Pets suffering in credit crunch

Kelinik

Jellicat wrote: »

...my pets might seem like they dont matter much; I own two rats, a bearded dragon and a little snake and some people seem to get the idea if they aren't dogs or cats you don't feel as much for them, but I would NEVER get rid of my babies.

I understand completely Jellicat, personally I think its very sad that the size of an animal seems to determine how important it is. Something pretty awful would have to happen before I'd part with any of the mice (my ratties have gone to the bridge now sadly ) and if that makes me a bit of a fruit loop then so be it!

Deep_In_Debt

My cats are my life. I got them from a rescue centre a few years ago and they'd had a terrible start - abuse and neglect. It took a long time for them to trust me. I took them on for life - I knew it wouldn't be easy but I was prepared to do it. No way would I abandon them or take them back to the centre. They deserve a decent life.

I just cut back on my food or buy the cats cheaper food - they are not particularly fussy and will eat just about anything when they are hungry. I put them in a cattery when I go away or my very nice neighbour will look after them.

The cats actually have a better life and better diet than I do!

HC_2

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

My cats are my life.

My dogs (five) are definitely not my life. A substantial part of it, certainly, but not the essence of it.

I love them none the less for that. And I can't imagine for the life of me skimping on good-quality food or vet's bills.

Times are difficult, but we have the responsibility, no matter what, for our pets.

sammy_kaye18

HC wrote: »

Times are difficult, but we have the responsibility, no matter what, for our pets.

WELL SAID!!!!

Kelinik + Jellicat - my mother has two cats and a boa constrictor but she would never be without any of them - her two cats are rescue cats - one is petrified of everything bar my mother so never leaves the house, the other is happy lounging on the windowsill and never leaves the house even though they are given a free run and the door is left wide open 90% of the day.

Also I have two terrapins, which my boyfriend brought me but to me they are jsut as important as any other member of my family in that I make sure they are loved (not in the cuddling sense:eek: ) but they are well fed, they have a nice tank with clean water and enough space etc. I dont think it matters on teh size of your pet to make it a pet - just that you have the commitment and love to take care of that animal properly.

After all a dog whose left outside tied up with not much contact is just a dog, cat whose left to fend for itself is jsut a cat - but when you give it the love,support and dedication it needs - plenty of cuddles, and a piece of your heart thats when it becomes a pet and a lifelong companion. (i think anyway)

Sami_Bee

Our dogs would never go hungry while I'm around, they are most definitely as important to me as my son, husband etc.I know your always told not to give dogs leftovers but we have always given our dogs them and our oldest lived a happy healthy live to the tender age of 19. we get huge bags of food (cheap bulk buy as we have the storage space) from suppliers that supply greyhound racing breeders as we have a track locally.
our dogs love rice, pasta and cereals so if it was say just before pay day and you needed to feed them for a day or two you could make a bit of pasta and gravy to fill them up/give lots of energy (provided it was just occasionally)
if you google dog food recipes there are lots of them so you could find it cheaper to make your own food (worth investigating me thinks!)

Shevs

Kelinik + Jellicat I also know how it feels. I had a little hamster named Georgie (R.I.P) when she passed away I devostated and all I was told was ''why are you upset she was only a hamster'' but the fact is she was my little hamster and i loved her to bits. I comfoted myslef by thinking that at least I gave her the best, she lived like a little princess. I also have two mini lop house bunnies which I adore called Trixie and Charlie. I could never ever imagine having to give them up no matter how hard things got I would rather starve then see my babys go with out.

JCR

I have a dog at the moment, but in the past have had a tortoise, rabbits and a horse. I loved all of them and was devastated when I lost them over the years. You just get so attached to them whatever their size and they deserve to be treated properly. My dog's food takes up about 30% of my weekly bill, but I just cut back in other areas.

Ibizavic

Unfortunatley my lil baby dog is on a veterinary prescribed diet which costs us £80 a month to buy from the vets (£30 for a smallish bag of biscuits and 2 trays of meat at £25 each) but we would never ever get rid of her, even though it is a big struggle for us at times. She is part of our family and we wouldn't be without her now.

x_raphael_xx

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

is now sayign she cant afford to feed him becuase everythgin else is so expensive.

:mad: I spend about £10 a month to feed my dobermann! Prices are not an excuse! I buy 1 big bag of dry food for working dogs (I think the brand is Fab) My local Big H do a deal buy 5 bags get 6th free. Then I occasionally buy a tin of wet food as a treat, as she gets a bit 'runny' with too much wet food.

I would rather go hungry myself to ensure my dog was fed, and have done too. When I was going thru a bad time money wise I survived on cornflakes for a week, dog still had full bowls.

lemontart

pets at home own white label brand is 15 p a tin now - I have started getting that and adding a couple of spoons of the free samples they give a way with every purchase - this is helping keep costs down a lot as well as occaisonally giving her un seasoned versions of my dinner - so now spending approx 10 pound a month instead of the nearly 20 I was on brand names - but saying that when I first adopted her so was sooooo fussy so it was a nite mare getting something she would eat................now she will eat virtually anything