how much is too much? (pet surgery)

[UNC41]

A pet would die before I'd borrow against my 401(k) or take out a loan.

[dmbgodagirl41]

This is why I don't own pets. Better to have a kid, and have it live longer and learn more than how to take a shit outside.

[LadyMadonna68]

i am not going into debt for a pet, it's that simple. i wouldn't just watch it suffer, but i'd try to find someone that would take on its problems

[efraser77]

Originally Posted by dmbgodagirl41

This is why I don't own pets. Better to have a kid, and have it live longer and learn more than how to take a shit outside.

Yeah, because kids don't cost a thing.

[neumdogg]

Originally Posted by jdbartender

That's your opinion... My family's financial well being comes first. I take care of my dog on a daily basis, and I spend hundreds on him every year... But I have my limit on what I believe is reasonable to spend on an animal, and so do you... We just don't see eye to eye on what that amount should be.

If you can't afford to help your dog when he/she is sick or has a medical problem, then DON'T GET A DOG. Don't be selfish.

[LadyMadonna68]

but, contrary to popular belief, kids are humans, and animals are not.

[YouNeverKnow25]

It's impossible to be selfish with any decision regarding an animal.

[mandy18]

Originally Posted by rconverse

What if you could afford the loan? Or, you took a loan from your 401(k), where's the harm in that? Seems like it's an alternative to letting your pet die. I'm sure a vet may even work with you on a payment plan if you really tried.

Also, I think some of the examples are getting a little ridiculous. $20k for a 15 year old pet is too much even for me, especially a cat, which no one would care about anyway.

I have to admit, I'm a huge animal lover though. For example, one time I was driving with my girlfriend and swirved as to avoid hitting a pigeon. Unfortunately, I hit a squirrel in the proces. My GF and I took it to a vet where they were able to save it by flying in tiny instruments in order to perform surgery. The next day I took the squirrel home to start its physical therapy. . Luckily for me a friend's neighbor was staging a mock talk show at his apartment and had a world renound animal conservationist on that day. My friend's firend didn't want me to interrupt his show, but I really needed to show this squirrel to the coservationist as it was practically bionic. I snuck on stage and to my surprise and dismay, the conservationist was showing a live hawk. As you may know, hawks eat squirrels and the hawk flew at me ripping the squirrel from my hands with its talons killing it. I have to say thouhg, that hawk was pretty awesome.

A loan from your 401(K) is about the most irresponsible thing a person could do, unless you have a very dire circumstance. Sorry, but paying a vet bill I just don't consider a dire circumstance.

I'm not saying I wouldn't pay thousands on a vet bill. I'm just saying I wouldn't judge someone who couldn't.

And, my example wasn't ridiculous. It was real. My sister-in-law skipped coming to our wedding (she lives in CO) because she was spending her money on the cat. Not saying my wedding was more important, but you know, it kind of was (kidding). $20K may be high, but she was in well over $10K for the chemo, special diet and feeding tube. Gerry was at least 15. He needed to just die. In peace. Not with a feeding tube shoved down his throat. Though, I have to say that at least it justifies my vacation to Boston this summer vs. going to CO for her wedding (I can't help it DMB picked the same time to be in Boston as her wedding in CO is).

[neumdogg]

Originally Posted by jdbartender

It's not that simple... We got the dog first... Does that mean we shouldn't have had a kid because in the event my dog breaks both his legs I couldn't afford both? Come on. We love our dog and we have had him for 5 years.. But he's a dog.

Correct. Don't have kids if you can't afford them either.

[YouNeverKnow25]

Originally Posted by mandy18

A loan from your 401(K) is about the most irresponsible thing a person could do, unless you have a very dire circumstance. Sorry, but paying a vet bill I just don't consider a dire circumstance.

I'm not saying I wouldn't pay thousands on a vet bill. I'm just saying I wouldn't judge someone who couldn't.

And, my example wasn't ridiculous. It was real. My sister-in-law skipped coming to our wedding (she lives in CO) because she was spending her money on the cat. Not saying my wedding was more important, but you know, it kind of was (kidding). $20K may be high, but she was in well over $10K for the chemo, special diet and feeding tube. Gerry was at least 15. He needed to just die. In peace. Not with a feeding tube shoved down his throat. Though, I have to say that at least it justifies my vacation to Boston this summer vs. going to CO for her wedding (I can't help it DMB picked the same time to be in Boston as her wedding in CO is).

Why do you tiptoe around the subject? OF COURSE YOUR FAMILY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN AN ANIMAL. Your wedding was infinitely more important than your sister's cat.

[LadyMadonna68]

a sibling's wedding is far and away more important than an animal, regardless of the situation.

[rickyh24]

My brother would never want my dog to die so I could go to his wedding.

[mandy18]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

Why do you tiptoe around the subject? OF COURSE YOUR FAMILY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN AN ANIMAL. Your wedding was infinitely more important than your sister's cat.

