I really don’t think we should be encouraging people who see animals as “disposable” to have them, and certainly not encouraging anyone to see animals as “disposable.” Those people shouldn’t have pets to begin with. If your dog is disposable property, why should you arse yourself to play with him?
Pets are a responsibility, not a right.
Exactly.
I’d be more supportive if this were a new model of pet insurance – say, partnered with local shelters to facilitate adoptions – but no one should be getting a pet if they’re not fully committed to it. These are sentient beings with their own emotional needs, not fashion accessories.
If there’s a serious matching problem, shelters can and do take the animal back themselves. As far I know, this is stipulated in the adoption contract at most places.
Also, to be blunt, if it’s my pet, the one that I live with and love and care for and play with every day (no legalese changes that), no one gets to make medical decisions about him except for me. I sure as hell wouldn’t be on board with my vet deciding that medical intervention is “too expensive” to justify cutting into their profits, and simply taking my family member away and terminating the “lease.”