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Original poster

Would you give away your pet for a million pounds?

517 replies

moveoverye · 18/04/2023 18:37

Hypothetically.
If somebody knocked on my door right now and offered to re-home my cat for a million pounds, I just don't think I could do it. Even though that would be a completely life-changing amount of money for me. Could you?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
19
Crucible · 19/04/2023 23:58

Absolutely completely and utterly not. You could add noughts. Still a big fat no. They are beyond money.

Sleepyandconfused · 20/04/2023 00:06

Yes

ComputerWifeKaren · 20/04/2023 00:40

No. Not my boy. Worth far more than his weight in gold.

Stressybetty · 20/04/2023 01:04

The update from OP that the pet disappears into the night with no clue where they are going has changed things. DH now says no, he couldn't live with it on his conscience. I'm thinking no too but it would depend how bad your circumstances were and how badly you needed the money.

SD1978 · 20/04/2023 09:05

Given I've juts woken up to go to work- not in the UK and work nightshift so was asleep all day, and despite no gaps in the fence I can find have a message to say my silly git of a dog is at the pound.......I'd currently give it up for the cost of the impound fees.........because I have no idea where it flipping Houdini'd out from!!!!!!!

vix3rd · 20/04/2023 09:08

The cat - NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The rabbit - Oh god yes take the buggery thing.

CheriseNuland · 20/04/2023 09:14

If I did have a dog I would get one I liked and I’ve really wanted one for years, so no I wouldn’t. I don’t think I could live with myself if I did. Even for one million.

Tidsleytiddy · 20/04/2023 09:18

I couldn’t enjoy the money knowing I’d stitched up the cat to get it

ComtesseDeSpair · 20/04/2023 11:33

Stressybetty · 20/04/2023 01:04

The update from OP that the pet disappears into the night with no clue where they are going has changed things. DH now says no, he couldn't live with it on his conscience. I'm thinking no too but it would depend how bad your circumstances were and how badly you needed the money.

I suppose a lot of it is about sentimentality and whether you like to try and think that animals and humans are equal as much as anything. I was raised to think of animals as being there for a purpose. You treat them well and take good care of them whilst you have them because they’re dependent on you and we owe them that, but they are ultimately just animals. I’ve bought and sold horses, I’ve raised goats and sheep from kids and lambs for meat and sold them to the butcher knowing they’re going off to their deaths, my family bred and trained working dogs - so it’s always been pretty normal to me that animals be sold and you don’t always know exactly where they’re going or know it isn’t to a lovely new home.

The cats are great: they make me laugh when they do dumb shit and I enjoy having a chat with them and seeing them putz about the place; but ultimately they’re not irreplaceable - and nor am I to them: I know the score as well as they do, if I wasn’t around to feed them they’d be off like a shot to live with somebody who would.

Blossomtoes · 20/04/2023 12:20

I don’t think it’s sentimentality. My dog saved my sanity during lockdown when I was stuck inside with an abusive alcoholic, I owe her so much. Sometimes when she sits on my lap and looks into my eyes it’s as if she can see my soul.

Bluegrass · 20/04/2023 12:39

This thread makes such fascinating reading, such a variety of responses.

For people who are adamant that they couldn’t possibly give them up as their pet is part of the family and irreplaceable, I wonder what they will do when that pet dies? Presumably a decent percentage of them will go on to buy another one (which does put the pet in a rather different category to a family member after all).

And for people in that category who also eat meat, it must be really interesting to hold those two extreme mental states of loving a cat/dog like you love like a family member, saying you couldn’t even dream of betraying their trust for a million pounds or more, and then happily munching on a lamb for Sunday lunch. How can those two species occupy such different positions - total love versus food.

I’m not saying that to be judgemental, I eat meat and don’t have a pet (but have had pets in the past). I just think the psychology of our relationship with animals, how we can project so much onto them is incredibly interesting and is really laid bare in this thread.

Qhaecciarr · 20/04/2023 12:54

Bluegrass · 20/04/2023 12:39

This thread makes such fascinating reading, such a variety of responses.

For people who are adamant that they couldn’t possibly give them up as their pet is part of the family and irreplaceable, I wonder what they will do when that pet dies? Presumably a decent percentage of them will go on to buy another one (which does put the pet in a rather different category to a family member after all).

