The other day I was at a friend's house. His mom owns a male beagle mix and frankly, probably shouldn't. She rescued him on impulse and he's very active (too active for an old woman), but he is going to doggie daycare, which helps him a lot.

She didn't want to get him neutered initially because she saw it as cruel and considered breeding him...with WHAT i asked?...but finally caved in to hopefully curb some of his bad behavior. I was extremely frustrated with this. The dog doesn't even have TAGS. And she's sensitive about dog poop and makes her son clean up after the dog!

Anyway, the nurse was telling her that even if neutering doesn't fix his behavior, it will prevent him from getting testicular cancer. She told us that she laughed and said that if he got cancer at an old age, she'd have him put down.

She said that she thinks it's terrible when people spend a lot of money on medical bills for their pets because that money could be spent on other things, like children in third world countries. She also said that a lot of times the dog is very old and it's hopeless and really just a selfish thing to do.

Now I agree on her second point. If the dog is 14 and has a low chance of survival, expensive treatment for dogs seems pretty selfish and stupid. But the first point?

Okay, fine, that money could be spent on children in third world countries. But isn't that true of ANYTHING? She drives a mercedes. She could have bought a toyota and donated the money she would have spent on a more expensive car to charities if she felt strongly about it.

I am all for being charitable, and wish more people were! But to blame animal lovers specifically for wanting to take care of their pets? I would much rather blame the people who buy things for status rather than acting to protect an animal they have an emotional attachment with. Maybe we're all to blame, but if you're going to point fingers, at least do it first at the people who spend excess money on things they don't really value.

Just a rant.

Guilty...h*ll no. I would bankrupt myself if it were for any of my pet health!

i dont know what is considered as "alot". i dont buy clothes for my dogs because they dont like them. i spend the extra money on better quality dog food because i want to do what i can to keep them healthy. i pick them up new toys here and there. and they love treats so thats a given. vet bills are a must whenever needed. some times that can be alot of money. but i dont take any chances with my "kids". moneys no object when it comes to their health.

It sounds like she really has no foundation of what she believes. Her opinions appear to be situational and based on what is convenient for her (like driving a big car and not wanting to spend money or time on another). She justifies it to herself by bringing in 3rd world countries and their poverty but does not seem to care to get involved in resolving their problems, only using them to back up her opinions of what benefits her. You can never really count on someone like that. I spend far more on my dogs than I need to. I sometimes feel guilty for it if it's for a treat or toy but never if it is for their health and well-being. Caring for them is a committment that will not change no matter what I feel like doing.

*rubs her chin*

Considering I drop about 15k annualy into the dogs to support my hobbies and general enjoyment of doing stuff with them, I don't think anything is wrong with spending money.

Everyone has their opinions, and many people have opinions and make comments that they actually don't support. Saying something is one thing, doing it is another, and that goes for good and bad.

I made the money so I can spend it however I choose. I'm all for giving money to charity and even do it on occassion. But my animals are a lifetime commitment so they come before any charity.

I find for myself that I tend to splurge on mine. My hubby and I have no children other than our 4 legged ones. They have and continue to give me so much joy and love that I want to make their lives as happy and healthy as I can.

Unfortunately there are to many people that have pets that shouldn't. I always have to remind myself that not everybody loves their pets like I do.

your pet becomes family and you want to do eery thing to help them.

well that the way i see it.

you spend money on your family members?

The way I see it, when I got my dogs I made a commitment to them. I'm supposed to keep them healthy, feed them, love them, exercise them, no matter what, because they can't always do all that themselves.

My older dog has cost me an entire life savings account and some more. Well over $6,000 in medical bills in the least I'd say. Even with the insurance I have on him, I've still spent ALOT. Was it worth it? Hell yeah. He's my best friend and I owe that much to him. And he's healthy now, so that's all that matters.

You can donate all you want to children in third world countries, things won't change until their government makes a change.

Hello, :)

Now here's a fully loaded post! (hee hee)

I believe your money is yours to spend however you wish! If it's on ones pet... then who's to say it's wrong. This is the land of freedom.

As for the mothers son picking up the poop... that's being lazy. (IMO) I have 2 boys and never would I expect or ask them to pick it up. It was my choice to have a puppy so it's my task. I really think she should have gotten a cat inlieu of a dog.

