Page 15 | Why do families who are poor, have pets

hostleg · 2025-08-06T11:58:28+00:00

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.

XenoBitch · 09/08/2025 18:46

Createausername1970 · 09/08/2025 18:41

Sadly you are right as we have just had to make that exact decision for our 12 year old Frenchie. He is pottering about the garden right now and happy in himself, and will be going for a walk soon. If you saw him you wouldn't think there is anything amiss. But that aggressive cancer in his tummy is causing problems and we reckon he has about 10 days of pottering left before it tips the balance.

It's very sad and will take him before his time. We could have investigated surgery, but it would have been very invasive and the recovery would have been tricky to manage, and with no guarantee that it wouldn't come straight back.

We have opted for sunshine and pottering and let him go at his peak before arthritis or other joint pain comes along.

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Aw, sorry to read about your poor boy
At least with people, they can understand the whole process about cancer treatment etc, and they can have hope etc. Dogs live in the here and now.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 09/08/2025 19:04

Bumblebee72 · 09/08/2025 18:22

Or just get the pet put to sleep when it needs treatment you can't afford and get a new one.

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What a load of shit.
Are you implying that poor people are incapable of adoring their pets, they go to much greater lengths to provide for the pet, than people who have easy access to money.
How do they afford this "new pet" in your little fantasy?

EmeraldShamrock000 · 09/08/2025 19:06

@Createausername1970 💐 Poor boy.

XenoBitch · 09/08/2025 19:07

EmeraldShamrock000 · 09/08/2025 19:04

What a load of shit.
Are you implying that poor people are incapable of adoring their pets, they go to much greater lengths to provide for the pet, than people who have easy access to money.
How do they afford this "new pet" in your little fantasy?

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Yes, I read it to imply that poor people make bad decisions about everything, including pets and their care.
I am on benefits, and I take amazing care of my dog. I love her to bits, and if love counted then she would live forever.

Beammeupscotty2025 · 09/08/2025 19:22

Having a pet is selfish rich or poor.

Human children are starving and living in squalor all over the world and you are questioning why poor people have pets?

Get a grip!

Elseaknows · 09/08/2025 19:54

I don't have a pet as I can't afford one.
I also can't give them the best possible care.

Countryspaniel · 09/08/2025 20:08

littlemisstrytoohard · 06/08/2025 13:04

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

This is the most absurd thing ever. Who is paying for this?

XenoBitch · 09/08/2025 20:27

Beammeupscotty2025 · 09/08/2025 19:22

Having a pet is selfish rich or poor.

Human children are starving and living in squalor all over the world and you are questioning why poor people have pets?

Get a grip!

Me having a pet had nothing to do with someone starving in another country.

daysfilledwithdappledlight · 09/08/2025 20:29

Because they still deserve love and companionship? And maybe they could afford them when they got them?

XenoBitch · 09/08/2025 20:31

daysfilledwithdappledlight · 09/08/2025 20:29

Because they still deserve love and companionship? And maybe they could afford them when they got them?

Yep, I am on benefits now, but I had my dog long before I was claiming anything. My dog has enriched my life, and is the reason I am still here.

chaosmaker · 09/08/2025 23:25

Grammarnut · 09/08/2025 15:13

People are too fond of saying what should be a legal requirement. Car insurance of course is a legal requirement. Insuring your mortgage ought to be but many do not bother! Pet insurance has just boosted the cost of going to a vet, IMHO.

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I can't afford to insure the mortgage I've just got in my 50's. I couldn't afford to rent so your solution would be me being homeless as mortgage insurance is extortionate if you have any medical conditions.

Dontwasteyourbreath · 09/08/2025 23:41

EmeraldShamrock000 · 09/08/2025 18:01

The blue cross enables families from poorer background to treat their pet, through donations and affordable payment options.

Vets, like Doctor's, at times put their patients care above profit, thanks to those kind medical staff volunteering, poor people can have pets, these medics understand that it is beneficial for a pet to be loved, even by the poorer people in society.

