Poll: Pet Ownership and Costs

[JohnH]

Wife: I like my pets having shots and being worm free. Otherwise, for the most part, I would agree with you, although we might bring them in if it was something simple. Biggest problem is that we have some relatives who would try to guilt trip us over anything, and we already have one who fussed because we wouldn’t bring the guinea pig to the vet.

I don't really see a point in spending that kind of money for things of dubious value (do cats really need to be vaccinated?) for kittens you get for free and who eventually die of old age.

I would ignore relatives who decide to impose their morals about animals on me, particularly if they aren't interested in my morals about things that are actually important.

[Soloist]

Wife: I like my pets having shots and being worm free. Otherwise, for the most part, I would agree with you, although we might bring them in if it was something simple. Biggest problem is that we have some relatives who would try to guilt trip us over anything, and we already have one who fussed because we wouldn’t bring the guinea pig to the vet.

I don't really see a point in spending that kind of money for things of dubious value (do cats really need to be vaccinated?) for kittens you get for free and who eventually die of old age.

I would ignore relatives who decide to impose their morals about animals on me, particularly if they aren't interested in my morals about things that are actually important.

Wife: cats are a completely different story. For one, if it were outside, it would just become a neighborhood cat, and we certainly don’t want an inside one. Hubby has a relationship of mostly dislike towards cats.

A lot of problems would be solved if we just lived in the country, but the biggest issue right now is the fence and pets are not a necessity. I’m not too interested in raising pets to sell because there’s already more than enough dogs around here and it sometimes disgusts me how much they sell for, although at least those ones typically have shots

[Grace]

Wife: yeah, much to my children’s disappointment, that’s where we’re at at the moment. If we could have a better fence and they helped pay for the vet bills, we wouldn’t be against it.

One of the more interesting modern affectations is thinking “vet bills” are necessary.

Another one is the belief animals have to be inside when it’s cold.

Wife: I like my pets having shots and being worm free. Otherwise, for the most part, I would agree with you, although we might bring them in if it was something simple. Biggest problem is that we have some relatives who would try to guilt trip us over anything, and we already have one who fussed because we wouldn’t bring the guinea pig to the vet.

I don’t think we have to worry too much about the cold unless we had a Chihuahua, although we can just leave a blanket out under cover.

Some people have indoor/outdoor cats. I would suggest a rabies shot for them.

[ken_sylvania]

Wife: I like my pets having shots and being worm free. Otherwise, for the most part, I would agree with you, although we might bring them in if it was something simple. Biggest problem is that we have some relatives who would try to guilt trip us over anything, and we already have one who fussed because we wouldn’t bring the guinea pig to the vet.

I don't really see a point in spending that kind of money for things of dubious value (do cats really need to be vaccinated?) for kittens you get for free and who eventually die of old age.

I don't really like have a cat sniffing and sneezing on the front porch. To me it's worth spending the money on vaccines to help keep that from happening.

[JohnH]

I guess I have a bit more land than is typical, but I don't bother with any of that stuff and so far have mostly healthy cats (although one seems to be inherently stupid), dog, cows, chickens, and so forth.

[Soloist]

I guess I have a bit more land than is typical, but I don't bother with any of that stuff and so far have mostly healthy cats (although one seems to be inherently stupid), dog, cows, chickens, and so forth.

Wife: I don’t think there’s a shot against stupidity in cats. some of the vaccines actually protect humans and same with dewormer, and the flea pills also kill fleas in the yard which is nice. there are pop-up clinics that you can get stuff cheap around here. Another cheap way to have pets is to foster, but then you have to be willing to give them away if someone ever adopts.

[JohnH]

I guess I have a bit more land than is typical, but I don't bother with any of that stuff and so far have mostly healthy cats (although one seems to be inherently stupid), dog, cows, chickens, and so forth.

Wife: I don’t think there’s a shot against stupidity in cats. some of the vaccines actually protect humans and same with dewormer, and the flea pills also kill fleas in the yard which is nice. there are pop-up clinics that you can get stuff cheap around here. Another cheap way to have pets is to foster, but then you have to be willing to give them away if someone ever adopts.

We acquired our kittens for free. $0 is very cheap.

I do spend the money on some drip on Frontline, but no point in bothering with anything else.

[joshuabgood]

For some people, dogs, or other pets, can really play a therapeutic role in reducing trauma, ptsd, and other anxieties. They are very calming. Dogs also, some, are very good at predicting seizures prior to their occurrence.

[Soloist]

Wife: by the way, we have one guinea pig and a few bluegills in a tank inside that my son catches worms and minnows for. Also some fish in our little pond outside and a turtle. only thing we spend money on is the guinea pig and filters.

By the way, I think a service dog would be awesome and I met one lady who had a dog who she brought in for therapy for cancer patients after her husband had died, and that dog had actually gotten to where it could smell cancer. I was very glad it wasn’t that interested in any of us when she told me that.

[JohnH]

For some people, dogs, or other pets, can really play a therapeutic role in reducing trauma, ptsd, and other anxieties. They are very calming. Dogs also, some, are very good at predicting seizures prior to their occurrence.

Definitely the case.