As for money being spent on medical bills. If you your pet who's a family member gets sick. Then most people will spend that money to have them in better health.

As for children in the third world countries. Some of the fault behind that lies upon their government. Plus the people who produce more and more children. That they can't feed or take care of.

I don't feel guilty at all and I have spent A LOT of $$$$ on my pets. Almost a year ago my English Springer Spaniel was dx with Lymphoma. My dh and I decided to at least try chemo as the vet said that although it is a very agressive cancer, it is also very treatable. She responded terrific to the 1st treatment, but the night before the 2nd treatment, she went downhill fast. We couldn't bear to put her through any more misery, so we chose to have her pts. We then had her creamated and her ashes were returned to us - as I had done with my 2 cats. People criticized us, not for putting the dog through chemo, but for wasting money. I figure we blow money all the time on just going out to eat b/c we were too lazy to cook, so why not at least try to treat our dog who loved us unconditionally. Just last week a mass removed from my 9mo. puppy's leg. It had been aspirated prior and sent to cytology, but I still paid for a full biopsy of the mass just for the peace of mind. And although the biopsy came back the same as the cytology, benign cutaneous histiocytoma, I am glad I spent the extra $125.50 to get it done.

My dogs are my responsibility and I will pay to keep them healthy and prolong a good quality life. Love them to much to put them down when I could have done something for them.

She is just not an animal lover.

Someone like that doesn't need a dog in my estamation. They are part of the family and a respondsiblity for as long as they live. No, I would not let mine live and suffer if there was no hope but you can bet your batootie I would do what I can for them if they were sick or needed surgery, which they have all three had at one time or another. I don't feel guilty one bit because we will always have the poor and unfortunate with us and you can't save the world. All you can do is do your part in helping. I feel sorry for that little dog if it ever needs anything done that will cost her anything. She needs a fish.

There are always (unfortunately) going to be people like that. A guy came into my shelter a while ago while we were reaching out to the public to raise fund for a cat's eye surgery. It was $200. I gave him a flyer and told him about the surgery...his reply:

"I think animals like that should be put down."

The cat was awesome and he only had to have an eye removed--no other health or behavior problems. But people will be people. My question was what was the guy doing in an animal shelter if he doesn't love animals? Maybe that guy is related to the lady who adopted the beagle...

I would spend any amount of money on my "babies" well being. I definitely spend more on them food and health wise. They eat better and they go to the vet more times a year than I go to the doctor.

Hmmm... like someone else said, I'm not sure what "alot" is...

I got my oldest dog (a beagle mix) when I was a starving college student who could hardly afford to feed herself... there were nights that I ate a can of peas for dinner ... but my dog ate. Perhaps not the best of food... but in my defense - I didn't know any better.

Then I met my ex... and I adopted a dalmation from a neighbor who was abusing it. We were BEYOND poor. There were months when we had no power.... but my dogs ate. My ex was not a kind person... when he came after me one night - my dogs stepped in the way... baring the brunt of my ex's hatred and anger. On several occasions, the dogs took beating intended for me. One night, the hits landed where they were intended and I ended up sitting on the driveway with a broken wrist, a black eye and a cracked rib... Quincy was there to lick my wounds and to give me the courage to go on. I moved back home with my parents ... but before I would leave - I arranged for a dalmation rescue to come get the dalmation. My parents house could only hold so many animals and people. I left the state feeling that I had failed that poor dog... I took it from an abusive owner and brought him into another abusive home. His nerves were shot... but he was still a very good dog. The rescue found a home for him on an elderly gentlemans farm... each Christmas I receive a card from him telling me how happy he is to run free.

I found myself pregnant and alone ... and still my beagle baby was there... my constant companion. My parents had a husky mix and they became the best of friends. I was still poor the whole time that I was pregnant - but my parents allowed me to live with them and they took care of me and my dog... while I couldn't afford to live on my own, buy my own food... the dogs had the most beautiful crocheted afghans to sleep with.

Both dogs rewarded me by letting me know when I was getting ready to go into labor... they laid by my side and until it was time to go to the hospital and they paced the hallways until I again came through the door with my son in my arms. The whole time I was pregant I told them that it was "There" baby in my tummy. They became constant protectors of my son. They were his body guards, his playmates and my 2nd and 3rd set of eyes.

