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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be annoyed with people who can't afford to look after their pets

155 replies

Allelbowsandtoes · 23/06/2023 18:23

Just saw a post on Facebook, someone trying to fundraise for surgery for her 7 month old puppy that has hip dysplasia. Lots of people were commenting about how vets charge way too much and it's all a "money making racket". I pointed out that veterinary surgeons are highly skilled and train for years, and we only think its expensive because we have the NHS and mostly don't pay our own healthcare costs.

Maybe I ABU because its a shame if people can't afford pets, because they bring joy to our lives.

OP posts:
Original poster
Allelbowsandtoes · 23/06/2023 18:23

Also worth adding that she said puppy would be put down if it couldn't have the surgery!

OP posts:
Whadda · 23/06/2023 18:24

I assume you’re equally annoyed with people who can’t afford the children they have?

GeriatricMumma · 23/06/2023 18:25

Pisses me off.

Or the ones who don't have insurance or the ones who give their pets away.

I've spent £5k this year treating my cat for FIP - he was an unwanted pet.

WonderfulUsername · 23/06/2023 18:26

Allelbowsandtoes · 23/06/2023 18:23

Also worth adding that she said puppy would be put down if it couldn't have the surgery!

This will be why she's desperately fundraising then.

itsmellslikepopcarn · 23/06/2023 18:27

Whadda · 23/06/2023 18:24

I assume you’re equally annoyed with people who can’t afford the children they have?

I don’t think there’s a comparison really, children aren’t being PTS because the owners can’t afford insurance.

OP YANBU. It’s far too easy to own + breed animals these days, insurance should be a basic minimum for all animals.

Theunamedcat · 23/06/2023 18:27

Costs have gone up massively my cat went to the vet three times for the same issue in recent history it would have been discounted the second and third visit as they were "follow ups" now they are not medication is through the roof "get your pet insured" I can't he has preexisting conditions that they won't cover him for so its pointless

When I bought them I could afford them

HunterHearstHelmsley · 23/06/2023 18:27

I've spent a fortune the last 2 years on one of my cats and that's WITH insurance (can't change because of pre-existing conditions). A puppy with no other issues wouldn't have been expensive to insure. To expect others to pay is shit.

Yes, vets are expensive. Yes, they have become more expensive. Yes, I think some get you to have an extra treatment when it won't help. But to crowd fund this is ridiculous.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 23/06/2023 18:28

Theunamedcat · 23/06/2023 18:27

Costs have gone up massively my cat went to the vet three times for the same issue in recent history it would have been discounted the second and third visit as they were "follow ups" now they are not medication is through the roof "get your pet insured" I can't he has preexisting conditions that they won't cover him for so its pointless

When I bought them I could afford them

You get the insurance when you get them. Not when they need treatment. Just like you don't get car insurance after an accident.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 23/06/2023 18:29

I'm torn, I see what you're saying in principle, but from the other side, we have a dog who we discovered had a lifelong condition at 4 months. He was insured but his bills and medication have far exceeded the maximum and it has cost us much more than we could ever have afforded. We've paid it because we love him, but it's been at the expense of many family things.

Furrydogmum · 23/06/2023 18:35

I had to take my dog to the PDSA for emergency out of hours treatment. It was an eye opener waiting to pay up at normal opening time, to take our dog to our own vets, while a queue snaked around the waiting room and into the car park of people waiting for free treatment on benefits. Not a shaming statement at all, but so many large "status" dogs needing treatment the owners couldn't afford and didn't have insurance for. Insurance is expensive, but if you can't afford it, you can't afford the pet 😡

MoonInTheNight · 23/06/2023 18:37

YANBU in the main. Of course, peoples circumstances change though, through no fault of their own.

But people who get pets without thinking the costs through at the start are really irritating. I have rabbits and they are much harder work and more expensive than people think, and the amount of idiots who don't bother getting them vaccinated or neutered or keeping them in pairs as they need, and then say they can't afford it. Grr!

We have a PDSA surgery near us, and they have been a godsend for poor friends who have taken in strays. But even they have a policy of only two pets "to encourage responsible pet ownership" as people just abuse it.

Lira715 · 23/06/2023 18:39

i do agree with you. Insured my dog day I got him, he’s now nearly 16 and has lots of health problems that insurance covers for a year then I have to pay, plus I have to have vets to the home as he now has fits when he’s stressed and he finds the vets very stressful . My monthly vet bills and meds for him come to around £450 .. can be over £700 if we have bloods done or any emergency call outs … I accept that some people may struggle to cover this if in a similar situation, but to not get pet insurance at all is irresponsible.

Gymmum82 · 23/06/2023 18:39

Yanbu. Obviously there are exceptions but someone who has spend £3k or more on a puppy relatively recently and then can’t afford to treat said puppy absolutely boils my piss.

