help with vets bill

Frugalista

Where did the OP state that she got the dog whilst she was a student? Isn't it possible that she became a mature student when she already had the dog?

All this "she should have planned ahead", etc is very smug and prissy. We don't know anything about her personal finances - she may well have had other sudden drains on any savings. Fact is - we don't know!

Would you feel differently if she had posted that she had recently rescued the dog from being starved/ill-treated by a cruel neighbour and didn't want it to end up in "the system"?

As for the comments about the PDSA - it just sounds like she had had a really stressful day - worried about dog, makes appointment, mum finds she has hospital appointment, trys to change appointment to accomodate mum, etc, etc. I think we could all understand her venting a little under those circumstances. Or, at least, those of us with a little sympathy :rolleyes:.

Whatever .... another new poster has received the standard "Pets Forum" welcome :think:.

UKTigerlily

Well, if I was new to a forum I wouldn't be going off on Vet's (Not just the PDSA) or the cost of treatment, yes i'd ask about help, but I wouldn't be moaning that the cost was a rip off because to me you can't put a price on my pets health! People plan to become a mature student, you don't just accidentally end up one like you may end up redundant or something. We've all tried to offer help & advice but have feelings too & someone coming on saying omg, £200 what a rip off isn't going to make me think ahh great Owner, what a nice person!
Also, even students can afford pet insurance, maybe it wouldn't have covered the teeth but in future this could happen again with a different illness.
I didn't see about it being a rescue or would've asked if they could help & if the Dog came with bad teeth, mine came with a tumour & they were willing to help if i'd wanted any.

foreign_correspondent

If it is rescued - not all greyhounds are of course, the rescue may help - if not, I think it is a very good idea to try and get on side with the PDSA, as otherwise the OPs annoyance may get in the way of the dog being able to get treatment. As it sounds like the PDSA are willing to help, I would try and meet their criteria.

These things can come up and they can be expensive - I was talking to someone earlier about a dog that hurt its back catching a ball - a fluke accident that cost £1,500 to put right...

My dog has needed vet treatment costing £500 this week, again entirely unexpected... if I could not afford treatment but would qualify for PDSA help, I would put aside my own feelings and get her registered with them ASAP, and I would advise the OP to do this too.

Frugalista

UKTigerlily wrote: »

Well, if I was new to a forum I wouldn't be going off on Vet's (Not just the PDSA) or the cost of treatment, Good for you :rolleyes: yes i'd ask about help, but I wouldn't be moaning that the cost was a rip off because to me you can't put a price on my pets health! Like I said earlier, you're very lucky to have so much disposable income. Lot's of people are struggling to just feed their animals at the moment (as most rescue centres can testify). People plan to become a mature student, you don't just accidentally end up one like you may end up redundant or something. We don't know her circumstances. We've all tried to offer help & advice but have feelings too & someone coming on saying omg, £200 what a rip off isn't going to make me think ahh great Owner, what a nice person! You mean like you profess to be? Also, even students can afford pet insurance, Can they? Most students I know can barely afford to eat properly! maybe it wouldn't have covered the teeth but in future this could happen again with a different illness.
I didn't see about it being a rescue or would've asked if they could help And take money from an already overburdened rescue centre? Nice! & if the Dog came with bad teeth, mine came with a tumour & they were willing to help if i'd wanted any.

It's easy to preach what you should and shouldn't do when you can afford to do it though, isn't it? How do you manage to afford it (and save/plan ahead) when you don't work? Do tell, because I really struggle, even working part-time, to earn the money to keep my pets - would love to know how you do it. Maybe that would be helpful to the OP too .

