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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that poor people shouldn't be able to afford pets?

143 replies

tellmesomethingtrue · 28/12/2024 20:20

Why do people who claim to be poor or say moneys tight, then buy pets? I genuinely can't understand this logic.
AIBU to think that if you can't afford a basic house DIY or to buy your kids uniform, then you therefore can't afford pets?

OP posts:
magicalmrmistoffelees · 28/12/2024 20:47

Timeforsnacks · 28/12/2024 20:26

The only people I know who have pets are ones who were in debt and then decided to get pets and then complain about the cost of the pet or allow the pet to go without. It's heartbreaking to be honest and I also can't understand the logic

I have pets and have never been in debt bar my mortgage, which is now paid off

millymollymoomoo · 28/12/2024 20:47

Why can’t people see there is absolutely a difference between getting a pet then say 5 years later and going though like changing circumstances such as redundancy or divorce vs people who have no money today and still go ahead

if you cannot pay your food, bills, have money left over for emergency or general living then no you should not get a pet

Cherrypickled · 28/12/2024 20:48

Lots of pets eat and thrive on cheap food from Aldi or wherever. Only MN pets eat organic meat from the farm shop.

LlynTegid · 28/12/2024 20:49

Some poor people smoke, take illegal drugs, drink to excess. Far worse examples of the wrong financial management priorities.

buttonousmaximous · 28/12/2024 20:49

It's too general.

Family who can't afford to feed kids. Definitely don't need pets adding to costs.

Single person who's mh is improved by their pet and they ensure their pet doesn't suffer. I wouldn't begrudge them.

Person who got a pet and then fell on hard times but make sure their pet doesn't miss out I did consider them to be a responsible et owner.

Hesonlyakidharry · 28/12/2024 20:49

UndeniablyGenXmasOfAWomblingMerryType · 28/12/2024 20:34

You mention school uniform - so you think it's OK to bring children into an impoverished existence, but not pets?

Well, people already living in poverty with no extra money to their name shouldn’t be having kids because they can’t afford them so…

I mean, I have kids. I can comfortably afford 2. I wanted more than 2. I cannot comfortably afford more than 2 so I just didn’t have more.
If I could only afford 1 then I’d have had 1.
If I couldn’t afford kids then I wouldn’t have had them. Not hard really.

3rdCoffeeThisMorning · 28/12/2024 20:50

millymollymoomoo · 28/12/2024 20:47

Why can’t people see there is absolutely a difference between getting a pet then say 5 years later and going though like changing circumstances such as redundancy or divorce vs people who have no money today and still go ahead

if you cannot pay your food, bills, have money left over for emergency or general living then no you should not get a pet

They are righteously misreading. Even as ESL I understand the question 🤷

No, it's not ok to get a pet when you can't afford essential for you ro dependant humans. It's not just about food but also vet etc. Simple math really

Lambington · 28/12/2024 20:51

Or flat screen TVs? Or children?

Dearg · 28/12/2024 20:51

Most pets are indeed an expensive hobby. But, maybe their pet is all some people have in the world.

And just as human food banks exist, ( even though we should not need them) so there are pet food banks; and PDSA etc for vet care.

Some of the most beloved pets live in ‘poor’ homes.

TheWonderhorse · 28/12/2024 20:51

Oh OP.

Being a person on low income in this country is shit. My partner and I both work full time and still have to rely on UC to get through the month. That's not how it ought to be. Previous generations we'd have been providing for ourselves with money left over, we'd own our home and have had no university fees to pay.

I know there are people outraged by the fact that we have a dog and two guinea pigs but you can sod off, because I'm not working full time to sit at home afterwards with no TV or internet and giving my phone up so I can just be a good worker drone that the rich make money off. We have to live too, you know, these are our lives and they need to be worthwhile. The arts are cut to ribbons, and the economy is everything. Except that it's not. I love my dog dearly, and I look after him. He's not expensive and he's the best therapy you could ask for.

Spirallingdownwards · 28/12/2024 20:51

You forgot to say and Sky TV and fans OP.

jhar · 28/12/2024 20:52

There will never be an answer to this.

You could say poor people shouldn't have children. How is that enforced?

Do we penalise GGG with her five starving children and false nails before we tear into HHH, the elderly vulnerable man who lost his wife and spends every penny on feeding his dog. Who used to manage but his child moved abroad and the government cut his allowance.

Or do we start with those who have had children removed, but pets left in squalor.

