Do you think you have to be rich to own a pet?

[LadyLynn]

The title of the thread is explanitory. Do you think you have to be rich to own a pet?

To take good and proper care of it?

WHat if a pet chooses you::: like a stray showing up on your front door whether it's a dog, cat, bird, or rodent of some sort?

Will you turn that pet away?

What's your opinion?

[Julia423]

I expect that the overwhelming response you'll get on this site is that of course you don't have to be rich to own a pet. Should one be aware of the financial responsibilities of owning pets? Yes. Should we try to be as prepared as possible for emergencies that may stretch our $$ to the limit? Yes. Should we turn away strays? Sometimes, yes, we must. Do we have a responsibility to be good stewards of our environment and all of the creatures in it? Yes. Each of us must do our part, no matter how small, to take responsibility for life.

[xpalaboyx]

I dont think that you need to be rich to take care of a pet... yes you do need the money to take care of them but being poor doesnt mean that you cant be a good pet owner.

[That_girl]

I definately don't think you need to be rich either. I think you need to be prepared for anything, just like everything else in life.

I don't think that you should go into pet ownership based on finding an animal that won't be expensive to keep. Initial cost may be less for some animals, but you need to be able to get it help if it needs it. Just like if you break your arm, you go to the hospital.

I've seen an ad on craigslist that was saying the woman was given an expensive dog as a gift, and she dropped it and it had a broken leg (or so she thought). She didn't ask for help, rather she complained about how vets are soo expensive so she wouldn't be taking her dog there because she anticipated high unreasonable costs...people just taking her money.

Any pet could become expensive at any point - and people need to know that. It's another thing what they do when it does - but I think the majority of people get pets with no idea about how much they could cost.

Being "rich" helps, but isn't necessary. Education and dedication do.

[vix506]

Julia said it perfectly. When Lucky turned up in my parking lot, I was hardly in a position to take in a pet, after much thought and with Mom's help and a credit card, I made it work until things got better.

[Macawpower58]

For owning and loving a pet. Certainly not. Even the poor know how to love unconditionally.

For those who decide to breed, perhaps rich is the wrong word, but yes, being financially secure is almost a must.

[lindsayanng]

You def. dont have to be rich to take care of a pet, but being rich would not HURT. people who have an unlimited source of money and an unlimited amount of love for their pets would make an ideal pet owner, but the second best is someone who has enough money for care and general costs, and unlimited amount of love for their pets, but those who do not have the ulimited amounts of money need to also be willing to give up certain human amenities to care for a pet when it is needed..

a GOOD pet owner should be willing to for-go their cell phone in order to get their pet the care it needs if times are tough, or go to extended lengths to get the money when needed.

My husband and i have recently given up eating out for the past 4 months because our cats have been sick and cost us $600 just for medications and $300 for testing.. not to mention the OTHER pets int he house.. so we gave up A LOT.. but we still took care of them.. and if i had to, i would have apply for carecredit or some otehr loan type program, and if that didn't work, i would start asking for help from family.. but i would exhaust ALL options before possibly turning them over.

I think a good pet owner should also be willing to turn their animal over if they can not provide the financial care that a particular animal needs. If there is a dog that needs constant medication and such, that owner should try to find a safe environment for that dog to be in where they will receive the care it needs to survive. THAT is the hardest thing for most people to do.

[ringletchk]

I agree with you entirely Lindsay. I'm fairly comfortable financially but when Skeeter needs vet attention he gets it. Like when I found he had crystals in his urine, I began saving money in a savings account and named it "Skeeter's Account". He hasn't needed the surgery but if he ever does or gets sick, I have that extra account for his needs. I only save $25.00 per pay check and it adds up quickly. I will go without before Skeeter does.

[krazy4birds]

Great idea ringlechk.....if a person would put what they can afford each paycheck in a special account it would start adding up and what a blessing that it be there should you need it. I may just start doing that myself!

[buiza]

Great idea ringlechk.....if a person would put what they can afford each paycheck in a special account it would start adding up and what a blessing that it be there should you need it. I may just start doing that myself!