Step sister-in-law, and I'm not sure if this is sarcasm or not, but truthfully, yes, she should have been there. I left out the details that truly she still could have afforded to come (hell, her other sister drove back - she could have hopped in the car with her) but she was being a major bitch about the whole thing b/c she was bittter about her own boyfriend who wouldn't propose to her. She just used $$ on the cat as an excuse.

[LadyMadonna68]

i wouldn't want my sister's pet to die to come to my wedding, but i'd rather her be at my wedding. being that a wedding could possibly be a once in a lifetime event and most people move right along after their pet's die and buy another one eventually.

[rickyh24]

Then again I would be able to do both. I made that commitment when I bought my dog.

[mandy18]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I put $500,000 in reserve and cloned myself before I got a pet. This way I could afford any scenario and be in two places at once in case my pet is dying and I have to be at a wedding.

[LadyMadonna68]

i'm first on the donor list if my dog needs a liver

[YouNeverKnow25]

If the cat was an excuse, it was an excuse. If it was true, then your sister chose an animal over you. You can dress it up all you want, but that's the situation.

[YouNeverKnow25]

Originally Posted by mandy18

I don't know about the rest of you, but I put $500,000 in reserve and cloned myself before I got a pet. This way I could afford any scenario and be in two places at once in case my pet is dying and I have to be at a wedding.

At least you're responsible.

[rickyh24]

Originally Posted by UNC41

A pet would die before I'd borrow against my 401(k) or take out a loan.

That's kind of the point though. If a major pet emergency comes to this then don't get pets. Not directed at you.

[mandy18]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

If the cat was an excuse, it was an excuse. If it was true, then your sister chose an animal over you. You can dress it up all you want, but that's the situation.

Weddings bring out the worst in people. She used it as an excuse seeing as she didn't even send us a card. That said, I don't hold a grudge against her - I just like to use it as a funny 'listen to this shit' kind of story.

[MOWJO8185]

Originally Posted by rickyh24

That's kind of the point though. If a major pet emergency comes to this then don't get pets. Not directed at you.

IMO, that's way to strong a statement. I love dogs. And I would pay virtually anything for my own dog, I'm pretty obsessed with her. But to say that people should factor in the type of money that would go beyond their own cash flow and require them to get a loan before they decide to get a pet is a little overboard. Especially when giving a dog a loving family is a humane action to begin with.

Like I said, I hope everyone takes the decision seriously, and I cringe at people who say they could easily afford it and they just wouldn't, but I think there are a ton of different situations out there, and it's not always possible for everyone to care for a pet financially in extremely dire emergencies.

[Jimi Thing 10]

Originally Posted by rickyh24

That's kind of the point though. If a major pet emergency comes to this then don't get pets. Not directed at you.

This is the difference between people saying they wouldn't be able to afford a major emergency if it comes up, and people saying no way they would ever pay for it regardless.

[neumdogg]

Originally Posted by rickyh24

That's kind of the point though. If a major pet emergency comes to this then don't get pets. Not directed at you.

This is so correct. If you can't afford to have a pet (or a child), don't have one. Shit comes up.

We got a French Bulldog. This little bitch cost SO much money to buy. Also, she's allergic to everything so dealing with that is costly. But she is truly the greatest.

However, me and my fiance mapped out our finances to make sure that we a) had enough money to take care of her, b) had enough money to take care of ourselves, and c) had enough money to put into savings.

It's called fiscal responsibility. If you can't do that, don't get a pet.

[mandy18]

Originally Posted by neumdogg

This is so correct. If you can't afford to have a pet (or a child), don't have one. Shit comes up.

We got a French Bulldog. This little bitch cost SO much money to buy. Also, she's allergic to everything so dealing with that is costly. But she is truly the greatest.

However, me and my fiance mapped out our finances to make sure that we a) had enough money to take care of her, b) had enough money to take care of ourselves, and c) had enough money to put into savings.

It's called fiscal responsibility. If you can't do that, don't get a pet.

I'm pretty sure the shelter pets that are facing death would rather someone take them into their homes even if they don't have bank in reserve to pay for a doomsday / what-if scenario (that truly isn't even that common). But, to each their own!

[YouNeverKnow25]

I'd like to see the reaction of a financial planner when the phrases "thousands of dollars on medical treatment for a pet" and "fiscal responsibility" are mentioned in relation to each other.

[scrock25]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

I'd like to see the reaction of a financial planner when the phrases "thousands of dollars on medical treatment for a pet" and "fiscal responsibility" are mentioned in relation to each other.

I love that you're posting in this thread given your username.

[scrock25]

Originally Posted by mandy18

Weddings bring out the worst in people. She used it as an excuse seeing as she didn't even send us a card. That said, I don't hold a grudge against her - I just like to use it as a funny 'listen to this shit' kind of story.

Still bitching about weddings, I see.

[ExistenceNow]

Lulz at wedding. It's a fucking party. Definitely not more important than the life of my dogs.

[neumdogg]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

I'd like to see the reaction of a financial planner when the phrases "thousands of dollars on medical treatment for a pet" and "fiscal responsibility" are mentioned in relation to each other.

I'd think the financial planner would believe you're being smart.