And for people in that category who also eat meat, it must be really interesting to hold those two extreme mental states of loving a cat/dog like you love like a family member, saying you couldn’t even dream of betraying their trust for a million pounds or more, and then happily munching on a lamb for Sunday lunch. How can those two species occupy such different positions - total love versus food.

I’m not saying that to be judgemental, I eat meat and don’t have a pet (but have had pets in the past). I just think the psychology of our relationship with animals, how we can project so much onto them is incredibly interesting and is really laid bare in this thread.

Getting a pet after one dies isn't different from a widower remarrying, so I don't see why it would make you re-categorise it. I already know my dogs will reach 16 a best if we're lucky, and they add so much to my life I know I'll have more dogs later on. I will likely never stop missing my current two after they're gone though.

Verv · 20/04/2023 13:02

No. Never.

Blossomtoes · 20/04/2023 13:38

I probably won’t have another dog after this one. If she lives to be 16 I’ll be 82 and it would be ridiculous to take on another dog at that age. Totally unfair. Unless there was an elderly bitch who needed a loving home for her last years …

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/04/2023 17:40

Julieann418 · Yesterday 10:26
Never, I love my dogs like I love my children”

Really?

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 20/04/2023 17:43

I’d do most things for a million ponds but I genuinely don’t think I could give my dog away! I’d give my tortoises away though, sorry tortoises!

Mochacino · 20/04/2023 17:46

Trinity69 · 18/04/2023 18:42

Nope. The kids however…..

my reaction exactly!!

the dog never talks back, doesn’t leave his clothes in a pile under his bed, loves exercise, eats anything I cook….

Wetnwindy · 20/04/2023 17:47

At 7 am today I would have said yes when she pooed on new carpet ..7 years old and housetrained.
Now at 530 pm absolutely no way would I give my doggie to anyone for a million quid

ConsuelaHammock · 03/06/2023 22:21

Probably. They’re not going to live forever and a million pounds is a lot of money.

GooglyEyeballs · 03/06/2023 22:26

My brain would say yes but my heart would say no.

Xmasbaby11 · 03/06/2023 22:31

I love my kitten but yes I’d take a million for her or the cat. That money would have a massive impact on our lives and we could get another kitten.

I do love my cats and they bring me so much joy …but they are replaceable.

Pickingmyselfup · 03/06/2023 22:43

One of them I would love to give away for free if someone wanted her enough to give her a good home.My husband would not appreciate it though, she's his cat through and through and has been from day 1 despite it being me who does all of the pet care! I tolerate her and look after her because we wanted her and she's ours, we just don't seek each other out for company. I'm probably just being mean though, on the whole she's no trouble apart from her protest wees but we've learnt her triggers. She's put up with the addition of 2 children quite happily although the other cat is still a work in progress and she can be very rude to him.

The other cat absolutely not, I haven't had him long, just a few month's compared to several years but he's my cat, my snuggle buddy and he's really helped fill the void I was left with having to rehome my cat 6 years ago. He has such a kind nature although he's terrified of his own shadow practically.

Now the real test is would I give up the husband for a million...probably not because that money wouldn't last long if I had to pay someone every time I needed something fixing...hundreds of millions... 🤔

QueenMegan · 03/06/2023 22:47

No way.

SurferRona · 03/06/2023 22:56

YouJustDoYou · 18/04/2023 18:42

I stayed in an abusive relationship for the sake of my little old dog. No money to move out, no one to stay with who could accept pets. Had already had him for 15 years by that point so was no way I would ever just dump him as it was, let alone for any amount of money.

To any PPs reading this and in the same situation, you don’t need to stay. Women’s Aid will link you up with charities who will swoop in when you leave and take your dog or cat to a safe place and then foster families out of area. All done anonymously. Dogs Trust run a Freedom Project (who are looking for foster volunteers) and cats protection do the same for cats, other charities deal with reptiles and small furries too. You can leave and your DD or DC will be cared for until you are settled xx

SurferRona · 03/06/2023 22:57

And foster families will share updates and photos for you via the charity, keep you up to date on how they are getting on. Please don’t stay for the sake of your pet, they wouldn’t want you to either if they could tell you xx

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