Dog seriously ill, due to go to Australia on Sunday

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My dog has become seriously ill in just a few days, she's having an operation on Wednesday next week and we've been told there's a 75% chance of success of her surviving the operation. If she doesn't have the operation she would likely have less than a month to live.

I am due to fly to Australia on Sunday for 2 weeks. The holiday cost me thousands. The travel insurance won't cover a cancellation or change in dates for a pet, and the pet insurance will cover £1000 which is better than nothing.

I feel devastated. It is a huge sum of money, I've saved up and done so much planning and preparation and I feel sick at the thought of it just going to waste. It was for a big birthday. The operation is also thousands of pounds, so this whole situation is costing nearly 6 months of salary for me. I also feel sick at leaving my dog, not knowing what the outcome of the surgery is gonna be or knowing if it's the last time I'll see her. I've spoken to family and friends who think I should go, aside from the family member who would be looking after her while I was away - they said it would be wrong for me to go and they would never consider going themselves.

I don't think I'll go but it hurts so much, I'm so upset at the timing of it all

I have been wondering what you chose to do, OP. Hope you found a choice that felt right 🙂💐

@mydogisthebest I may have misinterpreted the birthday trip as being OPs and not to celebrate a loved one's abroad. I'm glad to see that you have enough empathy to distinguish between a holiday and a special visit to loved ones in the circumstances outlined.

However, the OP is human, and the vast amounts of money involved are (to me) staggering!

Yes, for me it would be totally different if it were just a holiday or if it were to visit relatives.

I would not, obviously, be happy to lose a large amount of money but, again to me, that is just one of the likely downsides of having a pet.

My dog is my fuzzy daughter. I would stay. Your pet needs you like a child would. I can bet if you put the tickets up or have family who would pay for the tickets to go they would pay you. You can take a vacation anytime. Your dog is o ly here for a short time. If the vacation is more important to you. Then I really hope you never own another pet. You dog is going to be scared then you are not there so total traumatizing and feeling abandoned.. I'm sorry but I would stay. See if the tickets can be put to another time or sell them to someone. My dog has been loyal and there for me through thick and thin and every hard time I have had. No human will ever be that. It's your choice. But don't get anymore pets if you are not caring enough about them to be there when they need you. They have always been there when you needed them. Loyalty is nothing to scoff at. If you go please never get another pet to put in that scary situation. You just need to not own an animal. That's my opinion. Sorry for my bluntness. But my pets are more important to me than anything. They are always loyal and do not lie. They will never let you down. People are nothing like that

I haven't read the entire thread, but it might be worth calling your travel insurance and explain the circumstances, they may do a partial payout?

What a horrible situation to be in.
I went to Tenetife a few years ago now and our dog took ill before we went. He was with the vet, BiL was going to look after him for us and we did choose to go because we thought he'd come over the worst of it, even the vet said he was very confident. He died while we were on holiday and I have always regretted going. I let the people we were going with talk me into it when I should have listened to my gut and stayed.
There is no right decision but make sure that what you choose is right for you. I hope he pulls through ❤️

You obviously do not have any pets and if you do, you shouldn't be allowed to. You lack love and compassion towards not only our four legged furry friends but also humans. I will pray for you.

If you go and anything happens to your furry baby, it will haunt you for the rest of your life and you will regret going. My dog was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and was given 2 months to live. I had to travel for work the day after she was diagnosed. I had no choice but to go. She didn't make the 2 months and died 10 minutes before I arrived home, I was only gone for 3 days. :'(
I would never choose a holiday over my pet if my dog was gonna have surgery to save their life. It was bad enough that I had to choose my job which I will never ever do that again.
I think you already know the answer to your question. It's in your heart and no matter what comments you get it won't change how you feel. You sound like you really love your dog. Your furry baby will need you. You and your furry baby will be in my heart and I will say a prayer for both of you. Praying all will be well.

Good grief! There's an awful lot of silliness in some of these posts!

Pet animals are not "fur babies", nor are they anyone's "daughter"!! This type of rampant anthropomorphism is inappropriate - and utterly weird.

Some people have said that some posters shouldn't have pets because they are not treating the pets as if they were human. I contend that it's actually the other way around, i.e. anyone who is incapable of differentiating between an animal and a human and who projects human emotions, and feelings onto animals, probably shouldn't have pets.

Please just make a decision you can live with. A decision that is right for you, may not be right for someone else. Please let us know how the surgery went.

Sounds very robotic to me

It would depend on the dog for me, mine doesn’t care who he’s with and very much into love the one your with. Everyone is a friend. If they will cry, not eat etc then I wouldn’t go.

Hope your dog will be ok.

Tell me you don't have a dog, without telling me you don't have a dog!!!!

You need to be there for your dog imo hard as it is.
its you the dog will be looking for when it’s in pain and vulnerable and its you your dog has faithfully served.
id be gutted about the holiday too but my poorly dog would be my priority

That's not a hard decision. What loves you more? Your dog or a vacation? Money can't compare to what a dog gives you. You only posted that here to get confirmation that it was okay to pick up vacation over your dog's life.

Furry baby 😳 it’s a dog. Dogs are wonderful companions but there are not furry babies.

We don't do that here.

Your partner is with your pet so I would go. It's not the same situation as if you're leaving your dog in the care of a random relative it's the dogs other owner so will be there to comfort him.

I would stay with the dog.
If I left them I wouldn't enjoy the holiday and all the memories would be tainted anyway.

Omg! I realize your vacation was extremely costly.
For me and I mean I'm only expressing my thoughts. I would never, ever leave my fur babies behind. It wouldn't be a vacation knowing and constantly worrying of every aspect of the unfortunate situation.
I was recently in the hospital for over two months. That wasn't a choice. All I did is think and cry about my cats and they weren't sick or facing a risky operation. However, we all have thoughts and opinions.
I just wanted to share my mine.
I pray your dog will and is well.

Totally over emotive post and no need to repeat about not getting another pet four times.

The OP will not be abandoning a pet, it’s with her partner, not left on the street to fend for itself. She’s perfectly entitled to be a future pet owner.

Sorry, your pet is the only thing that hasn’t let you down, but lots of people are surrounded by people that haven’t let them down, so please don’t assume that everyone has to be totally reliant on an animal for that.

BS!!! She was entitled to repeat herself as ma y times as she felt she needed to. She got her thoughts and opinions clearly posted. And I agree with everything she said 💯.
I have several people in my life that are beyond loyal to me. However, my cats are another. Story.. I'm not going to go into my specific situations. I posted my my, meaning my own opinions and feelings on my post from yesterday and dont feel the need to repeat them. So, I'm just saying this cause I totally agree with this individuals post!

i totally disagree and think it’s totally emotive and she has absolutely no right to demand that OP doesn’t have pets again. Who made her or you judge it jury.

The facts being no one is going to stop OP having more pets if she so wishes.

So it’s a waste of breath and time saying it.

Do we know if OP went?