What about a down the street who drowned a litter of kittens she couldn't sell.

Then there is B. B feeds the neighbours cats. Often goes without herself, but the neighbours are drug dealers.

It's just a ridiculous assumption that those with pets who care for them should not be allowed them.

I think in Mumsnet there is often a tendency to sweep and say these things.

The reality is there are horrific wrongs across all levels of society, some that should not be justified.

Some that are very much at the heart of poverty that people just will never understand. Eg a charity where they simply cannot take anymore animals, but can help others care for them to give them joy, save shelter in staff and ease that burden.

Timeforsnacks · 28/12/2024 20:53

ilovesooty · 28/12/2024 20:40

You move in strange circles then. Just about everyone I know who has pets can afford them.

In any case people's circumstances can change after they get their pets.

But OP is very clearly talking about not having enough money to live within current means and then deciding it's a great time to add a pet to the household bills. What's your view on this?

magicalmrmistoffelees · 28/12/2024 20:56

Timeforsnacks · 28/12/2024 20:53

But OP is very clearly talking about not having enough money to live within current means and then deciding it's a great time to add a pet to the household bills. What's your view on this?

You said that everyone you know who owns a pet is in debt. Which is bizarre.

Blinsi · 28/12/2024 20:56

millymollymoomoo · 28/12/2024 20:47

Why can’t people see there is absolutely a difference between getting a pet then say 5 years later and going though like changing circumstances such as redundancy or divorce vs people who have no money today and still go ahead

if you cannot pay your food, bills, have money left over for emergency or general living then no you should not get a pet

Because people on MN are morons.

HolyPeaches · 28/12/2024 20:58

Do you donate to and help animal charities OP?

Do you also donate to food banks and charities that support the poor?

ilovesooty · 28/12/2024 20:58

Timeforsnacks · 28/12/2024 20:53

But OP is very clearly talking about not having enough money to live within current means and then deciding it's a great time to add a pet to the household bills. What's your view on this?

I wasn't responding to the OP.

Cherrypickled · 28/12/2024 21:00

Blinsi · 28/12/2024 20:56

Because people on MN are morons.

Including you?

whycantibeselfishforonce · 28/12/2024 21:00

I've NCd for my reply to this!

I totally agree with the OP.

I work for a small charity and it is my job to support families with advice on housing, benefits, schooling, funding etc. I organise food parcels for families on a weekly basis. I 100% try not to judge but sometimes it is really difficult to deal with the decisions people make.

One of my families, just before Christmas, came in with a new puppy. They have 3 children and no money. I had to give them funds for bus fares the week before. How are they going to feed the dog never mind pay for insurance, vets bills and injections?

They are not terrible people they just make terrible choices with priorities. This is one of many examples I could give. It is tough!

Blinsi · 28/12/2024 21:02

Cherrypickled · 28/12/2024 21:00

Including you?

No, I can clearly see the difference between someone who took on a dog when they didn't have the means to, vs someone who had a dog and hit hard times. I'm not stupid. But thanks for the comment.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 28/12/2024 21:03

I'm poor with pets. Multiple pets actually. I'm poor because I work part time on minimum wage. I work part time because I have pets.

I'm poor, yet I still get more pets from work occasionally.

I have their costs to a minimum. Cheap food from Lidl plus human food scraps and accident only insurance.

I choose pets over running a car so I don't drive.

Blinsi · 28/12/2024 21:04

Cherrypickled · 28/12/2024 20:37

Poor people should sit on orange boxes and wear sacks and shouldn't have houses. They should live in hole in t road

Quite a reach from having a dog that you can't afford. But ok.

Mrsttcno1 · 28/12/2024 21:06

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 28/12/2024 21:03

I'm poor with pets. Multiple pets actually. I'm poor because I work part time on minimum wage. I work part time because I have pets.

I'm poor, yet I still get more pets from work occasionally.

I have their costs to a minimum. Cheap food from Lidl plus human food scraps and accident only insurance.

I choose pets over running a car so I don't drive.

And what if one of those pets falls unwell, needs surgery or treatment, and you only have accident only insurance?

WantToGoCamping · 28/12/2024 21:06

Blinsi · 28/12/2024 21:04

Quite a reach from having a dog that you can't afford. But ok.

I take it you're not a Monty Python fan...

Blinsi · 28/12/2024 21:13

WantToGoCamping · 28/12/2024 21:06

I take it you're not a Monty Python fan...

Yeah no idea what you're talking about.