And of course it’s always the money grabbing vets fault 🙄 no wonder they have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession.
I utterly despise people sometimes

Furrydogmum · 23/06/2023 18:41

Last week we took our beloved 13 year old cat to the vets. Monday cost over £900 for xray and blood tests, Tuesday over £800 for a scan and euthanasia due to widespread inoperable tumours. Cats, rabbits, any small animals still cost a lot when things go wrong.

marshmallowfinder · 23/06/2023 18:42

Yanbu at all.

Rainrainstayawaytilseptember · 23/06/2023 18:42

Years ago our dpuppy had HD. Despite surgery she had a miserable life. My dm taught me it is never OK to allow a dpet to suffer because you are too selfish to pts...

Ylvamoon · 23/06/2023 18:43

I've always owned a dog. Most of mine were not insured for veterinary care ... only in the last 5-10 years it seems that vests prices have skyrocketed for the most mundane everyday things.

So you really have no choice!
I blame the pet insurance & claming for every visit for this...

Starhead69 · 23/06/2023 18:48

FINANCIAL SITUATIONS CHANGE

Original poster
Allelbowsandtoes · 23/06/2023 18:48

Whadda · 23/06/2023 18:24

I assume you’re equally annoyed with people who can’t afford the children they have?

Generally not, no. Although I saw a post recently on FB (again) about a family with four kids and wife was pregnant with fifth kid, while they were in temp accommodation and crowdfunding for essentials. That did make me raise an eyebrow. Obviously people's circumstances can change but you'd imagine not that quickly.

I'm very torn as I didn't grow up well off, far from it, and it makes me sad that anyone could be too poor to be able to have the kids or pets they want. On the other hand though, it's not the kids/pets fault...

OP posts:
Original poster
Allelbowsandtoes · 23/06/2023 18:50

Starhead69 · 23/06/2023 18:48

FINANCIAL SITUATIONS CHANGE

Thanks for the capitals, I wouldn't have been able to read this otherwise 😆

And yes I agree, FINANCIAL SITUATIONS DO CHANGE, which is why pet insurance is sensible from when you get the pet, not when you first find out they have a condition

OP posts:
DumpedByText · 23/06/2023 18:50

It's disgusting, on Facebook last week a woman's kitten had escaped for the second time. It's broke it's back leg and the vet wants £1300 to fix it, she can't afford it so it was sent home with metacam!

No insurance, she doesn't work so can't afford a payment plan so that kitten is suffering. I don't understand having pets if you can't afford vet fees.

Original poster
Allelbowsandtoes · 23/06/2023 18:52

Gymmum82 · 23/06/2023 18:39

Yanbu. Obviously there are exceptions but someone who has spend £3k or more on a puppy relatively recently and then can’t afford to treat said puppy absolutely boils my piss.

And of course it’s always the money grabbing vets fault 🙄 no wonder they have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession.
I utterly despise people sometimes

In fairness to this Facebook woman, she apparently rescued the pup from someone who was badly mistreating them. She's had it for months though so should have got insurance imo.

OP posts:
StEtienne93 · 23/06/2023 18:54

It depends on the situation. I had a friend who bought a French bulldog puppy. It had major health issues within a couple of years and he set up a go fund me page to pay the vet fees because he couldn't afford to pay them - plus no insurance. I thought that was bad. After spending thousands from the go fund me, he had to have his dog put to sleep anyway.
I have a rescue greyhound and can't afford vet fees, but I'm in a different situation. I've had my rescue for 7 years. When i got her I was married and took out pet insurance. Six months ago I split up with my husband who earns double my salary. The i surance renewal came through and because she's a senior dog with existing health conditions the renewal cost was £130 per month. I'm only just making ends meet now I'm on my own, plus the cost of living being sky high. I couldn't afford to renew and I dread anything major happening to her health wise. I can't get rid of her as she's so old, has health issues and is a member of the family. I hate that I'm in this situation but don't know what I can do.

Nappyvalley15 · 23/06/2023 18:55

I thought a lot of vets had been bought by private equity funds and so their prices have shot up.

TheSnootiestFox · 23/06/2023 19:01

StEtienne93 · 23/06/2023 18:54

It depends on the situation. I had a friend who bought a French bulldog puppy. It had major health issues within a couple of years and he set up a go fund me page to pay the vet fees because he couldn't afford to pay them - plus no insurance. I thought that was bad. After spending thousands from the go fund me, he had to have his dog put to sleep anyway.
I have a rescue greyhound and can't afford vet fees, but I'm in a different situation. I've had my rescue for 7 years. When i got her I was married and took out pet insurance. Six months ago I split up with my husband who earns double my salary. The i surance renewal came through and because she's a senior dog with existing health conditions the renewal cost was £130 per month. I'm only just making ends meet now I'm on my own, plus the cost of living being sky high. I couldn't afford to renew and I dread anything major happening to her health wise. I can't get rid of her as she's so old, has health issues and is a member of the family. I hate that I'm in this situation but don't know what I can do.

This! The dog's life insurance had to go post divorce as her life insurance was costing double what mine was!