PDSA change of policy

Kili

Personally, I think it stinks.

OH worked since he was 16 and on a good salary. We bought our 2 pedigree terriers ten years ago when all was good. Before Christmas, suddenly and without warning OH was made redundant.

All of a sudden we could no longer afford vets fees, our mortgage protection helpfully paid less than half of it, we still had bills, kids to feed etc and no savings.

Then one of our terriers became ill. Thankfully he is recovering thanks to all the help given by the PDSA, but should the other become ill there is no way we can afford treatment.
OH and I have paid taxes, over a thousand a month in fact, neither of us have ever played the system or claimed any form of help until now.
Our animals have been loved and cared for, for ten years. They are neutered and chipped all of which we paid for.

The system penalises those in our position who suddenly, through no fault of their own find themselves struggling. When I sit in the PDSA and see people coming in with pedigree pups for their first injections etc my blood boils - they go out and pay 500+ for a pedigree animal and then expect discounted injections and free treatments. These are the type of people who need weeding out, not the genuine people who are struggling for short periods of their lives.

Kimberley

I completely get where the PDSA are coming from but this new rule will ensure more animals suffer from not getting treatment and many will be killed instead.

Just to add maybe a more practical solution would be to deny treatment for those with pedigree pups/kittens rather then those with pedigree pets that are years old because circumstances do change but then you will still get those who will leave their pet in agony to avoid a Vets bill.

Kili

Kimberley wrote: »

I completely get where the PDSA are coming from but this new rule will ensure more animals suffer from not getting treatment and many will be killed instead.

Just to add maybe a more practical solution would be to deny treatment for those with pedigree pups/kittens rather then those with pedigree pets that are years old because circumstances do change but then you will still get those who will leave their pet in agony to avoid a Vets bill.

I can honestly say that should the other dog become ill I have no idea what we will do. Beg to parents perhaps? I need to find money for vaccinations next month, I wouldn't consider not having them done, but I'll have to pay at the PDSA for one dog and then pay a private vet for the other, its a big cost I could do without but its something they need, and as a responsible owner I will have to find the money.

In the meantime OH and I are applying for jobs daily all over the country willing to uproot our families and lives to follow the work. I don't know what more we can do. We didn't ask to be in this situation and our dogs came into our lives on the basis that we could afford to give them all they needed. Believe me, I wouldn't own an animal I couldn't afford to pay for it.

Whilst I do applaud the PDSA's stance in some areas owners such as the 20 something man who's never worked since he left school but owns a couple of staffy's type owner should be penalised, but is this system fair on the likes of 90 year old Gladys who has a couple of ancient Yorkshire Terriers for company, lives on a meagre pension now and all her savings are gone? Cases should be judged on merit I feel.

As for the PDSA's stance that it is pedigree dogs that get sick more often than mutts, surely then they are alienating the very animals that actually really need their help!