Pets are a Waste of Money

[oldbadger]

My wife works for vet. 4.5 years ago she brought a little miniature dachshund home. When 'Smew' was a puppy I got her used to following me out over the foreshore and oyster beds, and she would swim beside me as I waded from one sand-bar to the next. She is naughty and won't come out of the sea when told to, so I always need to wear thigh boots to go and get her out! This year my wife has been very ill, in and out of hospitals, and many operations, with yet more to come. I honestly would not have wanted to stay home but for Smew being there. She insists on sleeping on our bed at night. I never thought I would ever love a dog, but I do, with all my heart. She has become more important to me than most people, except my wife. Every week I have to buy her a toy and hide it amongst the 'hard' shopping, so that she can jump in all the bags to look for it. The toy is never good enough and she throws wobblers about this. She costs a lot for insurance, toys, feed, etc....... and we couldn't care less....... we both need her more than we could explain.

...... a liittle daxie, just like Smew.......

 

[BSM1]

Of course pets should be loved and respected but I read something just the other day that may sum it up for many. The author said that animals have truly developed the mechanics of living but not the art of living. This is what makes human life more valuable than animal life.

 

[kashmir]

I actually value animals as I would any life form.
The whole lifeform thing is there for a reason, each one has its own importance.
Animals offer us a vast array of things that would be impossible to list them all.

Those that value animals as worth nothing and can be thrown out like trash, disturb me, I am glad that the animal rights people have fought and are changing laws and someone caught abusing their pets or even a wild bird, can end up serving jail time and have heavy fines.

I don't know now anyone could get a pet, have it for many years and on the spur of the moment, just drop it off somewhere, specially defenseless pets such as a declawed cat.
In fact, a few weeks back, I signed a petition to have a zoo shut down because the animals are severally abused.
They have a polar bear in a cage, with an empty pool, in over 100 degree heat, no what what so ever for it to get out of the sun and it just lays there and bakes in the sun.

In an odd way, I care more for animals then I do kids, as kids can tell someone if they are abused, an animal cant and someone has to speak for them.
Yes when I read about abused kids, the horror never leaves me, and neither does hearing about abused animals.

Someday, we wont have wild life left, they are killed over greed and ignorance by the millions.

The most horrific thing I have ever read is that rabbits are used to test shampoo, they pour it in their eyes to see if its safe to get in our eyes.
That is the most senseless abuse of an animal one can be.

The way I see it, if those people wish to find out, pour in their own eyes, not a defenseless fluffy rabbit.
Oh, they use rabbits because they have no tear ducts to wash it out.
Man that just make me so mad that we as humans can be so damn cruel just to make stupid shampoo.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

My pets certainly aren't a waste of money. They are dear members of the family. However, I wouldn't go as far as to make them the equivalent of a child. I would expect a healthy person to prioritize one's children over a pet. Blame biology.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

I believe that pets are certainly not a waste of money. I believe that while one is a steward of an animal you have an obligation to give them the best you can - food environment, medical care etc.

However...

I am not getting my 20 year old tabby cancer treatment, or keeping him on a slew of medications just to keep him alive.

A person can understand that even though Chemo sucks, it's being done for their benefit. An animal has no idea why you are taking him to the vet only to hurt him. All he knows is whenever he goes to the vet, he's subjected to painful treatments. He doesn't get that you are doing it for his benefit.

All you are doing is prolonging his suffering so you can feel better about your own moral position (at best). At worst, you're doing it because you want your animal to live for you.

Also, another difference - If your cat and you infant are in the same burning building, who are you going to save first?

:camp:

 

[dust1n]

If someone valued their cat as much as their child, I'd hardly see how this mindset would be better, progressive, or indicative of anything meaningful.

 

[columbus]

I think it depends on your situation and need. Many animals play an important role in human society.
I do agree that too much money is spent on pets that are treated as children. There are human children that would like what those pets get.

There is this. If the poorest 10,000,000 human children got the resources Christendom invests in pets....

But don't talk about my dog like she's just some animal. She's family. She had all her shots and now she's a healthy doggie. The phone costs more than she does. And we buy her high quality food, she is just little and doesn't eat much.

Tom

 

[columbus]

My wife works for vet. 4.5 years ago she brought a little miniature dachshund home. When 'Smew' was a puppy I got her used to following me out over the foreshore and oyster beds, and she would swim beside me as I waded from one sand-bar to the next. She is naughty and won't come out of the sea when told to, so I always need to wear thigh boots to go and get her out! This year my wife has been very ill, in and out of hospitals, and many operations, with yet more to come. I honestly would not have wanted to stay home but for Smew being there. She insists on sleeping on our bed at night. I never thought I would ever love a dog, but I do, with all my heart. She has become more important to me than most people, except my wife. Every week I have to buy her a toy and hide it amongst the 'hard' shopping, so that she can jump in all the bags to look for it. The toy is never good enough and she throws wobblers about this. She costs a lot for insurance, toys, feed, etc....... and we couldn't care less....... we both need her more than we could explain.

...... a liittle daxie, just like Smew.......

Aw, ours is a miniature dachshund too. Only she is a wire haired. Her mom was short haired and her dad was long haired. Her two brothers look just like dad, but our little Belle is sorta inbetween.

Tom

~but she hates water. It took years to convince her that baths are not optional ~

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

If someone valued their cat as much as their child, I'd hardly see how this mindset would be better, progressive, or indicative of anything meaningful.

It's quite possible I am completely heartless or at least negatively conditioned by the society I grew up in. I'm as sentimental as the next person, but I'm also not naive. If I kick it tomorrow and no one finds my body, eventually, my cats are going to start taking a few bites out of my face. If I had a toddler? Probably not so much. It's not a two way street with pets, at least not often enough for me to put them on the same level with human children.

I do understand people who have pets in lieu of children though. Dogs don't need a college education, and they don't whine about needing the next iphone.

:camp:

 

[dust1n]

It's quite possible I am completely heartless or at least negatively conditioned by the society I grew up in. I'm as sentimental as the next person, but I'm also not naive. If I kick it tomorrow and no one finds my body, eventually, my cats are going to start taking a few bites out of my face. If I had a toddler? Probably not so much. It's not a two way street with pets, at least not often enough for me to put them on the same level with human children.

Sounds reasonable and not totally heartless to me.

I do understand people who have pets in lieu of children though. Dogs don't need a college education, and they don't whine about needing the next iphone.

Apparently it is totally alright to enslave them for emotional needs, but eating one would be an egregious infraction of one's character.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

Sounds reasonable and not totally heartless to me.

Apparently it is totally alright to enslave them for emotional needs, but eating one would be an egregious infraction of one's character.

Children or pets?

And "enslave" seems a little strong. After all, we're really just lying in the bed we made. We bred cats and dogs for centuries to the point where now many of them can't live without us. (maybe dogs more so than cats) So I think our first sin was being control freaks. Now we're sort of bound to the task of looking after them as best we can.

As for eating them? Depends on how they were treated while alive (IMO). Most animals bred for eating are not treated well at all, and therein lies the infraction of one's character. But that's a whole other can of beans.

:camp:

 

[dust1n]

Children or pets?

And "enslave" seems a little strong. After all, we're really just lying in the bed we made. We bred cats and dogs for centuries to the point where now many of them can't live without us. (maybe dogs more so than cats) So I think our first sin was being control freaks. Now we're sort of bound to the task of looking after them as best we can.

At least it was for a purpose, many times, such as hunting, or herding, or guarding, etc.

For some reason, no one seems to have a problem leaving an animal at home 8 hours a day alone, despite no one willing to do for a human.

As for eating them? Depends on how they were treated while alive (IMO). Most animals bred for eating are not treated well at all, and therein lies the infraction of one's character. But that's a whole other can of beans.

Some are, some aren't.

 

[columbus]

Apparently it is totally alright to enslave them for emotional needs, .

Hah, enslave.

You don't know my dog. She runs the house. Schedules must take her bodily functions into account or she'll go somewhere we don't find for a while.
Tom

 

[dgirl1986]

Pets are worth way more than money I miss my cat.

 

[columbus]

I'm not a pet person. I didn't want a dog. My first and strong reaction to the concept of getting a dog was "No ffing way! You want to take care of someone, how about me?!"

