I Am Angry And I Don't Care Who Gets Mad !!!!!!

[SizzleDog]

Computers and internet... but no money for medical treatment.

Just commenting on this - my desktop computer is about 8 years old, barely runs... cost me about $500 in 1999. My laptop computer is three years old, cost me about $4000 and I could sell it easily... but I need it every day for my college education, I'm a design major. And my internet is free through my school and my apartment complex.

Just because people have computers and internet, it doesn't mean getting rid of them will free up any extra money.

I am all for having enough money to cover vet bills and expenses, if you can't pay vet bills you shouldn't own a pet - but I'm just trying to point out that some things can't be sold (i.e. if you're getting internet for free, etc.)

 

[ToscasMom]

come on, RD. I expect more from you.

I see it differently. RD, I wouldn't expect any less from you.

 

[houndlove]

Seriously folks, if you don't have huge stores of cash around but do have $40 extra a month, look in to one of the better (less scam-tastic) pet insurance companies. I don't have to live in fear of this because my dogs are covered.

 

[smkie]

especially in an emergency. We all should have emergency funds..my funds are gone trying to keep my own behind alive and i am not doing too good a job at that. YEt i have had Mary for 15 years. 15 good years. I was lucky my Mom bailed me out, let me put it on her credit card so My mary that ran in the field this morning, her front legs churning tail wagging, back legs touching the ground stiff but flying all the same could have this good morning to be a dog. Food is scarce. Too late to cancel the net, in fact i was going to but Mom said to wait. See if the funds can be raised this month before we do that. She knows how important the connection to the outside world is for me. SOOOOOO seriously, i was in the very position people are discussing..rationally, irrationally, having a pet, and not being able to pay the bill. 50 thousand americans are in teh same boat with their own behinds let alone their pets. 50 million pets are put away each year because there are not enough homes. Let alone homes that can afford a crisis. I didn't come on here and say i can't take care of my mary, nor did i ask for outside help. But IF i had, would you have hated me? Lets just say we aren't living high on the hog this month. WE live day to day, just like 2/3's of the planet. I don't see what good it does to grind away at what is apparent. I don't see what good it does to point fingers at him or her and say you should be able to do this or that....a crisis is a crisis. IF the poster is making it up..somewhere someone has the same thing and they aren't. WE are here to help...not to cast blame. AT least i am here to help, not to cast blame. And if you all want to fight, then i think that is a whole different story. WE are more or less all in the same boat. We can help each other, or make it worse.

 

[Saintgirl]

I just don't get it... are you saying that we should just accept that a dog is not recieving emergency medical care? Just because we don't understand the situation, we should just nod our heads and say oh well? Advice WAS given, just go back and read the thread in question. Some people gave wonderful advice on discount ways to provide the dog the much needed medical attention. Others suggested contacting local animal groups, but over and over the response is- not my dog, there is nothing I can do. This isn't a neighbors dog, this is a dog that lives in the home she lives in.

I can understand how people turn here to get advise about situations and to get an opinion of whether a vet is truely needed- but simple common sense will tell you that urinating pure blood is terribly wrong, emergency action is required.

These are not fighting words, and they are words of compassion. Compassion for the animals who have no choice, who are unable to do things on their own. Maybe, just maybe that someone will read what Aussie originally wrote and think twice about getting a new pet. They might just think about all of the things we don't like to think could happen to us. Why should Aussie be made to feel guilty for ranting, and all of those who agree with her when the end of the day comes along she is left picking up the pieces of these broken dogs.

I do feel sorry for the family in question. But I feel so much more sorrier for the dog.

 

[RD]

Food, a roof over our heads- those are necessities, internet and computers, games, magazine subscriptions, ipods- those are not and can be done without for the sake of those that depend on us.

My feelings exactly. Debi, I wasn't saying that I expect people to sacrifice their life's necessities for their pets. But think about what you (generic you, by the way) really need for survival -- house, car, job, food -- versus what you get for pleasure. People can get by on the most basic of meals during hard times, they can carpool to save gas money and they can sell unnecessary trifles to make a payment to the vet, etc. Personally I would sacrifice even the necessities for my dog if the situation came to it, but that's just me.

Sizzle, I understand about the computer. I have an old, crappy desktop and an even older, crappier laptop but each could fetch a couple hundred dollars with all the software on them. In a recent thread, a member said a vet visit would cost about $100. Surely anyone with a computer and internet access has something that they could sell for $100.

