AlaItalia - Again, you’re missing the point - the OP said the animal would recover fully and have good quality of life. And pepperlandgirl didn’t say thousands, she said $1-200. I’ve been unemployed, and I’ve had budget issues. But as long as I could finance the amount, and it was within a reasonably budgetted amount, I say you have the obligation to the animals you take in. Does that mean spending $5000 for chemo on a 18 year old cat to give it 6 months of hell? No. Does it mean fixing a broken leg in a puppy? I say yes. And again, I say it shows the depth of one’s commitment. Some are committed to their animal’s welfare more than others. It doesn’t mean those who don’t spend as much aren’t at all committed, just that they don’t have the same depth of commitment. Just as you have some teachers (as an example) who put in their hours, don’t do anything over and above, and go home. Then you have other teachers who stay after school to tutor, spend their own money for classroom supplies, call parents in the evenings from their homes. Both teachers do their job - one just does more than the basics. And in my mind, that teacher is more committed to her students.
Why is my moral obligation stronger to my dog? Because she has been with me for 11 years, and I have an obligation–to her, not to myself–to ensure a high quality of life for whatever time she has left. Any amount of money that has been, or ever will be, spent on her has been spent in her best interest, not mine. It would be incredibly selfish of me, and cruel to her, to keep her alive if her quality of life had diminished to nearly nothing.
AS LONG as there is a very good chance of full recovery or at least a good quality of life
AND
He still had few good years in him yet;
Almost anything.
To more directly answer RickJays’ question:
There is at least a very good chance we would indeed sell our house to help pay for some bills. I can’t imagine any surgery or care for a cat getting into 6 digits though so I doubt it would ever be an issue. If it were, who knows. My wife is more attached to the cat than I am, and I am extremely attached to the little fella. She feels he is the only reason she had the strength to make it through 5 years of University and would definetly feel we/she would owe him. And I am not a liar, nor do I think I’m nuts. Its ‘just’ money. Then again, we are not on welfare nor living hand to mouth.
You’ve got to remember, for some people their cat/dog/whatever is the closest friend they have, and in some sad cases the only “thing” they care for period. If your best friend/sibling had some terrible illness and had no insurance would you spare any expense if there was a good chance it would cure them? That is how some people feel for their pets. It doesn’t necessarily make them liars or nutsv either.
For the same reason that I would have more moral obligation to feed and clothe the child that I brought into my family, as opposed to the child down the street.
I knew my cat when he was in his mother’s womb. I saw him before his eyes were opened. I made a promise to be with him his whole life-- and I would sell my computers, or come down to it I would sell my ass on the street, to keep him healthy. I would spend every bit of money I had or commit all my yearly income to saving him, swallow my pride, and live with my parents.
But given the far more likely scenario…if something happens to him that’s unfixable given any amount of money, or if old age brings him misery, I will be with him at the last as I was with him at the first.
It’s not possible to keep a cat from dying, eventually. All you can do is love them as much as you can, while you have them. I couldn’t put him to sleep rather than spring for medical treatment in order to save another cat, because then I wouldn’t love him the way I promised to.
Corr
who carefully explained to each man she dated…if the cat doesn’t like them, out they go (and the cat’s a damn good judge of character)
Well, as a person who used to work at an Animal Rescue League, I think I have something to offer this conversation. My answer? Very little if at all. I know a friend spend 6 grand on his dog that was hit by a car. Part of the family and all that. But do any of you know how many dogs and cats get killed each year because homes can’t be found for them? I have gone to the pound for every pet that I had. And I look at it this way. Without me, that dog would have been put to sleep long ago. So if something tragic happens and the cost to fix was alot, I’m sorry, but I’ll put the dog to sleep. Another pet will have a chance to live a life that they never would have. And bring joy to me and my family. I’ve had to put to sleep (and actually hold) two dogs while the shot was administered. It’s hard, but in each instance the dog was in pain and was not long for the world. After the sadness, another dog was adopted from the pound and was alive and well for 12 years.
I know people get emotionally attached to their pets. That’s perfectly natural. After seeing so many puppies, pets, kittens, cats and other assorted animals put to sleep however, I take a different attitude. They are a renewable resource. There is another dog or cat just hoping that someone comes and takes them off of death road. And they will provide you years of companionship and joy.
I’m sure I’ll get hammered for this. But if you only knew the waste and carnage that a rescue league performs, you might understand. I’m not evil… but if my dog is paralyzed, in pain, and can’t be helped for a reasonalbe cost, I’ll put it down. Any life they can get out of the rescue league is a bonus. And in some strange way, I think the animals that are adopted appreciate it. My last dog came from a kennel. And even though it was a family dog, he always paid attention to me when I was in the room. I think he associated me with his escape from death row.
I’ve buried my pets in a respectful manner in the yard. And I miss them. But they aren’t people to me… they are pets. Any life my pets had was a bonus, because the alternative for them was the death-shot from the vet.
I think that’s probably at the center of the disagreement/misunderstanding. My cats are not my closest friend, not the only thing I care for, not my children, not my siblings, and not my reason for continuing. I once who had a dog that was all of that to me, and I did convince my parents to try to save her from the cancer tearing her apart. It bought her six months. And I honestly don’t know if it was worth it. Was she in pain? Probably…and all it did was postpone my tears for six months. I don’t think it was worth it for her or me.
Can I understand why people pay so much for their pets? Yes. Do I htink they’re crazy? No. But I enjoy a different relationship with my pets, and as a result, do not have the same reaction to the question as many others do.