Strange that you mentioned this because just a while back I was worried about Rainbow and also worried about where the money was going to come from for the vet. I would like to get insurance for her but just can't afford it right now. Anyway I realized that every night my husband comes home and puts his change in a little box and sooner or later I roll it and take it to the bank. You would be amazed at how fast it adds up so we decided that until we can insure her that is going to be "Rainbow's Sick Money"

As for being rich, I don't think that is necessary but anyone should have enough extra money to feed and care properly for their pet. When my girl was sick I caught myself thinking that maybe I shouldn't have a pet but gold couldn't buy her from me so we will just always find a way.

[suebgone]

as for a stray - should you choose to keep it, then you have just as much responsibility to that animal as one you would buy.

often people put no value on a pet they didn't pay for. I have found many people with "stray's" they've had for a couple years but never vetted or really took care of them because they didn't consider them theirs.

I feel if you cannot afford a yearly vet visit, dentals if needed, flea & HW treatment, what ever VX's are needed, license then you should not have a dog or cat.

[LadyLynn]

Suebegone, I'm not just addressing ownership and wealth concerning dogs and cats, but the broad spectrum of "All pets."

Certainly if you are unwilling to make some provisions for a pet, especiallys some vet care you have no business claimiing the pet, but should at least care enough about it to see it into a shelter or give it to someone who does want it and will do what they can.

I think what I'm finding so far is at least most people, if they don't have the money, they at least, 'engineer a way, or figure out a way to make sure their animals get care.

but the question is: Should wealthy people be the only people to own, "have"" pets, or can pets be cared for by people with little or no money?

and of course how is it done

I loved the saving $25.00 from each paycheck idea, but I know there are more.

I would personally love to find insurance that would not only cover dogs and cats but birds too, but so far I've found nothing.

Insurance
savings
programs
are just a few ways that I can see for people.

and by the way I totally disagree with the idea that only wealthy people can and should own pets.

Limited resources is what I see with most people, and they do own pets, nd they care enough to make (find) a way to feed, shelter, and vet care their pets.

[lindsayanng]

hey ladylynn.. VPI company sells AVIAN INSURANCE.. I was going to get it for my sugar glider (not avian, but exotic) and that is where i saw the avian insurance..Avian/Exotic VPI insurance (http://www.petinsurance.com/coverage/exotic.cfm)

I do have pet insurance for my pets, its 11.00 per month per animal for illness and injury NOT wellness. I COULD put the 11.00 per cat per month into a savings, but it would not add up quick enough, and the coverage is actually well worth it to just keep the insurance active..It is a GOOD OPTION! and you dont have to see if your vet takes it because you pay it and get reimbursed.. but thats the thing, you have to be able to pay it upfront, this is why i have a credit card with a decent limit for ONLY vet emergencies.

But then once your check comes you only paid 20% of the 600 vet bill which works out well.. and you have your check for the other 80%

But thats just the ASPCA insurance, the VPI company is a little different in how they cover.. they do it depending on the type of the condition, which body part it effects, and all this other stuff, its REALLY CONFUSING!

[LadyLynn]

thankyou so much. I'll check into this.

[nanamouse]

I've been reading and pondering this since the first post. This would sure be easier if I were rich, or even above the poverty level, (what wouldn't?) but so far the cats have all gotten whatever vet care they need.
If someone were to contract a catastrophic ailment, there is no way I would be able to get them treatment, but I would at least be able to scrape up the cash to have them humanely put to sleep.
As they were all abandoned , stray or ferals who found me I know that even that is more than they would have had otherwise, and the quality of their lives between adopting me and whatever end the future holds for them is much better than it would have been. They live indoors, eat when they want and have an endless supply of fresh water. All are spayed/nuetered, and parasite free. Some have all their shots, all have rabies shots, and the rest will be completely vaccinated in July.
Still, I wish it were possible to do more for them, in fact, if there are any rich folks wanting to adopt a cat.........:)

[catnipper]

I recently looked into insuring 3 squirrel killing feral cats, and the best insurer I could find was Embrace pet insurance. I read reviews on them at some pet health insurance site and they had a 9 or 9.5/10 and other pet insurers had 3s and 4s and and tons of complaints. I researched the rates for a 3yo cat, because I think these ferals are pretty young, and it was going to be about 30/month with teeth, and continuing care, per cat. They don't cap payments based on body systems like most insurers. To the person who asked about exotics I think I saw they cover some exotics.