 

[Debi]

ok..I relent..I give up. you all do gooders go pat yourselves on the back. you go feel smug with your opinions of the 'high road' in dog care. you sit back and judge all others. you cry to the hills how you care more. you feel proud of yourselves. you claim that you do it ALL. you sleep tight at night.

well..some people need help, and they need it via the net cause they have no other course in life to take. you bash them.....and you go feel good about yourselves for doing it. you hate them. you take that high road of the divine. then when all else fails.....you bash people like me that feel for them. you go ahead.......tell me I'm a terrible pet owner....whatever makes you feel powerful. I laugh at you.......

and then I come to this forum...and I read the posts I moderate in health care. and I FEEL for some of those folks that are out there needing help...helpless........loving, yet helpless. and I read those posts with a different eye. I feel compassion for them in their need. I feel for how they want the best for their dogs.....and even if it's only a cyber hug....I'll give it to them. they care. and you go right ahead and bash us for that. and you have your say.....all knowing ......about what YOU would do. you pat yourselves on the back today. I'm not going to try to get thru to you one minute more. but when they post.......I'll be grateful that it's ME that moderates that forum and not YOU.

 

[smkie]

that is exactly what we are doing here rd.

 

[BostonBanker]

especially in an emergency. We all should have emergency funds..

Emergency funds, credit cards, pet insurance...any of the above. I am not comfortable unless I can pull $1000 up quickly in an emergency. Trust me, I'm far from rich. I work in a barn.

And every week, I take whatever I can manage from my paycheck, and I stick it in a separate account. Some weeks it is $10. I try to do $20, but it doesn't always happen. Housesitting and holiday money gets a big chunk put in as well. When my horse had serious health issues last winter, I was able to do every single test and treatment my vet recommended. I blew through the entire savings account and some of my credit card, but I knew I was doing everything possible for him.

The account was down to zero, but is building back up. I'm not getting the lens I wanted for my camera. I'm body-clipping horses (my least favorite job) this fall, because as much as it sucks to do, it is good money. The credit card is at the ready if something else should happen in the near future.

I can't even explain how much I want a second dog right now. It's not going to happen for a while. My new policy is I want $1000 for EACH animal set aside. When there is enough for Meg and Tristan, then I will start thinking about working up to a third pet. Until then, those two are my responsibility.

 

[Charliesmommy]

No one is helpless Debi. People can play the victim all they want, but there are always options. If one chooses not to acknowledge those options, it does not make them helpless.

 

[Laurelin]

I don't see any 'do-gooders' just people wishing people would think about medical costs before getting a dog. My rant is at no specific person.

Yes, pointing out that a dog should be taken to a vet because it's in dire need of medical attention makes me 'feel powerful'.

 

[Renee750il]

WE are here to help...not to cast blame.

EXACTLY, Smkie . . . .

I understand the frustration of people like Aus - and I'm damnglad she and others like her are out there. But . . . I also understand the plight of some of those on the other end of it. Having compassion doesn't have anything to do with condoning callous disregard or abuse, and compassion isn't a finite resource - don't most of you have the capacity to have compassion for the people who are worried and hurting as well as for their animals? If they didn't care, they wouldn't be taking their time to post here - they'd be doing something less traumatizing.

Compassion, people . . . . try being a little more humane toward each other.

 

[Whisper]

I completely agree. No one has a perfect life or endless money. But we all have things that we don't need and if we have our priorities straight, can get rid of. Is it really such a hard question- which means more to me, my pets -who give me enough that I feel as though I should repay them for as long as they're on this earth- or my TV, DVD players, and other possessions?
I pet-sit currently just to get things I want my animals to have, and you can be **** sure I'd be crouching over doing someone else's yardwork and much more if their lives depended on it.

ETA: Renee, I posted while you were posting. I completely understand. On lots of boards I comfort people who need and have great respect for people who try to pull themselves together for their pets. What I think we're venting about is people who have callous attitudes toward their pets and don't seem concerned enough to do anything about the situation.

 

[Debi]

for goodness sakes........you all just don't get it. in a perfect world..our pets are whisked to the vet..costs aren't a consideration. our family is whisked to the doc...costs aren't a consideration. well..it isn't a perfect world. far from it. times get hard...life is sometimes horrible. but people out there cling to their beloved pets..love them..care for them. and sometimes life is cruel..and there isn't money. so...you all say 'they shouldn't have pets'. fine. but they do...cause they love them. they LOVE them. but they're poor. I guess poor people shouldn't have that love. God forbid...they can't afford that 'committment'. but that dog is their life. loved. I get it. people who don't have the money in the bank should never own a pet. that's the feeling of this forum. I get it. I relent. now........go pat yourselves on the back for being so great. I give up.