UKTigerlily

By doing nothing else! You say most students can't afford £5 insurance, yet they can afford to go out drinking/smoke etc? I don't drink/smoke/have a car/go out/buy make up or do anything or have kids! If I did other things & couldn't afford even £5 to insure them then I could'nt have them!
You say about taking money from an already over burdened rescue, yet are ok with them using the PDSA? Besides, if the animal came with bad teeth they'd normally have done a dental & maybe they hadn't realised, so no extra costs anyway!
I *thought* we were trying to find/advice on how to get the Pet treated, so any ideas are worth putting forward! All charities are struggling as are rescues, but they won't help if they can't.
Also, i've never once said i'm a nice person, i'm not, big deal
I wouldn't call being too ill to work lucky personally, just the opposite it's horrible! However, I don't have a life that most would expect to have, my Pets come before me. I'm sure alot of people will go out once a month, or buy cigs or clothes or have kids, well, I don't!
However, even if working i'd still look ahead (And have done) to provide for the pets & being a student doesn't mean you can moan about the costs of Vet bills!

Frugalista

UKTigerlily wrote: »

By doing nothing else! You say most students can't afford £5 insurance, yet they can afford to go out drinking/smoke etc? Bit of a sweeping statement isn't it? Sort of like, all Staffie owners are thugs? I don't drink/smoke/have a car/go out/buy make up or do anything or have kids! If I did other things & couldn't afford even £5 to insure them then I could'nt have them! And??
You say about taking money from an already over burdened rescue, yet are ok with them using the PDSA? Where have I said that I'm OK with them using the PDSA? I don't believe I've expressed an opinion either way on that subject. Besides, if the animal came with bad teeth they'd normally have done a dental & maybe they hadn't realised, so no extra costs anyway!
I *thought* we were trying to find/advice on how to get the Pet treated, so any ideas are worth putting forward! So did I. So how is it helpful to flame the OP for not being as forward thinking as you apparently are? The dog is sick now so "should've, would've, could've" is of no help at all, is it? All charities are struggling as are rescues, but they won't help if they can't.
Also, i've never once said i'm a nice person, i'm not, big deal Hmm! Are we pouting?:rolleyes:
I wouldn't call being too ill to work lucky personally, just the opposite it's horrible! However, I don't have a life that most would expect to have, my Pets come before me. I'm sure alot of people will go out once a month, or buy cigs or clothes or have kids, well, I don't! Neither do I - what's your point?
However, even if working i'd still look ahead (And have done) to provide for the pets & being a student doesn't mean you can moan about the costs of Vet bills! Says who? Lots of people have come on here and moaned about lots of different things. Are you saying they have to run it by you first, before posting? :rotfl:I don't think so!!

The OP had obviously had a bad day and came on here to vent (and ask for advice). Why have you taken it so personally? Haven't you ever had a really shi##y day? All I said was to try and show a little compassion

UKTigerlily

I was telling you how I afford what I do because you specifically asked! And I put *most* not *all* students, which happens to be true. I couldn't care less what people do with their money, nor if they're employed/unemployed/retired or students, but I don't believe people can't afford a fiver in insurance a month.

Frugalista

UKTigerlily wrote: »

I was telling you how I afford what I do because you specifically asked! And I put *most* not *all* students, which happens to be true. I couldn't care less what people do with their money, nor if they're employed/unemployed/retired or students, but I don't believe people can't afford a fiver in insurance a month.

You can believe or not - fact is that there are many people who simply can't afford it. No matter, I doubt the OP will post again. Another one bites the dust, eh?

Kimberley

I agree with Tigerlilly about the insurance. When I was solely on IS I could still afford insurance when I had one pet.

I guess the only ones that would struggle to buy insurance are pensioners but i believe animal charities help those who cannot afford vet fees. Students can afford insurance if they spent their student loans wisely and budget.

foreign_correspondent

Frugalista wrote: »

You can believe or not - fact is that there are many people who simply can't afford it.

I dare say there are - but then many of those (in my experience) will spend on other non essentials - sky TV, ciggies etc... sometimes prioritising is needed.

However, if someone has eliminated all non-essential spending and still can't afford vets bills or insurance, and cannot/does not want to engage with the PDSA, then perhaps the only answer is for them to give up the dog, as Mrs Tine said on the last page.