Why do families who are poor, have pets

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They are expensive to feed, look after and to recover from illness and injuries.

Hear people who have a dog who swallowed something they shouldn’t have - £900 at vets. I’m sure these poor families don’t have £900.

Because pets are absolutely lovely. They’re good for mood lifting, keeping kids busy etc….
There could be some financial help for the families genuinely struggling…..
Pets should be available to all, not just the privileged

Perhaps they weren't poor when they first got the pet?

Many people's circumstances change and they may have been easily able to afford a pet when they bought it, but later fall on hard times. I do understand what you are saying, but I also think for many people they are companions and sometimes good for their mental and physical health.

Sometimes people don't realise the cost of a pet

I'm sorry, but I disagree. Pets are a privilege, not a right.

Pets are a lifelong responsibility, and part of that responsibility is to ensure you can pay for their food, vets bills, emergencies etc. If you do not have insurance, you need to ensure you have the capital for a large unexpected expense.

Animals should not suffer because they are owned by people less well off.

PDSA treat animals of people on benefits etc.

And what about the elderly, who are quite often not well off but for whom a pet is their only companion and a lifeline?

I agree that people’s circumstances change, but pets cost money and are a luxury not a necessity.

Because they love you even if you're broke. Unlike most people. They give people a purpose in life. They make people happy.

Should poor people not try and be happy? Maybe you should ask why they have a big telly, or tattoos, or why do they vape? They do things for the same reasons as less poor people do. As they're human beings. Amazing as it may seem.

If you have good insurance, it’s not actually that expensive to own a pet.

I had my pet long before my life took a U-turn and I ended up "poor".

Completely agree, having a pet is a luxury and a big commitment.

I don’t quite agree that they should be available to all, they should be available to those who have both the time and funds to care for them properly (feed them, walk them, provide an appropriate environment for them to live) and to maintain their health (eg provide regular treatments they need such as flea treatment, have pet insurance for vets fees)

I do understand PP’s point that circumstances change but putting money aside in case of this should be a priority when you own a pet. Perhaps some are not able to do this and have a change in circumstances which is very difficult, although if they could easily afford the pet when they bought it you’d like to think they were in the position to put a bit away to support the animal in future in case of circumstance changes

Pets are not toys or something to entertain the kids. They are living creatures with needs. Those needs can be costly. Too many people have an animal, then neglect or abandon it when it needs to see a vet.

Someone I know got a kitten a year ago - all cuddly and cute, for the kids. She didn't bother to have the poor thing speyed (or microchipped, despite that being a legal obligation), so it became pregnant and has just given birth to 2 dead kittens, because it's still too young to breed. It annoys me so much.

Because people make bad decisions and in our society we buffer the consequences of those bad decisions, leading them to make further bad decisions.

The same reason 'poor' people have children, drink alcohol, wear jewellery, buy Christmas presents and do other non-essential things: because 'poor' people have exactly the same wishes and desires as everyone else and life with nothing but the barest necessities for survival is absolutely miserable as fuck.

Hope that clarifies things for you.

I think the way vets fees have rocketed is awful. Also I have been told large businesses have bought up many smaller practices and this has led to price increases. The Telegraph looked into the rising costs.

www.telegraph.co.uk/money/bills/why-vet-bills-pets-outrageously-expensive/

Until they get older and the excess you need to pay gets higher.

Hello Jeremy

This article is American but same issue

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/vet-private-equity-industry/678180/

Beside a change in someone's circumstances I think you have hit the nail.on the head.

We have two cats. Rather than put up the price of cat food the manufacturer started putting less in a sachet. Previously got 100g sachet, now only 85g. We didn't realise and thought cats were just getting hungrier so not we have to buy more sachets or they are on a diet.

Same. Also, my pets seem to be living to a very very old age.

The premiums too. I stopped the insurance for my pet once it got to £110pm. I simply can not afford that. That was 6 years ago. I dread to think what it would be now.

Literally that, I lived in a 4 bedroom detached when I bought the dog

For much the same reason that they have children. Are you going to start a thread about that??

But surely you should only have a pet if you can afford one or are in need of one for medical reasons. The only people, who I don't mind, are those who take in mistreated or unwanted pets - but even then there should be a limit.

Yh everyone should be able to have a pet - not just the rich - but only people who can afford them. If you can't afford them, don't expect food banks and benefit money go towards paying for them. It's not fair on the pets themselves and other people who could actually do with the money. Makes my blood boil - especially when it's people that don't work, have lots of children and pets but still want sympathy of I can't afford it.