Cost of vet treatment petition for animal NHS

[Speakeasy]

Everyone is suffering from the cost of living crisis and it is hitting pet owners too, especially with the cost of vet treatment rising rapidly. There are two petitions running asking for an Animal NHS, one on the UK government site and one of the Welsh government site. People in Wales can sign both but everyone else can only sign the UK one.

Please consider signing and sharing the petitions because it might just help people to keep the pets they consider to be their family.

The UK petition is at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/635352
and reads:

Create an Animal NHS for pensioners, those on low incomes, and for emergenciesIntroduce an Animal NHS for the animals of pensioners, those on means tested benefits and for animals who present with emergencies. Creating a national service to meet the needs of these animals would allow veterinary charities to help a new range of clients who are struggling to make ends meet.
More details
No animal owner could be unaware of soaring veterinary costs. One of the most common reasons that the SHG sees for animal welfare prosecutions that is failure to seek veterinary advice, either at all, or quickly enough, even if the animal is booked in for when the next pay cheque arrives.
A recent survey found that nearly all UK vets that responded have seen animals during the last 12 months that should have been presented earlier. Financial problems were given as the main reason in 91% of cases.
We can and must do better.

The Welsh petition is at https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/245403
and reads:

Create an Animal NHSIntroduce an Animal NHS, if only for the animals of pensioners, those on means tested benefits and for animals who present with emergencies.
If private vets could access general government funding it would allow the veterinary charities to help a new range of clients who are struggling to make ends meet.
More details
No animal owner could be unaware of soaring veterinary costs. One of the most prolific reasons for animal welfare prosecutions that come into The SHG is failure to seek veterinary advice, either at all, or quickly enough, even when the animal is booked in for when the next pay cheque arrives. Nearly all vets have seen animals during the last 12 months that should have been presented earlier.
www.vettimes.co.uk/news/report-shows-growing-number-of-clients-delaying-treatment-for-their-pets/
Financial problems were given as the main reason in 91% of cases.
Times are hard and there are many calls on government finances but the proven benefits of animal companionship means that an Animal NHS would pay for itself many times over, if only by reducing demands on the courts and legal aid.
Wales can and must do better.

What has this got to do with the topic 🤔

If the vets are worried then they can do something about it , that doesn’t involve tax payers footing the bill .

OP there are kids going hungry… families in poverty!!!!
a HUMAN NHS crumbling! With Its horrendous waiting lists…
schools are underfunded…dentists are hard to come by….

I could go on….

the fact that you think we should spend tax payers money on bloody Fido and Felix just pisses me off!

That would give an across the board help to everyone. The aim of the Animal NHS is limited to those who are actually in need.

People, are actually in need, not pets.

Ridiculous idea - pets are a luxury - can't afford them then don't have them. As for people falling on hard times, when does that end? People need to take responsibility.
Should we have a fund for people who have horses on livery but take a pay cut and can't afford to pay the £600 livery a month?
Fund someone who takes on 50 dogs whilst not having a job?
The NHS doesn't work - why would this? People just need to start taking responsibility

@Speakeasy would you be a recipient of this free to only some animal nhs or a non recipient and a funder of it?
If you'd be funding it with additional taxes, why don't you just increase the payments I'm assuming you already donate to the pdsa and other animal charities?

Pets owner here, absolutely not. If you can't afford vet bills or insurance don't own a pet exception of guide dogs.

No chance. Pets are a luxury. If I couldn’t afford to care for mine anymore, I’d rehome them so they could be adequately cared for. I don’t expect others to fund my luxuries!

um no. If you cannot afford your pet, you dont have one - we dont even have an NHS for people that works!!

i will not be signing - and i have pets!!

I would not qualify for it as described, no. I most certainly do not fund the animal charities. They have caused much of the heartbreak.

is-the-rspca-attitude-to-prosecuting-poor-pet-owners-the-equivalent-of-prosecuting-third-world-parents-for-having-thin-children-in-a-famine-do-we-need-an-animal-nhs

I don’t have any pets. Why should my taxes be used for irresponsible people to keep pets? If you can’t afford a pet don’t get one.

You must be bloody joking.

Sorry, no bloody way, pay for your own pets, can’t afford it don’t get one, they only thing that I would give to pets wise are disability dogs

No

Having a pet is a choice and a luxury. Don't have pets if you can't afford them

I would like free school dinners for my dog. He’s homeschooled but he eats LOADS.

He was at the vets recently and a man came in to book an appointment for puppy vaccinations. They aren’t taking on any new patients because the whole place is swimming with dogs and there aren’t enough vets. The man and the receptionist just went round and round in a loop with her explaining “we aren’t taking on any new patients” in more and more ways and him claiming his dog wasn’t a patient because he just needed vaccinations. I had to leave but they might be there still. It’s almost as hard round here to get a vet as it is to get a dentist.

Maybe if it was funded by pet licenses. A bit like the BBC, every pet owner has to pay an annual fee, that goes into a pot to fund healthcare for those on benefits who can't afford emergency care.
But I don't think it's a priority at the moment I'm afraid.

I need free childcare for my goldfish so I’m up for it.

This is the most bonkers thing I've read on here for a while, is this a joke?

This is absolute shit. My DD is a vet and has had plenty of sleepless nights and tears over animals in pain or suffering because the owners WON’T pay. The only person she threatened with the RSPCA was a man who rolled up in an expensive car who was content to let his dog with a mouthful of rotten teeth suffer.

They do everything to find lower cost treatment for customers who can’t pay. They will treat as best they can within the customer’ means. Spending hours on the phone even when their shift has finished, trying the charity sector or other practices, even taking in animals rather than putting to sleep.

Give your head a wobble. Of all the batshit crazy posts you made on this thread this is the stupidest and most offensive.

to your dd, she sounds amazing @Otherlifeform

My old vet, now retired, had a house full of dogs he'd saved from being put to sleep.

Pet owners are legally required to seek medical care for their pets when necessary. If they can't afford that then the only option is to surrender their pet. Instead they keep them and let them suffer whilst moaning about vet fees. It's incredibly selfish.

What is selfish is the so called rescues that give people the option of signing over their pet which might be the only companion of an elderly person, an emotional support animal for someone ill, or simply a member of their family, so that the rescue can pay the vet fees and then sell the animal on. If they were real charities they would help the people and animal stay together. Lots of charities have forgotten what the word means.

I think that if a pet owner finds themselves in financial difficulties then , maybe a National scheme for reduced cost/free vet bills would be very helpful but taxpayers should not fund it.

Pet owners , via an annual tax/licence should subsidise this.