"If you are in debt you should put your pets to sleep"

Katiehound

silverfox13865 wrote: »

I have a male friend who has been staying with me, due to being slightly unstable, (slight understatement!) The council consider me as co-habitating, so I don't qualify for any housing help.

Heartless though it seems I think the male friend needs to go because then you will qualify for housing benefit.

Please note I am not saying the fur babies should go! Far from it, studies have shown that people with pets are often healthier.
I can't imagine not having pets somewhere in my life, it would be a lot emptier.

Hve you tried all the animal charities? it depends so much on where you live and the all important postcode. I have seen charities mentioned on this board that I have never heard of before.

Good luck

Byatt

People's life experiences change, my ex left and didn't pay anything (mortgage etc) and I had to make cut backs on things such as pet insurance. I thought I would start again when I could afford it, but then the pets were older (and uninsurable) and had pre existing conditions. Currently have my older pooch on meds and will probably need more (visit to vet tomorrow). Charities only take on (usually) puppies or young dogs without health issues, so can't get any help. Will cut back on food/electric for myself to pay.

I owe her my life so will do my best for her. I have to say though, I couldn't afford another pet when she has gone. Even with pet insurance.

Pets are important; they are good for well-being and mental health, as well as exercise and getting out. There is a lot of literature/studies out there on this issue.

seven-day-weekend

Although I think the woman's remark was thoughtless and cruel, and I hate the thought of a healthy animal being killed, what if you fall on hard times and it's either feed your children or feed your dog? I'm not of course saying that putting them down should be the first option, but if you've tried to re-home them and can't, then unfortunately it may be the only option left. Desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures.

And I AM an animal lover, I'm a professional pet-sitter.

StudioBeau

I can't help but agree with her to a certain extent (not the extent of killing the animal!!) - if you can't afford to keep your animal, you should not have that animal. I am so fed up of people saying they can not afford to take their animal to the vet (not on this forum though may I say) and they are asking for medical advise over the internet! I have seen people waiting 8 days to take a dog with a broken leg to a vet as they had to wait for payday! That is negligence. Not being able to afford a medication your dog needs to be healthy is negligence.

I think all dogs should HAVE to have at the minimum liability insurance. If you dog causes a car accident, how are you going to afford that? You need to think about EVERY possible situation. If I lost my job, I have already calculated what we would get in benefits whilst I am looking for a new job and it can cover us, if it couldn't, our dogs would be rehomed. And if my partner wasn't working but I was, if neither of us was working, etc etc etc.

I have pet insurance for every animal, I have 2 excess payments for each animal sitting in a bank account that my mother holds the card for on my behalf and will not release it to me except in the case to get money out to pay the excess for the pets insurance. I have lifetime pet insurance so as long as I do not stop paying (will not happen!) they can not stop insuring.

I am by no stretch of the imagination rich, I live in a 2 bed rented terrace house in a not so great area of Nottingham, I work full time, my partner works part time and also dog sits for people on her days off. We are in no debt whatsoever luckily, but we are 20 and 21 and to be honest, haven't had a chance to yet! Not that we will, except a mortgage.

I do think if you can't afford your pets at all times in your life, job, no job, in a relationship, not in a relationship, sick pet, pet having caused accident, etc - DO NOT HAVE ONE.

I feel exactly the same way about children as well! 'Accidents' should not happen, be a grown up, use protection and plan ahead.

Byatt

StudioBeau wrote: »

I can't help but agree with her to a certain extent (not the extent of killing the animal!!) - if you can't afford to keep your animal, you should not have that animal. I am so fed up of people saying they can not afford to take their animal to the vet (not on this forum though may I say) and they are asking for medical advise over the internet! I have seen people waiting 8 days to take a dog with a broken leg to a vet as they had to wait for payday! That is negligence. Not being able to afford a medication your dog needs to be healthy is negligence.

I think all dogs should HAVE to have at the minimum liability insurance. If you dog causes a car accident, how are you going to afford that? You need to think about EVERY possible situation. If I lost my job, I have already calculated what we would get in benefits whilst I am looking for a new job and it can cover us, if it couldn't, our dogs would be rehomed. And if my partner wasn't working but I was, if neither of us was working, etc etc etc.

I have pet insurance for every animal, I have 2 excess payments for each animal sitting in a bank account that my mother holds the card for on my behalf and will not release it to me except in the case to get money out to pay the excess for the pets insurance. I have lifetime pet insurance so as long as I do not stop paying (will not happen!) they can not stop insuring.

I am by no stretch of the imagination rich, I live in a 2 bed rented terrace house in a not so great area of Nottingham, I work full time, my partner works part time and also dog sits for people on her days off. We are in no debt whatsoever luckily, but we are 20 and 21 and to be honest, haven't had a chance to yet! Not that we will, except a mortgage.

I do think if you can't afford your pets at all times in your life, job, no job, in a relationship, not in a relationship, sick pet, pet having caused accident, etc - DO NOT HAVE ONE.

I feel exactly the same way about children as well! 'Accidents' should not happen, be a grown up, use protection and plan ahead.

You need to print this out and keep it somewhere safe, then in 10, 15, 20 years...take it out and read it.

I thought like you. Never for one moment thought I would now be in the position I'm in. Sometimes life happens and no amount of preparation helps.

As for rehoming my pet, wouldn't happen unless I truly thought it would be better off without me. I don't expect anyone to pay for me, I pay my own way and will provide for my pet as long as she lives. Even though it means I go without.

Best of luck with your future. I hope it pans out exactly as you want.

StudioBeau

Byatt wrote: »

Best of luck with your future. I hope it pans out exactly as you want.

It may not pan out how I want but if something bad does happen, I am at least slightly more ready for it.

undaunted

I think shje's absolutely right, all that's needed here is one needle but I'll make no comment on where it ought to be stuck! :whistle:

wilykit

People's ignorance doesn't surprise me any more, some people are truly awful.

Dogs are family members just as much as a brother or sister might be part of the family, and usually people who don't have dogs don't understand this.

I lost my job at Christmas and had to move back with my parents who already have 2 dogs. Unfortunately I couldn't take my beloved EBT with me, but rather than discard him like he was a piece of rubbish (as this woman would have done!)..I rehomed him with my sister. She spoils him rotten and I still get to see my dog.

Don't give this woman the satisfaction of a reaction...just ignore her and she will realise how ridiculous she is!

Faith177

OMG this made my blood boil

I have 2 dogs and 6 cats they are my babies I love them to pieces. I would rather go hungry myself then see them go hungry. I have a lot and I would be a lot better off without them every month but they bring me so much joy I couldn't be without them it would break my heart.

I'm glad a number of people on here have more common sense than the original "single mother" who made this horrible comment

seven-day-weekend

wilykit wrote: »

People's ignorance doesn't surprise me any more, some people are truly awful.

Dogs are family members just as much as a brother or sister might be part of the family, and usually people who don't have dogs don't understand this.

I lost my job at Christmas and had to move back with my parents who already have 2 dogs. Unfortunately I couldn't take my beloved EBT with me, but rather than discard him like he was a piece of rubbish (as this woman would have done!)..I rehomed him with my sister. She spoils him rotten and I still get to see my dog.

Don't give this woman the satisfaction of a reaction...just ignore her and she will realise how ridiculous she is!

Sorry I don't agree with this. They are family members yes, but really would you grieve if your pet died as much as you would if your brother/sister/parent/child died? I know I wouldn't. In fact I cried for a few days when my cat died. I'm sure I would have grieved deeper and longer had it been my son.

I have some friends who had three dogs who they love dearly, a couple of weeks ago the old one died and they were upset and mournrd for him but in the end,even they said 'well it's a dog,, it's not a person', and whilst missing him, continued to get on with their lives. I'm sure you wouldn't do that if it were a person.

And what are you supposed to do if you fall on hard times and can't afford to look after your pet properly, can't rehome it and can't feed your kids?

I'm not saying it's a decision that should be taken lightly, and in fact every other way should be explored first, but in some cases having the animal euthanased may be the only option left.

I don't have a dog myself,(although I have done in the past) but have always had cats and since the beginning of this year have been a professional pet sitter, so am an animal lover.