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Through donations? Right, so someone else pays, either through money or giving of time. No, I do not agree with that. And the Blue Cross / PDSA can only do a certain amount, quite rightly. But what that means, in practise, is that some animals do not get the care they need, because donations from other people aren’t enough to cover it.
Yes, owning and looking after and loving an animal has massive benefits. But the stress from not being able to properly care for that animal, never mind what that might mean for the animal? I cannot see how that benefits anyone.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 10/08/2025 00:20

Dontwasteyourbreath · 09/08/2025 23:41

Through donations? Right, so someone else pays, either through money or giving of time. No, I do not agree with that. And the Blue Cross / PDSA can only do a certain amount, quite rightly. But what that means, in practise, is that some animals do not get the care they need, because donations from other people aren’t enough to cover it.
Yes, owning and looking after and loving an animal has massive benefits. But the stress from not being able to properly care for that animal, never mind what that might mean for the animal? I cannot see how that benefits anyone.

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It doesn't matter whether you agree with it or not, we live in a society that helps those less fortunate.
My Dsis is a huge animal lover, she volunteers and often helps families with vet services, they also offer a volunteering dog walking service for people who lost their mobility rather than surrendering their adored pet.

Bumblebee72 · 10/08/2025 01:32

Countryspaniel · 09/08/2025 20:08

This is the most absurd thing ever. Who is paying for this?

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The same people that pay for everything else.

Grammarnut · 10/08/2025 13:25

Dontwasteyourbreath · 09/08/2025 23:41

Through donations? Right, so someone else pays, either through money or giving of time. No, I do not agree with that. And the Blue Cross / PDSA can only do a certain amount, quite rightly. But what that means, in practise, is that some animals do not get the care they need, because donations from other people aren’t enough to cover it.
Yes, owning and looking after and loving an animal has massive benefits. But the stress from not being able to properly care for that animal, never mind what that might mean for the animal? I cannot see how that benefits anyone.

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You don't agree with helping those less fortunate than yourself? You don't agree e.g. with providing policing, healthcare, armed forces, welfare etc for all through taxation? That is the logical position to take if you do not agree that some people need others to help them or to provide services which, alone, they cannot pay for!

Dontwasteyourbreath · 10/08/2025 13:56

Grammarnut · 10/08/2025 13:25

You don't agree with helping those less fortunate than yourself? You don't agree e.g. with providing policing, healthcare, armed forces, welfare etc for all through taxation? That is the logical position to take if you do not agree that some people need others to help them or to provide services which, alone, they cannot pay for!

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Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I agree with helping those less fortunate than myself. I do it through my taxes and also independently of that via donating time and money.
I do not agree that people who cannot afford to provide care to animals should choose to have them. And yes, I totally understand that circumstances change which is when the PDSA or Blue Cross are brilliant. I simply don’t feel I or anybody else is “entitled” to own an animal. I wanted a dog for YEARS but didn’t get one because I couldn’t afford it. I did not get one with the expectation that someone else would pay for it if it became unwell, or that I could just dump it, which is unfortunately what a lot of rescues are experiencing now.

Bumblebee72 · 10/08/2025 13:59

Dontwasteyourbreath · 10/08/2025 13:56

Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I agree with helping those less fortunate than myself. I do it through my taxes and also independently of that via donating time and money.
I do not agree that people who cannot afford to provide care to animals should choose to have them. And yes, I totally understand that circumstances change which is when the PDSA or Blue Cross are brilliant. I simply don’t feel I or anybody else is “entitled” to own an animal. I wanted a dog for YEARS but didn’t get one because I couldn’t afford it. I did not get one with the expectation that someone else would pay for it if it became unwell, or that I could just dump it, which is unfortunately what a lot of rescues are experiencing now.

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I'm with you. My idea of helping the less fortunate doesn't extend to thinking Chardonnay needs to have a state funded Guinea pig.

XenoBitch · 10/08/2025 14:17

Dontwasteyourbreath · 09/08/2025 23:41

Through donations? Right, so someone else pays, either through money or giving of time. No, I do not agree with that. And the Blue Cross / PDSA can only do a certain amount, quite rightly. But what that means, in practise, is that some animals do not get the care they need, because donations from other people aren’t enough to cover it.
Yes, owning and looking after and loving an animal has massive benefits. But the stress from not being able to properly care for that animal, never mind what that might mean for the animal? I cannot see how that benefits anyone.

