"If you can't afford a vet, you can't afford a pet" - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Teresa Ford · 10-13-2012, 12:27 PM

Yorkies can be expensive. I know I grew up with dogs that ate table scraps, slept in a dog house or the barn. The farm dogs only got a Rabbie shot and that was it. They were happy healthy and fairly long lived. Yorkies are well... different, more like humans. They are part of the family and our companions. They live in our house sleep in our beds and some even wear clothes.
How Much Money Does a Yorkie Really Cost ? I hesitated to comment because this is a really touchy subject. I have seen people make decisions to put down an dog, that could be saved with expensive medical treatments. I have also known people to keep pets alive when they were suffering because they can't emotionaly choose euthanasia. I have held the hand of a sobbing woman that surrendered her beloved Yorkie because she did not have the money for liver shunt surgery. She had tried to sell anything she could, she tried to get a loan and even held a sign up on a busy street begging for help (until the police made her leave). My heart broke for her. Newly divorced, with bad credit, working at Burger King and bearly able to keep gas in her car, she was stuck. No parents or wealthy grandmother to help out. Sad.
I hope I am understanding and kind. It is hard not to judge people. I want them to think like me, which is so arrogant ! Some times I jump to the wrong conclusions and don't know the whole story at all. What I am trying to say is don't add a dog if you can't afford it. Take care of the one you have the best you can.

Britster · 10-13-2012, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemy

Thinking about this some more. And taking a break from washing the big boy.

I feel as a "short statement of axiomatic truth" If you can't afford the VET you can't afford the PET. It is a good one. On the plus side it is short and succinct and is a good statement for potential new dog owners. I believe it was constructed way back when, to create a sharp jolt to the system, so that the person would stop and consider do I really have the funds to care for my animal?

I also feel that as time goes on in a dog's life, that not only quality of life is important, but just how much life is left! Many large breeds - Great Dane is one, Irish Wolfhound is another, have an average life expectancy of 7 yrs. My breed is 10 yrs. So that also comes into the equation when considering extraordinary vet care - of course not normal vet care. And large breed dogs do NOT do well with limb surgery and recovery. Just too much weight on the limbs, and it is very hard to try to ameliorate weight borne when the dog needs to go out to eliminate.

With my experience with cancer in my gal, I will be getting insurance for my next new pup. I have until this point in time always self insured. But situations can change. We are looking to retire in the next few years and insurance seems to be a safety stop - financially speaking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

I agree with that statement, "If you can't afford a vet, you can't afford a pet."
BEFORE you get any pet, you should be aware of the costs of basic care. A woman at work has two little girls that would love to have a dog, so she's been thinking about getting one for the past year. Her girls must really have been working on her lately, because she asked me last week, about how much is costs me per month/year for ZoE, so she has a rough idea about what she's thinking of getting herself into. I think everyone should do that...figure out the basic costs BEFORE looking for a pet and falling in love with a sweet face.

That's my biggest issue with people that claim they "just can't afford it"..when it comes to taking care of their pet(s). If you're buying a cappuccino on the way to work every other day and you've just bought yourself the newest iphone, and you've booked your next vacation...you can't claim you "just can't afford" the care your pet needs. If you can't afford to care for your pet, you shouldn't be able to afford ANY extras for yourself.....or you just need to admit your a selfish &*%$# and surrender your pet to someone who values life above stuff.

Definitely agree with all of this!

Teresa Ford · 10-13-2012, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

I agree with that statement, "If you can't afford a vet, you can't afford a pet." I think everyone should do that...figure out the basic costs BEFORE looking for a pet and falling in love with a sweet face.

That's my biggest issue with people that claim they "just can't afford it"..when it comes to taking care of their pet(s). If you're buying a cappuccino on the way to work every other day and you've just bought yourself the newest iphone, and you've booked your next vacation...you can't claim you "just can't afford" the care your pet needs. If you can't afford to care for your pet, you shouldn't be able to afford ANY extras for yourself.....or you just need to admit your a selfish &*%$# and surrender your pet to someone who values life above stuff.