I found a well paying job, but continued to live with my parents for a while... because all the money in the world doesn't provide the same kind of care and love that grandparents do. My parents dog became sick and required surgery... she had pancreatitis. I gladly paid the vet bill of several thousand dollars. Sasha came home to be with us for 3 days before she passed away... I will never regret doing everything I could to help her.

Quincy, my old beagle mix is now 11 years old. In the past 11 years - I've learned about good foods and bad foods... and I've fed him everything in between. He has been my steadfast friend - with me when I lost my job, when I lost my boyfriend, when I met my husband, when we got married and now that we know things will be okay - he gets everything he wants. He has a bed in every room - so that he can always be comfortable. He is on Zubrin for his occasional muscle aches - $ which I spend gladly for my best friend. He gets frozen custard once a week - that is our Saturday morning date. He gets a cheeseburger/no bun every Friday night. His new dad took a job working from home so that he's here if Quincy needs him (his words - not mine).

Quincy is still my sons guardian. He always goes into his room at night to make sure all is well. He paces the floor when he spends the night at someone else house. On several occasions he has come in and awakened me when my son was sick in the middle of the night. He has licked away my sons tears when he was made fun of by the kids in the neighborhood. He has "done time" in time-outs when my son got in trouble... never wanting my son to have to sit alone. He has been my sons confidante and companion - just as he's been mine.

We now have a new beagle mix named Charley. He is almost 6 months old. Charley is already spoiled rotten. He has more toys than my 8 year old son, he sleeps with us, he goes everywhere with us (a luxury that Quincy didn't have until he was older - I couldn't handle a dog and a young child).

My dogs are spoiled with love and affection and if something happens that we need to spend a lot of money on them... we'll do so. Now, that being said, there is a limit to what I will spend on my dogs. While I will buy Steelers leashes and collars for football season, Christmas bowls for the holidays, stockings for Christmas morning... they don't go to the groomers - I bathe them. They don't eat the BEST food - they eat the BEST food that I can afford. I don't buy designer clothes and tags.... because well, those things add up... and I'd rather send my kid to college. If it came down to either one of the dogs needing a surgery that cost too much - well, I'd have to give it serious thought. Not because they aren't worth it... Qunicy has proven his worth to me over and over.... But because at the end of the day... I have to take care of my son first - just the way that Quincy would want. Do I feel guilty for what I spend? No...never.

If my children were going without, then yes I would feel guilty. But since they are not left without , then no I do not feel guilty.
I did rack up a $7000.00 - yes, seven thousand dollars- bill on my credit card trying to save a very young beagle several years ago. I am still paying on that. She didn't make it and after it was all said and done and I had time to think rationally I realized that perhaps that was a little more than our family could have really afforded. But I was desperate and held on to the littlest bit of hope the doctors at the University of Pa. gave me and kept saying "ok, yes go ahead and do that".
But then again if she had made it I would have felt it was worth every cent. It was ashame to have spent that much and she didn't live but there's no way to know in advance I guess.

We spent $800 to put my cat to sleep. My parents came home to find Doodles unconsious out front. He was bleeding out of his ears and mouth. They called me on their way to the vet and I met them at the emergency vets office. It was first believed that he got hit by a car. Well that wasn't it. The vet told us that Doodles didn't look to good and most likely wouldn't make it, but he could run more tests, but that would cost more. My stepdad, someone who really only tolerates animals (he never really pet them or paid attention to them) told the vet to do whatever tests necessary, doesn't matter the cost. Well the test came back and it was antifreeze poisoning. There was nothing we could do about it. The vet left us alone, I had Doodles on my lap and talked to him. Finally, the vet came in and put him to sleep in my arms. I cried like I never cried before, this was my kitty that I had since I was nine years old and there I was nineteen. He was there for me for everything. Even though we lost him I would never regret spending money on trying to save something I loved so much.

let me think about it........nope I don't feel bad LOL

ummm.............nope!!

I enjoy spending money on my pets! Sweaters, good food, treats, toys, accessories, Where's the guilt? Why hold back $1000 to give to some charity when you can spend it on a pet that needs medical attention? Is she crazy? I have to agree with Riley anyways, nothing changes unitl their government does or else things would have changed a long long long time ago.