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No one is forced to donate or volunteer. The existence of these charities is a good thing. They are taking nothing away from anyone else.

Also, not all pets end up needing vet treatment. My parent's old dog saw the vet once, and that was when he was PTS. Some dogs just drift through life with no health problems, or a few minor ones that are cheap and simple to sort.

Yes, people who can not afford to feed their pet... that is a problem, but is different to someone not having £k in in savings just in case, because the 'just in case' might not happen.

Dontwasteyourbreath · 10/08/2025 14:23

XenoBitch · 10/08/2025 14:17

No one is forced to donate or volunteer. The existence of these charities is a good thing. They are taking nothing away from anyone else.

Also, not all pets end up needing vet treatment. My parent's old dog saw the vet once, and that was when he was PTS. Some dogs just drift through life with no health problems, or a few minor ones that are cheap and simple to sort.

Yes, people who can not afford to feed their pet... that is a problem, but is different to someone not having £k in in savings just in case, because the 'just in case' might not happen.

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And if it does happen? The animal is euthanised, but oh well, you can always get another?
It is utterly selfish and nonsensical to think” I want a dog/cat/an other animal. I cannot afford to care for it, but I want one so I’ll get one”.

XenoBitch · 10/08/2025 14:30

Dontwasteyourbreath · 10/08/2025 14:23

And if it does happen? The animal is euthanised, but oh well, you can always get another?
It is utterly selfish and nonsensical to think” I want a dog/cat/an other animal. I cannot afford to care for it, but I want one so I’ll get one”.

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Then those people are assholes, but I can't imagine it will have been an easy decision. Having a pet PTS is heart breaking.

How many people do not spend huge amounts on treatment for small pets? Pets that don't live long anyway... are they awful people for getting more after? If your child's 2 year old hamster starts growing a huge mass, will you spend hundreds on it?

Being PTS is not the worse thing that can happen to an animal.

I can afford to care for my dog. I could not afford a massive vet bill, but she is on borrowed time anyway as she is very elderly.

ANiceBigCupOfTea · 10/08/2025 14:34

Lots of people start out ok and then something happens to change their financial situation.
Your question is actually gross. Do you look at a family with four plus kids who are poor and ask them why they had so many kids?

Grammarnut · 10/08/2025 15:06

Dontwasteyourbreath · 10/08/2025 13:56

Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I agree with helping those less fortunate than myself. I do it through my taxes and also independently of that via donating time and money.
I do not agree that people who cannot afford to provide care to animals should choose to have them. And yes, I totally understand that circumstances change which is when the PDSA or Blue Cross are brilliant. I simply don’t feel I or anybody else is “entitled” to own an animal. I wanted a dog for YEARS but didn’t get one because I couldn’t afford it. I did not get one with the expectation that someone else would pay for it if it became unwell, or that I could just dump it, which is unfortunately what a lot of rescues are experiencing now.

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As it happens, I agree with (despite feeling pets are a good idea) - with this exception: that pensioners living alone often have an animal which is their sole companion. I don't mind donating so their pet can be cared for.

XenoBitch · 10/08/2025 15:18

Grammarnut · 10/08/2025 15:06

As it happens, I agree with (despite feeling pets are a good idea) - with this exception: that pensioners living alone often have an animal which is their sole companion. I don't mind donating so their pet can be cared for.

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Why just pensioners? Younger people can experience loneliness too, and benefit from having a pet.

chaosmaker · 10/08/2025 15:58

ANiceBigCupOfTea · 10/08/2025 14:34

Lots of people start out ok and then something happens to change their financial situation.
Your question is actually gross. Do you look at a family with four plus kids who are poor and ask them why they had so many kids?

yes, but also if they are rich.... too many people on the earth

Dutchhouse14 · 10/08/2025 16:01

I grew up poor and we always had much loved family cats, they were an important part of our childhood and taught us a lot about how to care and respect for pets and a comfort when times were hard.
The cats we had were generally very healthy and lived long happy lives.
I think being able to have a pet is important and actually time love, care and attention count for a lot, it's not all about money.
Vet treatment has advanced enormously and costs are massive, I recently spent £250 on medication and vet consultation for our guinea pig who had an ulcer, there's no way my parents would have done the equivalent