Man’s Best Friend
How much is that doggy in the window?
The one with the waggley tail may seem like a bargain these days compared to the dog with the $3,000 pacemaker. Or the cat with the $8,000 kidney transplant. Or the pet chicken undergoing radiation therapy after cancer surgery.
Medical care for pets now rivals medical care for humans, with veterinary oncologists, neurologists, cardiologists and other specialists providing high tech, big-bucks treatment for Fido and Fluffy.
But when cats have chemo and dogs have dialysis, their owners have something too: unexpected ethical issues triggered by enormous medical bills.
“Is the 15-year-old tabby worth $12,000 in dialysis?” asks a newspaper story with the nagging headline: Do some pet owners go a little too far?
“I admit sometimes questioning the reality of spending $11,000 on my cat when there are greater human needs,” said a California college professor, who readily paid for feline chemotherapy and pancreatitis treatment.
U.S. pet owners will spend more than $24 billion this year on pet medical care, an amount greater than the gross domestic product of more than half of the world’s countries.
But when man’s best friend is a integral member of the family, the question of whether it’s appropriate to spend top-dollar for animal medical care is often more emotional than financial. With the unconditional love, friendship, and support of a beloved companion at stake, many pet owners feel they don’t have the option of not providing—and paying for—expensive medical care.
It’s not a simple issue, said one veterinarian. When you hear of a medical bill of $14,000 for a dog, he explained, people ask, “Should you not just buy a new dog and give the money to charity? That, I have to say, is a non-starter of an argument. You then have to ask all sorts of questions about how people spend their money—should they spend it on big cars?”
Tell us what you think: When it comes to expensive veterinary medical care, is it more responsible to pay for a pet or perhaps give the money to charity instead?
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I'm not sure on this...
If you have the money they yes, why not? My animals are my children and I love them dearly and if something horrible happened and I had the money to spend on it then yes I would in a heartbeat!
Halanna Cruwell | 4 months ago
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Pet lover and Anti PETA activist
I agree that if people have the extra money to help their pet, then by all means take care of it; it’s a free country. The flip side is what I worry about. People who do love their pet but cannot afford to take heroic actions for their pet. I fear many of these animal rights extremists will try and force people to pay for expenses they cannot afford instead of putting the animal down. I love my pets but my children come first and I don’t want any one forcing me to spend money on an animal that could be for my children if—god forbid— anything happened to them. And for those of you nuts who say I shouldn’t own a pet if I can’t or won’t pay 8000 dollars for a pet, get bent!! I adopt sheltered or stray pets and give vaccines and minor medical care. Do you think the pet is better off executed in a shelter or given a few more (or hopefully many more) years of life? You high and mighties need to shut up and vist a homeless shelter childrens hospital once and a while. By the way, PETA is the worst KILLER of shelter animals. They don’t believe in pets so when they get them they put down faster than you can say pet. They are totally against no kill shelters and people who want to care of feral cats. If you are thinking of willing your pet (and money) to PETA, don’t do it! They’ll take your money all right then put your animal. down. Support a NO KILL shelter instead. See www.petakillsanimals.com
Beth Houghton | 4 months ago
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Concerned person
Discharge at cat’s female reproductive arrea. Cat has been fixed female
Puss from scratch Cat is hissing
Smokey Landry (gerda Landry) | 3 months, 4 weeks ago
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NO
I FIND HEM
SONDRA | 3 months, 4 weeks ago
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sad
this is sad
kenzee | 3 months, 4 weeks ago
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educator and pitbull lover
It is a personal choice on deciding what to do with your ill or injured pets. I just want to add that we shouldn’t decide too quick to put a pet to sleep it is a young animal. I beelieve that we really do not want the animal to suffer but if we do it before we change our minds we might regret it later if there were other options.
When it comes to really old animals that they have been with us 16 to 17 years and they have lost mobility, hearing and eyesight it is understandable that we must let them go for their own sake.
I have been raising dogs for over 30 years and although I use a lot of prevention from time to time I have had let one of my pets go and it is not easy. When it comes to financial matters it is a personal choice though not everybodys priorities are the same.
Thank you for listening.
Alma E. Galston | 3 months, 4 weeks ago
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I AM SORRY FOR YOU
YOU JUST OUT BACK
CAIL HARPER | 3 months, 4 weeks ago
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I AM SORRY FOR YOU
YOU JUST OUT BACK
CAIL HARPER | 3 months, 4 weeks ago
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Heartbreaking
I’m really confused why a chihuahua “breeder” would lack sufficient funds and yet still breed an animal. Oh, that’s right, the less money you have the more lives you create and ruin. Let’s not forget that animals are life forms, and not profit-forms. I feel that every $ should be spent helping a furry loved one. And may the little girl in the above passeges not inherit any stupidity from her parents.
Little kids don't have informed opinions. | 3 months, 4 weeks ago
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dogs
make the dogs well.
breann | 3 months, 4 weeks ago
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