So Perfectly stated

Britster · 10-13-2012, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

Yorkies can be expensive. I know I grew up with dogs that ate table scraps, slept in a dog house or the barn. The farm dogs only got a Rabbie shot and that was it. They were happy healthy and fairly long lived. Yorkies are well... different, more like humans. They are part of the family and our companions. They live in our house sleep in our beds and some even wear clothes.
How Much Money Does a Yorkie Really Cost ? I hesitated to comment because this is a really touchy subject. I have seen people make decisions to put down an dog, that could be saved with expensive medical treatments. I have also known people to keep pets alive when they were suffering because they can't emotionaly choose euthanasia. I have held the hand of a sobbing woman that surrendered her beloved Yorkie because she did not have the money for liver shunt surgery. She had tried to sell anything she could, she tried to get a loan and even held a sign up on a busy street begging for help (until the police made her leave). My heart broke for her. Newly divorced, with bad credit, working at Burger King and bearly able to keep gas in her car, she was stuck. No parents or wealthy grandmother to help out. Sad.
I hope I am understanding and kind. It is hard not to judge people. I want them to think like me, which is so arrogant ! Some times I jump to the wrong conclusions and don't know the whole story at all. What I am trying to say is don't add a dog if you can't afford it. Take care of the one you have the best you can.

I don't really like when the "Well Yorkies are different... they're like humans" comes up. Because any person with a particular breed is going to say that. Lots of people treat their dogs like royalty and sleep in our beds or wear clothes and treated like kids, especially in today's world. Go check out any other breed specific forum... lots and lots of devoted owners always wanting the best for their dogs whether they be Mastiffs, Labs and Chihuahua's.

Not to mention, there are probably a lot more breeds that are known as heartache breeds for a reason... Mastiffs and other giant breeds come with a lot of health issues. And yes Yorkies nowdays tend to have more because of BYB's, etc, but usually tend to be long lived and cost a lot less in terms of vet care, upkeep, etc. Everything is soooo much more expensive when you have a giant breed (anesthesia, food, flea/tick meds, heartworm meds, collars are more expensive, crates, etc etc)... I'm just saying that a healthy Yorkie, needing just regular vet care and checkups throughout their life, definitely won't cost more than an English Mastiff.

And I do think that should come up when deciding to get a dog. I certainly couldn't afford a dog like a Mastiff right now. But that doesn't mean if some huge emergency came up where Jackson needed something done ... that I couldn't afford it. Just that the general care of a large breed is going to be more than a small dog. And I wouldn't purposely put myself out there with a breed that I know off the bat is going to cost more. Even if in the long run my little dog may cost me more unexpectedly ... if that makes sense...

ironmike86 · 10-13-2012, 12:51 PM

I had a Pit Bull he was human... Just loved Football.......snacks

gemy · 10-13-2012, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britster

I don't really like when the "Well Yorkies are different... they're like humans" comes up. Because any person with a particular breed is going to say that. Lots of people treat their dogs like royalty and sleep in our beds or wear clothes and treated like kids, especially in today's world. Go check out any other breed specific forum... lots and lots of devoted owners always wanting the best for their dogs whether they be Mastiffs, Labs and Chihuahua's.

Not to mention, there are probably a lot more breeds that are known as heartache breeds for a reason... Mastiffs and other giant breeds come with a lot of health issues. And yes Yorkies nowdays tend to have more because of BYB's, etc, but usually tend to be long lived and cost a lot less in terms of vet care, upkeep, etc. Everything is soooo much more expensive when you have a giant breed (anesthesia, food, flea/tick meds, heartworm meds, collars are more expensive, crates, etc etc)... I'm just saying that a healthy Yorkie, needing just regular vet care and checkups throughout their life, definitely won't cost more than an English Mastiff.

