From: barlow@prodigal.psych.rochester.edu (Rebel)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Neutering question
Date: 16 Nov 92 23:24:26 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Rochester - Rochester, New York

In <1992Nov16.212236.26128@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> rkn3u@kelvin.seas.Virginia.EDU (R. Keith Norwood) writes:
>Unless you have a fat wallet, there is a limit to how much you will spend
>on your cat.  This amount varies with the individual but there is no "correct"
>amount. 

>For instance, about a year ago I my cat Ziggy broke his hip and the vet 
>wanted $600 to fix it.  I told her that I didn't have it and asked about
>Ziggy's options, she made suggestions like:  "Charge it to your visa"; 
>"take out a loan"; and "ask your parents for the money". I repeated my answer
>and asked again about Ziggy's options. She said that he probably wouldn't 
>live 6 months, you really shouldn't wait, he's in a lot of pain, etc.  
>I replied, "If he's in so much pain, how much does it cost to put him down".  
>I'll never forget the look on her face.  Her mouth dropped and she started 
>stuttering, "What do you mean put him down"?  
>I repeated, "If he's in that much pain, just put him to sleep because I 
>don't have $600!" 
>"Well aren't you being a bit premature?", she said.  

>To make a long story short, she agreed that I should take Ziggy home and 
>see what happens.  Ziggy went home and he is getting along nicely with his 
>broken hip.  Now if I had that kind of disposable income, I would've had 
>the surgery done ASAP.  But the vet's attitude showed me that she could 
>understand "I don't have it".  Only, when I threatened to put Ziggy down
>did she stop pushing the surgery at any price. Lastly, she really wasn't 
>concerned for Ziggy's health because I asked her to do the surgery at cost
>and her reply was a big fat "No!".  


>This isn't meant as a flame but consideration should be given to
>circumstances other than your own.  Whose to say that an elderly
>person on a fixed income MUST fix her ailing cat with there life savings.  

>Peace,
>Keith


I think (you'll correct me if I am wrong I am sure) but there is a BIG
difference between the amount of money to "fix" a cat and the amount of money
necessary to repair a broken hip. Also your income should be part of your
decision on whether to get a pet and if so what kind of pet. Cats and dogs
often require a substantial monetary committment. You also imply that I
have tons of money to throw around, in fact I support two people and my
cat on a gross income of $17,000 a year...needless to say I am not extremely
well off. I am saying that if you want to take on the committment of
a pet you better be able to handle the expenses that might possibly come
your way otherwise you are not being fair to your pet. Did you ever
consider taking Ziggy to another vet to see if someone might reduce their
costs for the surgery....? Personally I would charge it to VISA and
work on paying it off rather than bring home a cat with a broken hip and
allow him to suffer not only the pain of the injury but to later suffer
the disability of an incorrectly healed bone.  Even having the cat put
down (as you so callously suggested) is better, if no other alternatives
an be found. 

jen
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats