Sour economy = tough times for pets

[Math Is Hard]

I was afraid we would be seeing stories like this soon.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-129547

Please help your local animal shelters if you can.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

geez, pets don't cost THAT much.

 

[Math Is Hard]

I think the living situation is a big part of the problem. It's insanely hard to find an affordable apartment that allows pets here. If I had to move, I would be screwed.

 

[turbo]

geez, pets don't cost THAT much.

Depends how much you have to spend, in part, and on what kind of pet. A single vet's visit for one of our (at times many) ferrets could easily run $75. They don't eat all that much, so that wasn't bad. If you have a large-breed dog, and the price of food and fuel spikes, the price of dog-food can start looking pretty daunting. My friend's German Shepherd had a run-in with a porcupine, and an after-hours visit to the vet cost him over $300, and this was a number of years ago.

 

[Kurdt]

It probably costs about £800 a year for us to feed Freija. She uses a big 15 Kg bag of kibble a month and that costs ~£40. She has 5 Kg of tripe a week which is ~ £5 and then she has a couple of boxes of biscuits a month as a treat which is ~ £5 also. Thats without vet bills and the cost of getting her in the first place.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Our governator wants to tax veterinary services in California:

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_vets27.2a7554a.html

The California Veterinary Medical Association has been lobbying strongly against the tax, saying it could increase the cost of veterinary care by 9 percent. They say some animals may not get necessary care and end up abandoned or euthanized.

Scott, a veterinarian at Pedley Square Veterinary Clinic in Riverside, said he already has seen a trend of clients being less willing to opt for diagnostic or laboratory tests, especially for animals that are older or severely injured.

"The number of people coming in hasn't slowed," he said. "What they can afford to do has certainly dropped."

With the additional cost of the sales tax, even more people may choose to euthanize their pets, Scott said.

 

[OAQfirst]

Many cases are bound to be people with several pets. Surely most of you know someone with more pets than your allergies can tolerate.

 

[Evo]

I want the little kitty Anna.

 

[Math Is Hard]

I want the little kitty Anna.

I know. Poor little wobbly girl. I hope she gets a home - maybe the news story will help.
I have read that the feline distemper virus causes her condition. It attacks nerves in the developing cerebellum in kittens resulting in lifelong balance problems. Many people say these kitties make very good pets, though, in spite of their problems.

 

[hypatia]

That same type story broke here about a year ago. A year ago pet shelters were maxed out. The humane society is putting down 95% of the animals that come through their doors.
Now they are finding people not even trying to find a place for the pets. Sadly they just leave them in the home or tied up in the garage.
Its just been heartbreaking, and it doesn't look like its going to get any better for Michigan in the near future.

 

[Pythagorean]

pets are the lowest class of citizen in times of desperation

I wonder how human shelters are holding up...