And I do think that should come up when deciding to get a dog. I certainly couldn't afford a dog like a Mastiff right now. But that doesn't mean if some huge emergency came up where Jackson needed something done ... that I couldn't afford it. Just that the general care of a large breed is going to be more than a small dog. And I wouldn't purposely put myself out there with a breed that I know off the bat is going to cost more. Even if in the long run my little dog may cost me more unexpectedly ... if that makes sense...

Large breed breeders in some way have an easier time with future owners in terms of "cost". For example one of the first questions you get is "how much food does your dog eat a day? When they hear 3lbs or more. They get the drift on how much food is going to cost. Meds are definitely more, especially ones that go by weight. Everything else costs more too. Collars, some leads, crates, beds,etc. Also training has to be factored in. Good future owners of large breeds would never think not "to train" their dogs. Quite simply they are too big to fool around with. You need to train early and a lot. And that means for many, obedience classes.

My public is getting much more educated it seems. They will ask about HD and ED prevalence in the breed and in my own lines. FHO surgery is both expensive and not that successful for my breed.
We spend a whole lot on our dogs, and yes some breeds can suffer from thyroid problems, cancer, pra, but not usually liver shunt. We just spend in different areas.

sophias mommy · 10-13-2012, 12:59 PM

I agree with you, Brit!

Britster · 10-13-2012, 01:15 PM

Also, admittedly, it was a very stupid time in my life for me to add a dog. If I had come on here and asked opinions, everyone most likely would have told me to have waited. And really, yeah, that probably would have been the smartest thing to do. 18, just graduated high school, still living at home, no 'real' job. I paid $550 for Jackson from a BYB in Baltimore and asked my grandpa for $200 of it as an early Christmas present... yeah, horrible timing for a dog and anyone would have told me I was stupid! But hey, it worked out. Having him and falling so much in love with him, and realizing the immediate bond you get, and suddenly you have responsibility... I spent all of my Christmas money on him, I've only once asked for help on a very expensive vet bill, everything else I have ALWAYS taken care of. Yup, a lot of things unexpected and things I just did because I had to ... I managed. He's always gotten superb care (including a $1300 visit to the dentist when I could've gone the cheap route and had it pulled for less than $200, but probably would have caused more issues so wanted to give him the best) and as most of you know on here, he's a very well loved and taken care of dog.

gracielove · 10-13-2012, 01:30 PM

I think it is social snobbery to say that people who have little money should not be allowed to have a pet. Thankfully, there are still people who love animals and want to give one a home. I'm not talking about people who neglect and abuse animals. But there are people of limited income who still need to love a dog or cat and the animal needs someone to care for them. It is a shame that the cost of medical care for pets has skyrocketed so much. It use to be that most people could afford to take their pets to the vet and not face a bill starting at $100.00.

To me a person that loves their dog but is facing a couple of thousand dollars in vet bills to fix the liver shunt should be able to go to a humane organization and get help without having to turn the dog over. If the people love the dog and take care of it properly but have limited funds for a catastrophic medical condition why not let the people keep their pet but help them anyway? Dogs don't care what economic condition their owner is in. They don't care if they live in an expensive house or an old house. They care about their people and love them unconditionally.

Again, I am not talking about people who are irresponsible. There are so many people who do have a good income but keep their dogs locked up most of the time because they don't have the time to put into proper training. Money should not be the deciding factor on these issues. There are retired people who lost a major part of their income with the economic down turn. Would you want them to lose their beloved pet because of the situation?

MandiesMom · 10-13-2012, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gracielove

I think it is social snobbery to say that people who have little money should not be allowed to have a pet. Thankfully, there are still people who love animals and want to give one a home. I'm not talking about people who neglect and abuse animals. But there are people of limited income who still need to love a dog or cat and the animal needs someone to care for them. It is a shame that the cost of medical care for pets has skyrocketed so much. It use to be that most people could afford to take their pets to the vet and not face a bill starting at $100.00.

