Pet vs $$$

[Rock Crawler]

Interesting topic from a forum group with a good number of us who likely have tractors out of desire, not out of occupation. We spend $10,000 up to who knows how much for a tractor to plant food to lure in game, or like me to maintain acres of abandoned logging roads and trails. I don't NEED a tractor. I want one.

The point? My dog, just like many of you expressed, is a part of the family. If my child were sick I would anything within my legal limits to find a way to get them better. I would do the same with Angel. I rescued Angel from an abusive home at 9 months old. Since then, she has rescued me. She provides companionship and love to me that I do not get from a human. She makes me happy, she absolutely loves me every minute of each day and is always within a few feet of me. I am married, but my wife does not generally give me the kind of love that I want and need, where my Angel does. (Read the book "5 love languages"). So in my life, I am happier and generally feel better with my Angel near me. She fills a void in me.

Would I go broke and financially hurt my family to save her? Likely... not. But within reason, I would go a long way to keep her beside me, just as I would my wife or any of my 3 children.

At this time, I couldn't imagine life without my dog.

 

[Bird]

This thread is terrible timing for me. I took the Chihuahua, Dee, to the vet this morning for a brief exam, some more dog food, and heart worm pills ($176.24). But they talked me into scheduling her for some teeth cleaning, pull some bad ones, etc. this coming Thursday with an estimate of another $565.14.

 

[Citydude]

Interesting topic from a forum group with a good number of us who likely have tractors out of desire, not out of occupation. We spend $10,000 up to who knows how much for a tractor to plant food to lure in game, or like me to maintain acres of abandoned logging roads and trails. I don't NEED a tractor. I want one.

The point? My dog, just like many of you expressed, is a part of the family. If my child were sick I would anything within my legal limits to find a way to get them better. I would do the same with Angel. I rescued Angel from an abusive home at 9 months old. Since then, she has rescued me. She provides companionship and love to me that I do not get from a human. She makes me happy, she absolutely loves me every minute of each day and is always within a few feet of me. I am married, but my wife does not generally give me the kind of love that I want and need, where my Angel does. (Read the book "5 love languages"). So in my life, I am happier and generally feel better with my Angel near me. She fills a void in me.

Would I go broke and financially hurt my family to save her? Likely... not. But within reason, I would go a long way to keep her beside me, just as I would my wife or any of my 3 children.

At this time, I couldn't imagine life without my dog.

Heart felt post. Thanks. You've probably nailed it down as to how lots of people feel about their pet. My rescue is always by my side and doesn't give my wife the time of day when im home. She loves him but in his eyes, I'm a dog God. She's just there to provide a soft lap for him while I'm gone.

 

[Molalla1]

Having watched Birds' posts ever since I joined this site, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he has a clause in his will for the dog should she out live him.:thumbsup:

I do, I feel it is the right thing to do, for me and my dog.

 

[MossRoad]

This thread is terrible timing for me. I took the Chihuahua, Dee, to the vet this morning for a brief exam, some more dog food, and heart worm pills ($176.24). But they talked me into scheduling her for some teeth cleaning, pull some bad ones, etc. this coming Thursday with an estimate of another $565.14.

I think I had a piggy bank larger than a Chihuahua when I was a kid....

 

[CobyRupert]

When I hear somebody saying they spent $400 or $1200, etc on their old cat my reply is usually:
Well, you know they’re a dime a dozen right? In fact they’re usually cheaper than that. Every cat we’ve had has been free. “

 

[Rock Crawler]

When I hear somebody saying they spent $400 or $1200, etc on their old cat my reply is usually:
Well, you know they’re a dime a dozen right? In fact they’re usually cheaper than that. Every cat we’ve had has been free. “

But it's not a matter of cost of the animal, any more than it's about the cost of the birth of a child. It's the relationship, the bond and the love that build immeasurable value over time. There is no price that could buy my Angel from me just as there is no price to buy my sons or daughter.... now the wife... lets talk! :laughing:

But the last thing that enters my mind when dealing with fur-baby health issues is what I paid to bring them into my life. The fact is that I make a commitment to my dog(s), and see that through to the last day we are together. I did the same with my wife. I have no plans for a divorce in this lifetime, nor do I plan to walk out on my dog in her time of need should it come. Again, there are always real life limits to what a person can do financially for a pet, for some of us it appears that we may be willing to go a bit further than others in that time of need. But even at that, it is not a right or wrong kind of metric, we all will do what we can tolerate and what we can live with.

I'm not a cat person, so a cat holds no value to me. But a dog is absolutely a creature of God's that I hold very near to my heart. I have friends with cats and they all seem to love the cats in a similar way as I do dogs, so I assume to a cat person a cat can be a very beloved creature.

 

[MossRoad]

Cats, dogs, tortoise... it doesn't matter to me. It's about teaching your kids to value life and not treat it disrespectfully, even if its being raised to be eaten. Do what you can for your animal if you have the means. I'm not gonna put down a cat with an abscess tooth. Nor am I going to let it suffer like a couple people in this thread have suggested. I'm gonna have it taken care of by the vet. If I couldn't afford to have it treated, then I'd have it put down before I'd let it suffer.

 

[mapper]

It seems that being critical of others for how much they spend on pet medical bills is pretty easy. I used to have a lot of fun teasing a coworker about owning a thousand dollar house cat. That sure can change when the shoe is on your own foot!
We have a snaggle toothed cat that is quite a character, and he is one of the best mousers we have ever had. Last year he contracted cryptococces, a fungal infection in his sinuses. After surgery and medication, we are now the owner of a $2000 cat!
No we don't regret it and we can afford it, if it was a choice between the cat and some other critical need maybe the cat would draw the short straw. The bottom line is my wife and I are both rather fond of him and we chose to do this. We probably could have replaced him for the cost of getting a free kitten and getting it neutered and shots.