what if you can't afford your pets?

MacCavity

Cats Protection definitely have a no-kill policy. In the last year, my local Branch successfully rehomed a 21-year-old cat with a heart condition and a 19-year old blind & diabetic cat. Fantastic news there. The Branch does offer to help with medical/prescription bills for adoptive families who take on a difficult cat such as those with medical conditions.

If the treatment is dental, could the family concerned ask other vets in the area? Get quotes for the work that needs doing and see if any is substantially lower than the others?

spike7451

MacCavity wrote: »

Cats Protection definitely have a no-kill policy. In the last year, my local Branch successfully rehomed a 21-year-old cat with a heart condition and a 19-year old blind & diabetic cat. Fantastic news there. The Branch does offer to help with medical/prescription bills for adoptive families who take on a difficult cat such as those with medical conditions.

If the treatment is dental, could the family concerned ask other vets in the area? Get quotes for the work that needs doing and see if any is substantially lower than the others?

So does the ASSISI outside Newtownards,where I got Daisy Cat from.

SnowyOwl_2

I think it is worth remembering that pet sanctuaries, rescue centres etc etc are charities and they have a limit to their available funds, and the actual facilities available. Sometimes they are full and can't take in another animal no matter how desperate, and sometimes they face crucifying costs which threaten their very existance.

Some of the comments on this thread have been illuminating - eg implying that people are stupid or psychotic and accusing others of having had an animal killed because they couldn't be bothered. This is absolutely unbelievable when we are discussing a HYPOTHETICAL situation.

spike7451

SnowyOwl wrote: »

I think it is worth remembering that pet sanctuaries, rescue centres etc etc are charities and they have a limit to their available funds, and the actual facilities available. Sometimes they are full and can't take in another animal no matter how desperate, and sometimes they face crucifying costs which threaten their very existance.

Some of the comments on this thread have been illuminating - eg implying that people are stupid or psychotic and accusing others of having had an animal killed because they couldn't be bothered. This is absolutely unbelievable when we are discussing a HYPOTHETICAL situation.

As I am now unemployed due to the firm I was meant to be starting with this week pulling the rug from under me,I'm going to see about volenteering at the ASSISI for 1-2 days a week,if only to get me out the house till I get a job.

Fang_3

sarabe wrote: »

No of course I wouldn't. What a silly thing to say. We are talking about dogs not children.

Would you rehome your children if you couldn't afford to keep them?

Yes. As a last resort. I wouldn't kill them as you would do with your pets.

Fang_3

SnowyOwl wrote: »

I think it is worth remembering that pet sanctuaries, rescue centres etc etc are charities and they have a limit to their available funds, and the actual facilities available. Sometimes they are full and can't take in another animal no matter how desperate, and sometimes they face crucifying costs which threaten their very existance.

Some of the comments on this thread have been illuminating - eg implying that people are stupid or psychotic and accusing others of having had an animal killed because they couldn't be bothered. This is absolutely unbelievable when we are discussing a HYPOTHETICAL situation.

Having a living creature killed when there are other options available, and quality of life is not diminished, is psychotic.

If it was a man threatening to kill his wife rather than allow her to live without him, then there wouldn't be a question of whether it was psychotic. But because it's an animal, it doesn't matter. Animal lovers indeed.:(

sarabe

Fang wrote: »

Yes. As a last resort. I wouldn't kill them as you would do with your pets.

Excuse me?

Over the years I have given my pets sleep to prevent unecessary suffering.

I have also given a home to several dogs that were going to be killed.

One came directly from the vet's surgery, one was on it's way there when I intervened and at least three others were destined for the one way trip had I not taken them in. If anything had happened to me then two of these dogs would have been caused unecessary suffering by being rehomed, hence my consideration for them in my will.

Sadly they have passed away now, both of them given sleep whilst in my arms.

My current 13 dogs would, I hope, miss me should I die but will continue to live a full and happy life with the (lucky?) people that I have willed them to.

Bubby

I have passed on the advice and recommended ringing a few of the charities recommended in case they can help. The vets are amongst the cheapest I have ever known but I have recommended they get some more advice (although the advice would have to be free as they can't afford an appointment cost) from other local vets.

SnowyOwl_2

Fang wrote: »

Having a living creature killed when there are other options available, and quality of life is not diminished, is psychotic.

If it was a man threatening to kill his wife rather than allow her to live without him, then there wouldn't be a question of whether it was psychotic. But because it's an animal, it doesn't matter. Animal lovers indeed.:(

What are you talking about? What creature? This is all IF IF IF. It is not a real situation. And I did not say anywhere that IF I were faced with these unbearable choices that my first choice would be PTS. If my choices, as outlined before, were completely and throughly exhausted and I was going to be put out on the street, or be put in jail, or some other similar situation, then I would HAVE to consider PTS because all other options were closed.

Please would you stop doubting people's love for their pets, it is apparent to me that the other posters on this thread would go to the ends of the earth for their pets. One poster in particular commented that PTS is not the worst that could happen to an animal - being put out to fend for itself when ill or injured when there is nowhere else for that animal to go is infinitely worse.

SnowyOwl_2

spike7451 wrote: »

As I am now unemployed due to the firm I was meant to be starting with this week pulling the rug from under me,I'm going to see about volenteering at the ASSISI for 1-2 days a week,if only to get me out the house till I get a job.

What a nightmare for you losing your job before you've even started.

You're a big softie though, aren't you? The things you have said about your little cat and about animals in general speak volumes about you and the goodness in you.

I hope Assisi accept your services. If they don't, perhaps the local dog pound could use your services - they always have so many dogs in, it'd be wonderful for them to have someone interact with them and exercise them while they are between homes or before they get shipped off to rescue centres in England where there may be a bit more hope for them.