OPINION Poll - What are your thoughts?

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

This is an interesting topic.

Does everyone deserve a dog of their very own, or only those that can afford one (in money/time/devotion)?

This is an interesting and difficult question. In fact, the Irreverent Vet recently discussed this very topic. It came up because of the octuplet mom with 14 kids who was receiving public assistance. It made a lot of people step back and ask, "Does everyone deserve kids or only those that can afford them?"

Logically, the question extends to pets. Does everyone deserve a pet or only those that can afford to care for them them?

What do you think? I'm very interested to find out what you all think about this issue.

Pets have needs that need to be taken care of - grooming, nutritional needs (good food), preventative health care, and emergency or ongoing health care if there are medical problems. Those all cost money. Should we really own a pet if we are unable to fulfill those needs?

The Irreverent Vet addresses this issue head-on and his opinion is one that I believe most vets share.

After we discuss it I will post their POLL outcome: Does Everyone "Deserve" a Pet? What do you think?

Leave your answer here and your comments below.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"..what about those people who were able to afford it a year ago and suddenly find themselves without a job, home, etc, etc...?"
This is another part of it, concerning people who have kids, get dogs, buy houses, etc., without any kind of contingency plan in place. The mentality behind it is probably what puts a lot of people in a financial mess to begin with. People need to think about "what if" before they make any major purchase or life-altering decision. When you fill out an application to adopt a dog from a rescue, you have to answer those questions. "What will happen to the dog if you have to move?" etc. Maybe everybody should ask themselves these questions before they buy a dog, too. After all, if you have children and you lose your job or your home, you still have to take care of your kids.
I agree with the statement "Anything beyond our basic needs is a want."
(And not to make it political, but even the "right" to adequate medical care doesn't exist in this country.If that's not a basic need, I don't know what is.)

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Necessity vs Want. I agree that health insurance in a necessity but look at how many people don't have it. I never did when I was single and bartending or waitressing. But when I had kids, I am glad I had it. Then it became a necessity.

So, the what if questions should be answered for people and dogs. DH will like that.

[Tamara & Giada]

Good point Karen!

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

So than I guess everyone shouldn't own a car on the basis of "WHAT IF"....and the warranty expired, or they didn't read the fine print and their engine goes or the transmission..oh and let's not forget they need it to do everyday things such as Doctors, run the kids here and there, grocery shop, oh and let's not forget the almight W word..."WORK".....
We have buses and taxi cabs...heck break out the horse and carriages...we don't need cars on the WHAT IF....but does that stop people from owning them?

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

I would consider a car a necessity...a warranty I wouldn't. Many times it runs out then something happens. I never pay for one.

I would consider WORK a necessity also, however some people like the octomom believe Why Work? when the government will support me.

But none of that answers the question...Does everyone DESERVE a pet or only those who can AFFORD it?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Also depends on what "afford it" means. Say a person adopts an older dog from a kill shelter where his time is up and saves his life. This person can provide a loving home, affection, attention, training, and basic vet care, but not $40 a bag premium kibble or blood titers in place of vaccinations. So the dog gets Beneful and vacs every year. (I am deliberately picking issues I know you feel strongly about.) Is this dog better off? Does this person deserve to have a dog?

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

I think a person who can "provide a loving home, affection, attention, training, and basic vet care, but not $40 a bag premium kibble or blood titers in place of vaccinations," should have precedence over money and in the long run, even on crappy food that dog would have a better life no matter how long it lasts. DESERVE, in this example is a stronger draw than having the financial ability but the dog lives in the yard, gets no attention and is forgotten.

[Adina P]

If a person can afford basic care and provide a safe home...YES!
If rescues and shelters started requiring receipts for proof of a home already outfitted with 2 bags of Innova Evo...gosh...I don't see how more pets would ever find homes.

All else being equal...premium food should make NO difference in 'deserving' or not 'deserving' a pet. Otherwise, I need to form a coalition with CPS to remove all kids from homes where their minimum fruit and veggie requirement isn't met every single day. It can get really sticky to make 'deserve' have spelled out care requirements for every single detail of a dog's life. I want a little more personal freedom in this land of liberty than that =)

[Adina P]

Necessity vs. Want vs. Right -- how's that to add to the conflict? ;-)

Cars are sort of a necessity, but I wouldn't say it's a right. I didn't have my license until I was 21...and did fine, had a job, took the bus, rode a bike, got rides from parents, friends. I didn't like being car-less, but in many big cities car-less is the status quo and people ride taxis or peddle. In today's let's-all-be-green-and-save-the-earth culture lots of people choose to ride their bikes for the sake of health and being green.

A job is a necessity, but also not a right.

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

A pet is Not a right and if you can't afford one, you shouldn't have one. Nobody deserves to have a pet!

I know I don't want gov't in every aspect of my life but it pi--es me off when people on welfare just keep having kids with no worries about the child's future. All they see is a bigger monthly cheque and not the expenses of another child, not the fact that their kids won't play sports or play piano do anything that requires extra money. There should be something in place for people who are being supported by the taxpayers to keep them from having baby after baby. (I know someone like this) I am off in another direction. I'll stop now.

Should these people be allowed to have pets? They are not supporting those pets, we are.

[Debbie, Brianna and Duncan]

My answer is NO not everyone "Deserves" a pet, but I would base it on the ethics and moral character of the person in question.

#1 owner: Person who has the 'bookoo' bucks falling out of every crevis. They are paying 12,000 a year x 3 for k-2nd (I know because I looked into the school for my kids) I could go on and on with the extravagence....I watched them get the "Puppy for the kids" to only rid themselves of there 'problem' once the reality set in. I cry because they are on dog number 2 and she was just cringing because she needed to have him groomed, and asked if I know of a great CHEAP groomer....AHHHHRGG.

#2 owner: An elderly couple struggling financially..They where in a position to rehome an ALD into their LOVING, CARING, the dog child will be the CENTER of their lives etc, always had dogs that no matter what, cared for the dog till the end....this dog lives 'the dogs life' of love, loving companionship, caring never left at home for any length of time, bathed sleeps on their bed, groomed by DIL, loving extended family that would help-helps in anyway possible for his any need that they could not afford like babysitting if they are in the hospital, caring for him forever if that was necessary!....

So which family should have/deserve a pet?

Just by looking at their W2s........ #1
Ethical loving caring forever owner.......#2

My answer is It is not as easy as saying 'can you afford it'. It is more about character and morels and ethics when it comes to pet ownership and that is so hard to tell in people, I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE A BREEDER, I would loose so much sleep, having to make this determination in where I was placing .....this has to be so hard for the breeders who care.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

So DESERVES, NEEDS AND AFFORDING should be a part of the equation. Doing research and examining all parts of it should be considered before the purchase/rescue/sale is made. So, in effect, education is the key, just like with the dogfood.

I guess we are getting into some of those gray areas.