Major pet peeve (no pun intended)
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| Mon, 07-11-2005 - 5:53am |
I'm a frequent lurker, sometimes poster, who's been hanging around this board for some time now. I'm the proud furmom of 6 wonderful furkids: Abby (diabetic, age 7-ish), Samantha & Margarita (almost 9, littermates, Rita showing very early signs of kidney issue), Hope (est. age 11), Freddie (age 5) and Lennie (age 2). We lost one of our precious babies, Kimba, almost 2 years ago to chylothorax. We also have one psycho dog, Tessa, who thinks she's a cat and luckily gets along fine with the 6 kitties.
DH & I make a decent living, but also have a lot of expenses: DSD starting college, child support for DSS, 2 cars, own a home, etc. We also spend a good part of that income on our pets: pet insurance, high quality food, and regular vet visits. Anytime one of our babies shows signs of illness, or is just acting "off", off to the vet we go. Abby has been diabetic for almost 2 years and is at the vet quite frequently (glucose curves, etc.) so far we've been very lucky that she hasn't had an insulin shock episode. Freddie was spending some time at the vet earlier last year due to bad sinus problems. Exploratory surgery was needed (everything was fine), meds, etc. Kimba's illness was very costly, and I'll forever feel guilty that we were unable to explore further treatment (at the cost of $5k+) we just didn't have that in the budget (and there were no guarantees that he would have been cured). Sadly, we had to make the painful decision to help him to the Bridge, to this day my heart aches when I think about him.
Ok, so my point? (thank you if you've read this far!) I am soooo sick of hearing about people with pets (not just cats): educated, financially stable people, who do not take proper care of their furkids. Recently a woman in work had to euthanize her 16 y/o cat, the cat was losing tons of weight; not eating; drinking & peeing profusely. Well this went on for months, I kept suggesting that she take her to the vet, well after several months she did only to find out it was end-stage renal failure. Next case: my best friend's nephew has 2 cats, he believes one is diabetic (frequent peeing & thirst), but he won't take him to the vet because "he can't afford it". This is a guy who makes $70k a year, is single, has rent & car payment only. He also "can't deal with needles". Another (good) friend has a 12 year old cat, she never takes him to the vet regularly ("he's an indoor cat so what could happen?"), a few months ago he was showing signs of diabetes so she finally took him to the vet. Well it was severe renal failure, he almost died, but thankfully he pulled through. Now his life expectancy will be shortened due to lack of earlier treatment. There are other stories I have, my DSD works part time in one of our animal shelters and the stories I hear are totally heartbreaking.
What I wish I could understand is WHY do people adopt pets if they're not going to care for them? What's the point? Why do they feel a pet's life is not important, and why can't they realize sick animals experience pain just like we do? It makes me so angry, and so very sad. I look at my babies, and know that I will do anything and everything to keep them healthy, and if the time comes when they're beyond help or treatment, I will do what's best for them so they don't suffer. I'm not trying to sound self-righteous, I'm just so frustrated at the ignorance many intelligent people display when it comes to their furkids.
Luv

I totally agree with you.
I have nothing more to add except I've seen the same thing as well and it's infuriating.
Rena
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ICAM....It is very frustrating when I see so many people treat their animals as disposable commodities. There is one guy at work who refers to it as the $100 rule for his dogs. This means that if he goes to the vet and the bill is going to be more than that he will just dispose of them. I just don't get it. All of my animals have always been members of my family. My babies. I know a lot of people who just don't get me and think I'm crazy but to may way of thinking they are the crazy ones!
I also don't get it when people continue to adopt more pets than what they can afford and then complain about the veterinary bills. Hey, animals get sick that's just life. If you aren't prepared to deal with it then you simply shouldn't adopt more. On the other hand I don't think you should just continue adopting even if you can afford it if it's not in the best interest of your already resident pets.
For example, my previous cat Cali HATED other cats but liked dogs. Now there was no way that I would adopt another cat knowing this to be true and just expect that eventually they would get along. Not fair to her, not fair to the other cat. So when I lost the dog and moved east and landed in a townhouse it was just Cali and I in her golden years. Even now, with my two boys I refuse to adopt another cat. Their relationship is so special and I'm not going to take the chance of screwing it up as with each cat added they then start the heirarchy shuffle all over again. In our case I think the old addage of "twos company three's a crowd" would apply.
JMO and I share you're frustration as a lot of the stuff I see and hear in the way some care or don't care for their pets. I think the key is that you and I look at our cats/pets as furkids but many don't. To them they are just a cat or a dog and they are plentiful and replaceable.
Lynn
$100 rule?!?!?!?! I've never walked out of the vet paying less than $100. May I say that I think that guy is a moron. JMO of course.
Rena
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Oh, you got that right a big moron. Obviously doesn't take his dogs to the vet office as I can't even do the yearly exam without vaccines for less than $100.00!
Lynn