Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - How much would you spend on pet medical bills?

Sr. Mints · 01-07-2012, 08:52 PM

I've owned three dogs in my life, and spent tens of thousands of dollars on them, even when I didn't have it-- and every penny was worth it.

My shar-pei was taken in by my parents when I was a teenager, but came with me when I moved out, and lived to 13 or 14, and had a host of different problems throughout his life: mange, dermatitis, arthritis, attacked by a dogs at a park ripping his leg apart, hit by a car, swallowed a kitchen scrubby pad, etc., etc.

Not once did I ever question if he was worth paying to have fixed up--it was more of a question of how was I going to pay for it at times.

It wasn't until he had a stroke in 2008 when I feared it was the end. He was tired, slow, and after the stroke I knew it was over when he wouldn't eat or drink. I even bought a bottle and had him drink from that from that, which seemed to awaken his desire to live for a moment, but only for a moment.

A day or two later I took him to be put down, and it was one of the worst things I ever had to do. It was obvious to me that he was ready to go when he was laying on the table at the vet's, not fighting like he always did as they shaved his arm and inserted the needle. He just stared at me with his deep brown eyes and then the life was gone from him.

Then I had to pay $175 with a waiting room full of people behind me, all knowing what had just transpired, I'm sure. Everyone avoided eye contact with me, but what was I to do, let him suffer and starve to death instead of paying to have him put down? But I digress . . .

I understand everyone has different views on this, but to me my dogs are like my children. I don't know anyone with children who wouldn't do everything and anything they could if there's were sick.

The two monkey's I have now (a pug and a mix) have been, to put it in line with the gist of this thread, low maintenance, but there is nothing that can convince me they are not worth any sort of financial burden should they require help. They are innocent and defenseless, and sometimes a pain in the ass, but they are my family and my responsibility.

01-07-2012, 08:52 PM	#77
Sr. Mints First Line Centre Join Date: Jul 2010 Exp:	I've owned three dogs in my life, and spent tens of thousands of dollars on them, even when I didn't have it-- and every penny was worth it. My shar-pei was taken in by my parents when I was a teenager, but came with me when I moved out, and lived to 13 or 14, and had a host of different problems throughout his life: mange, dermatitis, arthritis, attacked by a dogs at a park ripping his leg apart, hit by a car, swallowed a kitchen scrubby pad, etc., etc. Not once did I ever question if he was worth paying to have fixed up--it was more of a question of how was I going to pay for it at times. It wasn't until he had a stroke in 2008 when I feared it was the end. He was tired, slow, and after the stroke I knew it was over when he wouldn't eat or drink. I even bought a bottle and had him drink from that from that, which seemed to awaken his desire to live for a moment, but only for a moment. A day or two later I took him to be put down, and it was one of the worst things I ever had to do. It was obvious to me that he was ready to go when he was laying on the table at the vet's, not fighting like he always did as they shaved his arm and inserted the needle. He just stared at me with his deep brown eyes and then the life was gone from him. Then I had to pay $175 with a waiting room full of people behind me, all knowing what had just transpired, I'm sure. Everyone avoided eye contact with me, but what was I to do, let him suffer and starve to death instead of paying to have him put down? But I digress . . . I understand everyone has different views on this, but to me my dogs are like my children. I don't know anyone with children who wouldn't do everything and anything they could if there's were sick. The two monkey's I have now (a pug and a mix) have been, to put it in line with the gist of this thread, low maintenance, but there is nothing that can convince me they are not worth any sort of financial burden should they require help. They are innocent and defenseless, and sometimes a pain in the ass, but they are my family and my responsibility. Last edited by Sr. Mints; 01-07-2012 at 09:13 PM.