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.

Why do well off people think that poorer people should have to forego everything nice and enjoyable just to survive in the way that middle class people deem to be appropriate?

The issue of poor people having pets and people buying pets in lockdown or for Xmas (ie without thinking it through) are separate ones. Poor doesn't mean stupid and well-off doesn't mean good at making decisions.

Most poor people don't have pets because they live in flats, rented or unstable accommodation and/or have done the maths. The few that do obviously deem it to be important for their family/their welfare to make the financial sacrifice.

I'm not particularly poor but I do have a UC top up on my civil servant salary so you probably think I am out of order for taking on two rescue cats (fully insured, chipped and spayed) that my children and I get a lot of enjoyment from don't you?

None of my pets have ever checked my purse. Over the years they taught my chi,dren and grandchildren to treat vulnerable creatures with care, to look after their needs, to love a pet when words aren't enough for comfort, if you're hurting. Overall, we're all better human beings for sharing our lives with animals. Its a basic instinct to care for something vulnerable other than yourself. Sorry you've missed out OP.

Pets, massive wide-screen tellys, and tattoos. They come in threes.

No they don't. I have a pet, but not the other two things.
Put the Daily Mail down.

Yes that is a very common discussion on here as to why parents who struggle to afford the kids they have go on to have another.

I don’t think people have any issue whereby the pet proceeds a change in circumstances. The issue, as I see it, is don’t buy an expensive pet (or large tv, expensive holiday, and yes, have more children) if you’re struggling with money. This applies to everyone, not just ‘the poor’ .

Companionship, exercise, mood enhancers

I have one pet, my only company & very much the reason I'm getting out of bed. I cover his costs above my own, even if that means I go without because he brings me such joy, I cannot express what a difference having him makes.

My life is void of most things others do, drinking, trips out, holidays, my life wouldn't matter without him.

I got my kitten after getting out of a psychiatric unit. I was very alone and not feeling good and I bought my kitten. I'm so glad I did. He is my constant companion. I get disability payments but I don't see myself as particularly poor. I think my income is at the level of working full time minimum wage job. I pay £15 per month for insurance and I have a small inexpensive vet for my cat, it isn't much, and his food doesn't cost too much

What if they already have the children though?
I'm one of four and we were fine until my little sister took very unwell and my mum had to leave work to care for her. She couldn't really give one of us back, ya know?
My point was things change sometimes and people who were fine financially can have things wholly out of their control take that away.

But your circumstances changed. I think the concern is when people spend money on pets etc with money they haven’t got.

What's this got to do with "poor" people?
Iv seen well off families getting pets for their children for xmas or birthdays only to moan about the mess, the whining, the "im sick of walking this dog" or "having to clean up mess" "little jonny said they would do it but now they leave it to me and I haven't time...do you want a dog?"

Yes, my neighbour is one. Got a spaniel (so high energy dog) during Covid. She works as a nurse so left him alone loads. She would get home, and I would hear "you fucking disgusting animal" etc stuff like that because she left him and he obviously needed to toilet when she was out.
And he used to do the most sad howls too.

I think the next generation are actually more switched on when it comes to animal welfare and responsibility when it comes to pet ownership so I'm not too concerned about the future.