are there a point were we can''t afford to keep our pets?

[pixie1216]

thanks for the suggestions. we don''t have rugs or carpets around her anymore, she stays downstairs, where the floor is wooden. i am home all day,and when i work on the weekend, husband is home, so she goes out all day long. sometimes she will pee on the floor right after i let her in from being outside. i have thought of the pee pee pads, but i don''t know if that will reinforce going in the house? plus i don''t want her to start pooping in the house too!

from what i have been told it is not thyroid, she has always had crystals in her urine, so she is at greater risk for the bladder and kidney problems.

 

[lovegem]

Pixie, sorry to hear both you and your doggie is going through such a hard time. I think NeatFreak has made a very good suggestion. If you don''t have carpets or rugs around your dog, will you be at least able to provide a towel or a small rug that you can wash if she pees on it? What do you have to loose for trying? If this works you will be able to keep your dog. You will have to wash the small rugs/towel very often if it worked, but having a pet is a life time commitment to start with. Why put her down when you haven''t exhausted all the possibilities? Moreover, even if you can''t solve the peeing on the floor problem, other people may be able to solve it and are willing to commit to help your dog.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 10/26/2008 12:59:40 PM
Author: pixie1216
thanks for the suggestions. we don''t have rugs or carpets around her anymore, she stays downstairs, where the floor is wooden. i am home all day,and when i work on the weekend, husband is home, so she goes out all day long. sometimes she will pee on the floor right after i let her in from being outside. i have thought of the pee pee pads, but i don''t know if that will reinforce going in the house? plus i don''t want her to start pooping in the house too!

from what i have been told it is not thyroid, she has always had crystals in her urine, so she is at greater risk for the bladder and kidney problems.

1st thing you need to do is get a second opinion from another vet.
I know someone in a similar situation and the 1st vet while a good vet missed what was really wrong.

 

[iwannaprettyone]

I''d take a second/ third job before I gave up my boys.

 

[strmrdr]

Tiger went to live with my dad then my sister when my dad passed away because he would have never been happy in an apartment and I couldn't afford a to rent a house with a yard for him.
He was by choice an outside dog and did not like being inside.
He had a happy life for many many years with them.
So yes there was a point but I found a home for him with people that loved him where I could visit him often.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Well, I would never adopt expensive pets to begin with, so I wouldn't have to worry about not affording my two cats since both are just regular domesticated furry creatures. We HAVE given up kitties, but that was for other reasons than money (I posted months back about having to adopt out a few cats), but if it had been a financial issue, like Princess stated she would do, I would just downgrade their food to keep them. My older cat needs a special cat food w/omegas otherwise she gets skin sores. It's really sad

The food is $18 a bag. Not really that much, but if money were extremely tight, she'd survive on purina.

You know, I'd sell my diamonds to keep my cats. . .but, then again, I doubt I'd have to since cats aren't expensive to keep. All we need for them: food, liter, and carpet cleaner for the occasional hairball!

 

[Linda W]

Date: 10/26/2008 11:08:51 PM
Author: strmrdr
Tiger went to live with my dad then my sister when my dad passed away because he would have never been happy in an apartment and I couldn''t afford a to rent a house with a yard for him.

He was by choice an outside dog and did not like being inside.

He had a happy life for many many years with them.

So yes there was a point but I found a home for him with people that loved him where I could visit him often.

That was a wonderful thing you did for Tiger Karl. You gave him to your family, who loved him and took care of him. Yes, dogs do need a yard to run and play in and I am sure he loved seeing you when you visited him too.
You have a kind and wonderful heart.

Linda
xoxoxox

 

[Haven]

Date: 10/26/2008 11:32:30 PM
Author: MC
Well, I would never adopt expensive pets to begin with, so I wouldn''t have to worry about not affording my two cats since both are just regular domesticated furry creatures. We HAVE given up kitties, but that was for other reasons than money (I posted months back about having to adopt out a few cats), but if it had been a financial issue, like Princess stated she would do, I would just downgrade their food to keep them. My older cat needs a special cat food w/omegas otherwise she gets skin sores. It''s really sad

The food is $18 a bag. Not really that much, but if money were extremely tight, she''d survive on purina.