That didn't work, obviously.

The first evening I was left alone with her she started this horrible noise. Keening. My first thought was, "My thumb is stronger than your neck. (She could sit in the palm of my hand, I'm pretty big). I could fix this whole problem with a quick twist, leaving no evidence.

Then it occurred to me that this was the first night she'd ever spent not in the box she was born in, with her mom and two siblings. She was scared.

To quote my friend Pat,"she melted my icy heart". I had to cuddle her up. By the next day I was I was talking baby talk to a dog and cleaning up doggy doo. I am such a schmuck.
Eight years later she is curled up next to me on the couch. I'm not sure which of us is luckier.

Tom

 

[kashmir]

I'm not a pet person. I didn't want a dog. My first and strong reaction to the concept of getting a dog was "No ffing way! You want to take care of someone, how about me?!"

That didn't work, obviously.

The first evening I was left alone with her she started this horrible noise. Keening. My first thought was, "My thumb is stronger than your neck. (She could sit in the palm of my hand, I'm pretty big). I could fix this whole problem with a quick twist, leaving no evidence.

Then it occurred to me that this was the first night she'd ever spent not in the box she was born in, with her mom and two siblings. She was scared.

To quote my friend Pat,"she melted my icy heart". I had to cuddle her up. By the next day I was I was talking baby talk to a dog and cleaning up doggy doo. I am such a schmuck.
Eight years later she is curled up next to me on the couch. I'm not sure which of us is luckier.

Tom

dwaaaaahhhh, thats the cutest thing I ever heard

 

[ametist]

The person with the claim should have talked a bit more about his reasons. If he did they would right away show that he was being irrational.
(Probably he would talk about how unneccary it is to raise pets with no benefits at all, which is not true in most cases. I have a pet cat that guarded my house in a couple of occations indicating the door that is left open, indicating the stanger that entered the house (he was just a electrician but anyway). I cant even imagine those who has dogs :=D)

 

[dust1n]

Hah, enslave.

You don't know my dog. She runs the house. Schedules must take her bodily functions into account or she'll go somewhere we don't find for a while.
Tom

Prisoners can will to be in a prison cell, but the cell will be there either way. Poor thing... holding it in for human conveniences.

 

[Thief]

Dogs by nature run in packs and hunt at will.
We take that from the animal.
We feed it and forbid it to bite the hand that does so.
We collar the dog and insist upon a behavior we deem appropriate.

We expect loyalty.

As for the expense....
I find the vet to be a legalized scheme.
I can rent a room cheaper for myself than kennel the dog for a night.
Any medication is cheaper for me than the dog.

Our dog became diabetic.
We do two daily doses of insulin.

We are pleased the animal recovered her weight and vigor.
It's good to see her run hard for that Frisbee she loves.

But much more expense than this.......down she goes.

It may seem cold....but the home expenses are what they are.
I love the dog.
but.......

 

[kashmir]

Dogs by nature run in packs and hunt at will.
We take that from the animal.
We feed it and forbid it to bite the hand that does so.
We collar the dog and insist upon a behavior we deem appropriate.

We expect loyalty.

As for the expense....
I find the vet to be a legalized scheme.
I can rent a room cheaper for myself than kennel the dog for a night.
Any medication is cheaper for me than the dog.

Our dog became diabetic.
We do two daily doses of insulin.

We are pleased the animal recovered her weight and vigor.
It's good to see her run hard for that Frisbee she loves.

But much more expense than this.......down she goes.

It may seem cold....but the home expenses are what they are.
I love the dog.
but.......

As much as I love animals, I would have to agree with you on that.
Being put down would be hard for me to do but its much more humane to do that to let it suffer if you can no longer afford the meds.
I hope everything works out.

Odd though, when we get deadly sick, they don't put us down, they pull the plugs and let us suffer for days sometimes before we finally die.

laws are really messed up, we can abort innocent life, the DP is deemed inhumane if not done ever so gentle, but an innocent person, has to die a slow painful death of old age, as long as that heart is ticking, them suffering is not an issue.
But NO, a mass murderer isn't allowed to suffer, he gets a peaceful death.