To me a person that loves their dog but is facing a couple of thousand dollars in vet bills to fix the liver shunt should be able to go to a humane organization and get help without having to turn the dog over. If the people love the dog and take care of it properly but have limited funds for a catastrophic medical condition why not let the people keep their pet but help them anyway? Dogs don't care what economic condition their owner is in. They don't care if they live in an expensive house or an old house. They care about their people and love them unconditionally.

Again, I am not talking about people who are irresponsible. There are so many people who do have a good income but keep their dogs locked up most of the time because they don't have the time to put into proper training. Money should not be the deciding factor on these issues. There are retired people who lost a major part of their income with the economic down turn. Would you want them to lose their beloved pet because of the situation?

I could not agree MORE with this!

GeorgiesMomma · 10-13-2012, 02:17 PM

I have nothing profound to add as I go back and forth on this subject. It breaks my heart when people say my Yorkie was diagnosed with whatever condition but I can't afford to have him/her fixed. I do, however understand that not everyone has the funds to pay for it. I feel bad for both the owner and dog. I think often of when Georgie was diagnosed with AAI and the next week I was laid off. My husband and I both agreed he had to be fixed and we would use care credit if it meant taking longer and paying the interest. Again, I know not everyone can do that but I would hope that if they can't they would consider giving the dog to a rescue to give him/her a chance. JMO

FoxxysMom · 10-13-2012, 04:49 PM

The only time I really thought on this was after seeing wanted ads that basically say they cant vet it. Its always possible to have something unexpected happen and it puts you in a tight spot but to say my dog died, sell me yours but I cant afford to pay for it can I have it free and any leashes, beds or food you have too is crazy. And I see it all the time.

nancyf007 · 10-13-2012, 06:54 PM

I couldn't agree with you more. I haven't been on this site for a while because of the way people feel they are better than others. Not to have a dog because you are an average family is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.
These are usually the same people that spends thousands buying from puppy mills because money is no issue while their is a Yorkie in a rescue that has no home.
I foster yorkies for a rescue and we take wonderful care of these dogs. For someone to suggest that a rescue is in the same league as a shelter is pure ignorance.
Be careful people, karma is not always good to people that are so ignorantly judgemental.

Cirlonde · 10-14-2012, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemy

I also feel that as time goes on in a dog's life, that not only quality of life is important, but just how much life is left! Many large breeds - Great Dane is one, Irish Wolfhound is another, have an average life expectancy of 7 yrs. My breed is 10 yrs. So that also comes into the equation when considering extraordinary vet care - of course not normal vet care. And large breed dogs do NOT do well with limb surgery and recovery. Just too much weight on the limbs, and it is very hard to try to ameliorate weight borne when the dog needs to go out to eliminate.

This is a factor that I can't help but consider whenever I think about potential health issues with any dog, not just mine. I'm a very (probably overly) logical person, so I am inherently forced to weigh every outcome, all the pros and cons before I make a decision. Even though weighing the cost of vet care against the anticipated life of a pet seems a little harsh and unemotional, it is something that I would have to take into consideration. If I had a 3 year old diagnosed with liver shunt versus a 12 year old that had LP...I would make very different decisions regarding vet care in those two situations. With an older dog, or one with other health issues that might limit recovery, it would not be as justifiable to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on vet care when chances are good that something else (or just old age) is going to take the dog sooner rather than later. I'd be more willing to pay thousands of dollars to save an otherwise healthy dog with many years left of life than to spend thousands on a dog who realistically only has another 2-3 years left anyway. It's a hard decision, and one that each person could only make for themselves, but Brit is right...no person should be judged by others when they have to weigh those options. They are probably already torn up over seeing their pet suffering and having to decide if they can afford vet care in an emergency situation without also having other people condemn them for not forking over the cash.