You know, I''d sell my diamonds to keep my cats. . .but, then again, I doubt I''d have to since cats aren''t expensive to keep. All we need for them: food, liter, and carpet cleaner for the occasional hairball!

Cats can become very expensive when they get older. I do agree that they''re relatively inexpensive when they''re young and healthy. But boy oh boy, do I wish I had gotten insurance for our Bootsie when she was young and healthy.

 

[Dogmom]

I work for an animal welfare organization. The increase in owner-surrendered animals has been dramatic. To address the situation, we started a Pet Food Pantry program a few months ago and distribute food once a month to those who are in need. There has been a person who has received food who lives in a van with their two dogs and a cat. It is a very humbling experience to see the people lined up to receive help.

 

[AnitaT]

Dogmom,
My goodness, my eyes are welling up. Thank you for sharing this story and for the work you and others are doing.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 10/26/2008 11:41:19 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 10/26/2008 11:32:30 PM
Author: MC
Well, I would never adopt expensive pets to begin with, so I wouldn't have to worry about not affording my two cats since both are just regular domesticated furry creatures. We HAVE given up kitties, but that was for other reasons than money (I posted months back about having to adopt out a few cats), but if it had been a financial issue, like Princess stated she would do, I would just downgrade their food to keep them. My older cat needs a special cat food w/omegas otherwise she gets skin sores. It's really sad

The food is $18 a bag. Not really that much, but if money were extremely tight, she'd survive on purina.


You know, I'd sell my diamonds to keep my cats. . .but, then again, I doubt I'd have to since cats aren't expensive to keep. All we need for them: food, liter, and carpet cleaner for the occasional hairball!

Cats can become very expensive when they get older. I do agree that they're relatively inexpensive when they're young and healthy. But boy oh boy, do I wish I had gotten insurance for our Bootsie when she was young and healthy.

Yep, I read your post about your 18 year old cat. You're very lucky to have the resources to keep her happy. . .My older cat is 15 (the other is around 2 years old). She seems fine right now. I did have a cat who got cancer when he was around 9 or 10 and after we found out, we enjoyed him for a few more weeks until we knew he was in too much pain and we had him put to sleep. It was sad, but I'm not one for putting a pet through treatment.

I have no idea what will happen with my 15 year old cat. She seems as active as ever, but she's "elderly" now. . .I guess one can only hope for the best.

Still, my thought is I would never adopt Koi fish that would be so expensive to keep that I could sell them for enough to make up for IRA loss! It's really difficult for me to pity a person like that. I must sound horrible saying that. . .but I do not consider Koi fish "pets," but more luxury items, just as fancy wild "domesticated" cats are and if a person can sell them for that much, they DO have investment written all over the.. I kind of side with PurrfectPear on this one.

 

[dragonfly411]

I''ll take a second and third job before my pupper goes anywhere

 

[sunnyd]

Purrfect my kitty is named Trooper!

I agree with everyone else...my boys aren''t going anywhere without me. They''re my kids! I''d rack up all the credit debt in the world if one got sick and needed surgery (if it would be worth it). Thankfully, they''re indoor and love good ol'' Friskies!

 

[Haven]

MC--That''s great that your 15 year old kitty is still doing well. I''m not one for putting animals through treatment UNLESS their quality of life is not affected by it. Bootsie is happy as can be, and when/if her quality of life does decline, I wouldn''t dream of keeping her around just for my sake.

I''m so sorry about your kitty with cancer. We had a similar experience with Bootsie''s sister Mazi, her health declined in a matter of days and we had to say goodbye.

I had no idea that Koi fish were so expensive until I read this thread. I''m not sure I would adopt them, either, but I''ve never had one so I can''t really say. I do like a pet that can cuddle up with me, or go for a good run, so I''m thinking I''m not a koi fish type of gal, though.

As long as people understand the weight of their choice to adopt an animal, and the potential costs associated with that pet, I''m all for it. I just get upset to see so many people having to give up their furbabies because they didn''t really consider the potential costs BEFORE they adopted them.