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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Farther
I NEED A COMPANON TO GO TO THE DOCTOR! IT WOULD NICE IF HE/SHE COULD PICK UP THINGS FOR ME!
Roger De Prima | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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care about them
dogs n animals need our help.we care about them.its just like us.we love them with heart!i have 2 dogs.they are happy here.because i care them how they should be treated!keep them!have a wonderful day
abigail trevizo | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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''that dog is stupid''
THAT DOG IS STUPID!!!!!!!!!!
Lary Thomas | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Unconditional Love
Most pets provide the only source of unconditional love you will ever find. You can be a prince or a pauper, it doesn’t matter to your pet. They will love in good times and bad. If one has the money to spend to save or extend the life of a beloved pet, it is the most admirable human trait that they do so, especially when replacements are so readily avaiable. When you consider what we humans have done and continue to do, to this planet and its occupants, suggesting that their money is better spent on humans is egregious.
M. Hammond | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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c.n.a.
we love and take care of our animals even tho it reqires sacrifice but i believe,no iknow they would do the same for us.and even more.
linda lewis | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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sick dogs
that the dog was really sick
papajonds | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Animals have feelings too
I think it’s up to the pet owner if they want to spend the money or not. In my humble opinion, most people, if they’re able to, would be more than willing to spend the money to treat a sick pet. They’re truly part of the family. That’s how we feel about our pets anyway. They are loved. We give to many charities on a regular basis and aren’t careless with our money and we’re certainly not rich but if we couldn’t afford their care had to put their care on a credit card, we wouldn’t hesitate to do that. You don’t want to any person or creature suffer if it can be avoided. You do what you can and pray for the best.
Karen Martin | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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It comes down to weather or not you have the right
Here’s the thing. If we live in a free country then we have the right to spend our time doing what we want and what we think is right. This is a personal decision. I have spent upwards of $500.00 on a vet bill because I valued the life of my cat. Would that money be better spent saving the lives of someone in Africa…maybe…maybe not. What if that person I saved in Africa turned out to be someone who went on to dedicate his life to promoting socialism. In my opinion I would have done the world a great disservice. Ultimately it comes down to who gets to decide what we do with our money. I think that decision is best left to the person who’s money it is.
Harry J White | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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HOW TO BE A VETENARIAN
HOW TO
ronnel | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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out the window
i recently took in a dog that somebody had decided they were tired of,and threw it out of the window of a moving vehicle. i have had Walter for 6weeks now. i dont know why this happened to an innocent dog but i do know that i will give him the happiest and most comfortable rest of his life that i possibly can.he is sweet and loyaland if a vet bill should occur then i will find a way to pay it ,pets are not disposible property.
sherry martin | 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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