non dog friendly activities we like to do …’

But AIBU to think this just gets trotted out completely meaninglessly? I’ve twice been in the horrible position where I’ve had to rehome a much loved pet and I did so very responsibly but in any event, one instance was in 2004 and the other in 2012. In both cases I am light years from the person I was then!

AIBU to think it’s a daft thing to say?

@Derbee

I think the point is as a responsible owner you should have a fund set away for pet emergencies

A lot of these people who dump animals at the drop of a hat, don’t have proper, or any insurance which would cover them in a lot of situations with emergency boarding fees etc.

The thought that a 6 week period of inconvenience makes a pet disposable, is exactly the problem

Yeah it's the mindset Often in a lot of these posts it's the way people approach the problem rather than the actual situation.

I think a lot of people do t bother with insurance - but also don’t bother putting money aside.

Personally, I will always insure. It means I know my monthly outgoings and I never need to worry about decisions as it’s lifetime cover.

But I also “get” those who don’t insure, but pay into a savings find instead so that they have a buffer if something goes wrong.

No sympathy whatsoever for anyone who doesn’t do either option. If you can’t afford to cover a pets possible illness, then £not get a blooming pet.

A lot of people go way too far the other way imo and don’t rehome for their sake when it absolutely would be the best thing for their pet.

Generally, I prefer animals to people. They are more reliable, honest and straightforward.

I have a 30yrs old retired purebred Crabbet Arabian gelding on full livery with his very knowledgeable breeder. She is difficult and demanding - the horse is not. Each month, he costs me all of my professional pension. Some months, it is more. He's aged out of his comprehensive insurance, so anything that he needs, health wise, I pay for. I don't begrudge him a penny of it. We have enjoyed many happy times together - he was a successful Grade B HOYS showjumper for a number of years, and an excellent hack after he retired from that. Now he's a pampered pet, being looked after by an expert. I see him twice a week and take carrots for him and his little herd of relatives, and gin and flowers for the yard owner, and biscuits for her grooms.
My cat, who is twenty months old, was bought as a kitten for a child who was, sadly, terminally ill. When she died, the family couldn't bear to see him in the house and put him on Pre-Loved. My previous cat had just been pts due to lung and heart failure. He too, had been insured to the hilt with a highly reputable pet insurance company. They paid out everything except for his cremation costs.

This cat, who is an indoor cat, has the run of the whole house and tears madly round it. He climbs up the curtains, rushes up and down stairs, plays with his many interactive toys and sleeps on my bed, on one of my old sheepskin coats. He's also insured to the hilt with the previous insurance company. He also has a monthly-paid subscription to his veterinary clinic health care insurance. The latter covers flea and worm treatment, two full health checks a year and his yearly innoculations. The cost of both of these subscriptions is £40 per month.
I think that it's a wholly reasonable amount. I live by myself in a rural area with very few neighbors, all of whom who have family members to support them. I don't. My cat is excellent company, even when he's being an annoying little sh*t!
I have a monthly subscription to the Cat's Protection Society and if I die, he will be responsibly removed by them.

@Astrak Did you mean to post that here? This is a four year old thread and your post doesn’t seem to match the topic.

If it was a mixup you can report it and ask MN to remove it or move it somewhere else.

(MN is also welcome to delete this post once it’s sorted so the old thread doesn’t stay bumped up.)