 

[Whisper]

Debi, there are pages of people saying they don't have endless money. At least what I have a problem with is people who do nothing about it when there is a great deal of what they can sacrifice for their pets. I am definitely poor. Very much so. But if my pets needed help I would do as much as possible to work it out, including selling my belongings.

 

[Dizzy]

No one is helpless Debi. People can play the victim all they want, but there are always options. If one chooses not to acknowledge those options, it does not make them helpless.

Everyone has options - but some are more fortunate than others KNOWING about them.

It is wrong to presume that everyone has the means, the ability or even the common sense to do what YOU or I would do.

People may or may not be helpless - but I can tell you right now, many, many people don't have the luck you've or I have had in life being made aware of options, knowing where help is, or having the foresight to know when and where to ask for it.

 

[M&M's Mommy]

I don't see any 'do-gooders' just people wishing people would think about medical costs before getting a dog.

But life is constantly changing, sometime it can be very unexpected. For example, when someone first got their pet, he/she might be single & had a good job, now that he has a spouse & kids, and may just got laid off!, the priority will definitely shift & things will be different. Or someone might live with their parents on miminum rent, now that he owns his house with a morgates that costs a lot more, he may not have extra cash set aside for his pets..

I haven't read the thread that's responsible for this reaction, but I understand Debi when she calls for sympathy for those who cannot afford the vet bills. Considering that each individual situation is different, I don't think we should expect anyone to do what we think we would.

 

[Charliesmommy]

Debi, you act like we're all saying if you don't have money you should not have pets, or that we're saying people MUST find a way to come up with money even when the can't.

Many alternatives have been suggested, such as surrendering the dog. I know exactly what it's like to have no money, believe me. I feel bad for people who have no money. I think everyone should be able to have the love of a dog in their life.

But I DO NOT AND WILL NOT condone letting an animal suffer. There ARE options. You are just refusing to acknowledge them.

 

[Charliesmommy]

Everyone has options - but some are more fortunate than others KNOWING about them.

It is wrong to presume that everyone has the means, the ability or even the common sense to do what YOU or I would do.

People may or may not be helpless - but I can tell you right now, many, many people don't have the luck you've or I have had in life being made aware of options, knowing where help is, or having the foresight to know when and where to ask for it.

Agreed. Totally.

But the person at issue here did ask for help, was given suggestions, and has ignored them.

 

[RD]

ok..I relent..I give up. you all do gooders go pat yourselves on the back. you go feel smug with your opinions of the 'high road' in dog care. you sit back and judge all others. you cry to the hills how you care more. you feel proud of yourselves. you claim that you do it ALL. you sleep tight at night.

well..some people need help, and they need it via the net cause they have no other course in life to take. you bash them.....and you go feel good about yourselves for doing it. you hate them. you take that high road of the divine. then when all else fails.....you bash people like me that feel for them. you go ahead.......tell me I'm a terrible pet owner....whatever makes you feel powerful. I laugh at you.......

and then I come to this forum...and I read the posts I moderate in health care. and I FEEL for some of those folks that are out there needing help...helpless........loving, yet helpless. and I read those posts with a different eye. I feel compassion for them in their need. I feel for how they want the best for their dogs.....and even if it's only a cyber hug....I'll give it to them. they care. and you go right ahead and bash us for that. and you have your say.....all knowing ......about what YOU would do. you pat yourselves on the back today. I'm not going to try to get thru to you one minute more. but when they post.......I'll be grateful that it's ME that moderates that forum and not YOU.

Powerful? Hardly. Debi, I'm 17 and I'm dirt poor. I doubt if I have $20 to my name right now. I'm living with friends in exchange for training their puppy, I rely on other people for transportation, I'm getting free internet access from a yacht club and I'm wishing I had a lot of little things. I know exactly what it feels like to be short on cash. I'm not judging anyone who isn't wealthy, but I can't help feeling resentful towards the people who get animals and then don't even try to help them when they're suffering. What kind of devotion are people showing to their pets when they barely glance at their bank account and say "I can't afford it", yet continue to keep the pet and let it suffer because they "love" it. How selfish.

Why not have some respect for a dog as a living thing, and get it the medical care it needs? This might mean turning the dog over to the Humane Society. It might mean finding it another home or relinquishing it to the vet. But it's giving the dog a chance at a life without suffering. It's the kind thing to do for a beloved pet, if the owner can't afford medical care.

If I come across as high and mighty, I don't care. I'll stand up for what I feel is right even if I step on some toes in the process. It's up to people to speak up for those who have no voice, and to show compassion for the creatures who share our lives. To neglect that and allow a truly helpless animal to suffer is nothing short of cruelty.

I feel for people who live in poverty, but if you think people are helpless, then take a look at their animals.