As a personal example, we had a nine year old poodle who had a heart murmur that I didn't know about until it was too late and he ended up with congestive heart failure. At the time, my husband was in grad school and we were living on my income alone (about $20,000 a year). Things were incredibly tight but we spent over $800 within 3 days just trying to get Zach back on his feet...not even to FIX the problem, just in emergency vet care. And we lost him anyway, before he could even come home. If you had asked me a week before he got sick what I would have done, I'd probably have said that we couldn't afford that kind of money. But when you are in the middle of the situation and grasping at any kind of straws, sometimes you do things that you can't afford. However, I have no children and if I have to live on peanut butter sandwiches for awhile, it isn't going to kill me. I am in a position where I can choose to make my own sacrifices and no one else has to suffer with me.
-C

nancyf007 · 10-14-2012, 05:32 AM

Your exactly right Cirlondi. I personally carry insurance on my two. Hopefully that will help with the big things the little things most people can handle. But for people to say that people should not have pets because they do not have money is silly. There are usually places that will do shots relatively inexpensive. My vet is wonderful and tries not to bleed people too bad. But their are some that will watch you watch your pet die if you know what I mean. I would rather see a dog happy in a poor home than to have all medical provided in a shelter with no love. Maybe I am too involved with rescue to have the rose colored glasses some people on this site have.

10-13-2012, 12:27 PM	#16
Teresa Ford Therapy Yorkies Work Donating Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central, Florida Posts: 3,863	Yorkies can be expensive. I know I grew up with dogs that ate table scraps, slept in a dog house or the barn. The farm dogs only got a Rabbie shot and that was it. They were happy healthy and fairly long lived. Yorkies are well... different, more like humans. They are part of the family and our companions. They live in our house sleep in our beds and some even wear clothes. How Much Money Does a Yorkie Really Cost ? I hesitated to comment because this is a really touchy subject. I have seen people make decisions to put down an dog, that could be saved with expensive medical treatments. I have also known people to keep pets alive when they were suffering because they can't emotionaly choose euthanasia. I have held the hand of a sobbing woman that surrendered her beloved Yorkie because she did not have the money for liver shunt surgery. She had tried to sell anything she could, she tried to get a loan and even held a sign up on a busy street begging for help (until the police made her leave). My heart broke for her. Newly divorced, with bad credit, working at Burger King and bearly able to keep gas in her car, she was stuck. No parents or wealthy grandmother to help out. Sad. I hope I am understanding and kind. It is hard not to judge people. I want them to think like me, which is so arrogant ! Some times I jump to the wrong conclusions and don't know the whole story at all. What I am trying to say is don't add a dog if you can't afford it. Take care of the one you have the best you can. __________________ Teresa & Rubin, Gracie, Abba, Ginny Joy and Julia Rose Act like a dog, be kind, forgiving, and loyal. Last edited by Teresa Ford; 10-13-2012 at 12:31 PM.

10-13-2012, 12:59 PM	#22
sophias mommy YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 3,609	I agree with you, Brit! __________________ Sarah Sophia & Brody

10-13-2012, 01:15 PM	#23
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,815	Also, admittedly, it was a very stupid time in my life for me to add a dog. If I had come on here and asked opinions, everyone most likely would have told me to have waited. And really, yeah, that probably would have been the smartest thing to do. 18, just graduated high school, still living at home, no 'real' job. I paid $550 for Jackson from a BYB in Baltimore and asked my grandpa for $200 of it as an early Christmas present... yeah, horrible timing for a dog and anyone would have told me I was stupid! But hey, it worked out. Having him and falling so much in love with him, and realizing the immediate bond you get, and suddenly you have responsibility... I spent all of my Christmas money on him, I've only once asked for help on a very expensive vet bill, everything else I have ALWAYS taken care of. Yup, a lot of things unexpected and things I just did because I had to ... I managed. He's always gotten superb care (including a $1300 visit to the dentist when I could've gone the cheap route and had it pulled for less than $200, but probably would have caused more issues so wanted to give him the best) and as most of you know on here, he's a very well loved and taken care of dog. __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier

10-13-2012, 02:17 PM	#26
GeorgiesMomma I love TBCG! Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MD Posts: 7,227	I have nothing profound to add as I go back and forth on this subject. It breaks my heart when people say my Yorkie was diagnosed with whatever condition but I can't afford to have him/her fixed. I do, however understand that not everyone has the funds to pay for it. I feel bad for both the owner and dog. I think often of when Georgie was diagnosed with AAI and the next week I was laid off. My husband and I both agreed he had to be fixed and we would use care credit if it meant taking longer and paying the interest. Again, I know not everyone can do that but I would hope that if they can't they would consider giving the dog to a rescue to give him/her a chance. JMO __________________ Morgan Mommy toGeorgie boy & Isaiah RIP sweet Coco 10/12/99-8/1/12 Read About Georgie's Experience with Atlantoaxial Instability (AAI) Here!

10-13-2012, 04:49 PM	#27
FoxxysMom YT Addict Join Date: May 2011 Location: Gautier, MS USA Posts: 378	The only time I really thought on this was after seeing wanted ads that basically say they cant vet it. Its always possible to have something unexpected happen and it puts you in a tight spot but to say my dog died, sell me yours but I cant afford to pay for it can I have it free and any leashes, beds or food you have too is crazy. And I see it all the time. __________________ Mom to Shanti, Choppa & Maxximus.

10-13-2012, 12:51 PM	#20
ironmike86 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA Posts: 1,628	I had a Pit Bull he was human... Just loved Football.......snacks

10-13-2012, 01:30 PM	#24
gracielove YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 6,582	I think it is social snobbery to say that people who have little money should not be allowed to have a pet. Thankfully, there are still people who love animals and want to give one a home. I'm not talking about people who neglect and abuse animals. But there are people of limited income who still need to love a dog or cat and the animal needs someone to care for them. It is a shame that the cost of medical care for pets has skyrocketed so much. It use to be that most people could afford to take their pets to the vet and not face a bill starting at $100.00. To me a person that loves their dog but is facing a couple of thousand dollars in vet bills to fix the liver shunt should be able to go to a humane organization and get help without having to turn the dog over. If the people love the dog and take care of it properly but have limited funds for a catastrophic medical condition why not let the people keep their pet but help them anyway? Dogs don't care what economic condition their owner is in. They don't care if they live in an expensive house or an old house. They care about their people and love them unconditionally. Again, I am not talking about people who are irresponsible. There are so many people who do have a good income but keep their dogs locked up most of the time because they don't have the time to put into proper training. Money should not be the deciding factor on these issues. There are retired people who lost a major part of their income with the economic down turn. Would you want them to lose their beloved pet because of the situation?

10-13-2012, 06:54 PM	#28
nancyf007 YT Addict Join Date: May 2011 Location: Fort Myers Posts: 339 Blog Entries: 8	I couldn't agree with you more. I haven't been on this site for a while because of the way people feel they are better than others. Not to have a dog because you are an average family is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. These are usually the same people that spends thousands buying from puppy mills because money is no issue while their is a Yorkie in a rescue that has no home. I foster yorkies for a rescue and we take wonderful care of these dogs. For someone to suggest that a rescue is in the same league as a shelter is pure ignorance. Be careful people, karma is not always good to people that are so ignorantly judgemental.

10-14-2012, 05:32 AM	#30
nancyf007 YT Addict Join Date: May 2011 Location: Fort Myers Posts: 339 Blog Entries: 8	Your exactly right Cirlondi. I personally carry insurance on my two. Hopefully that will help with the big things the little things most people can handle. But for people to say that people should not have pets because they do not have money is silly. There are usually places that will do shots relatively inexpensive. My vet is wonderful and tries not to bleed people too bad. But their are some that will watch you watch your pet die if you know what I mean. I would rather see a dog happy in a poor home than to have all medical provided in a shelter with no love. Maybe I am too involved with rescue to have the rose colored glasses some people on this site have.