[lindsayanng]

i dont think you can get ANY company to insure a feral cat. They need to have a documented vet history and need to be pets. They also have to prove that there is no congenital disease which means taking them in for intital treatment.

[krazy4birds]

I checked out the page you linked for us catnipper........and it was nothing to do with any insurance????

[nanamouse]

i dont think you can get ANY company to insure a feral cat. They need to have a documented vet history and need to be pets. They also have to prove that there is no congenital disease which means taking them in for intital treatment.

I think a lot of people use the terms feral and stray interchangeably. A true feral was born in the wild to wild parents and has not been socialized with humans at all. A stray may have been born without a human family, but it's mother has not taught it to fear humans.
A tech at my vet has suggested that my ferals may not have been true ferals because of how easy it was to socialize them after we caught them, maybe Mama once had a family.

[katiem]

To answer the OP's question: No you don't have to be rich. However, you should not take on more pets than you can afford, or are willing to afford. I know lots of people who have a hard time getting food on the table, but still can feed and vet their pets, so if they decide to have 2 or 3 pets then I say "go for it!". I also know many people who could afford to buy their pets solid gold leashes but choose not to even provide adequate vet care.

I also think that once you choose to take in a stray, it is no longer a stray. It is now your cat/dog/pig/whatever! After its yours you are responsible for it until the day it dies. No excuses.

[lindsayanng]

I also think that once you choose to take in a stray, it is no longer a stray. It is now your cat/dog/pig/whatever! After its yours you are responsible for it until the day it dies. No excuses.

AMEN TO THAT!! I feel that way about people who take in cats. they feel that the cats should consider themselves lucky that they have food and warmth and if vet care gets to much, the cat all of a sudden is just a stray again. THAT annoys me.

[theresa92841]

I guess I feel "why make it harder on yourself than you have to?" If you make sure you have the financial situation to deal with any costs of pet ownership, then you will find it so much easier. When you have the $3000 in vet bills or have to pay for an operation or rehabilitation or whatever, you won't have to agonize about how to find the money or whether you can afford it, etc. You will know you will be able to do what is right for the dog regardless of the cost because the cost won't be the deciding factor.

My sister wanted to get a pure breed but didn't want to spend any $. I said if you can't afford to buy the dog what makes you think you can afford to take care of it. That probably sounds harsher than I meant. But if the couple of thousand to purchase the dog breed you say you want is too much money, then I just couldn't figure out how she thought things the dog needs would not be too much money in the future.

Still not sure I explained myself well. :o

So for me, bottom line is, you need to be "rich" enough.

[tiffers]

However, you should not take on more pets than you can afford, or are willing to afford.
Amen, Katie. There's a particular family member of mine that needs to see this. It's quality over quantity, and some must have missed that memo. If you can't afford what you've got, you surely can't afford adding more...

[furryfuriend]

A lot of good posts in here on this topic. You don't have to be rich, but it would be nice (the cat made me type that, I think she still wants that floor to ceiling cat condo lol). I'm constantly "cruising" the net for pet related news and information, and ran across something last week about the subject of pet ownership and the costs affiliated with it, and put it in the news area of my pet website. I felt it was useful for first time pet owners, or even current ones, to see what the costs can run up to.

On the same subject of pet ownership costs, I started researching and compiling a list of low cost veterinary services, like spaying, nuetering, and vaccinations. I'm hoping to have that "live" on the site within the next week. What a project that has been, because in my wisedom (insert laughter here) to try and make it a worldwide listing of these services.