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.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

OH, I don't know if we want to re-visit that one since we KNOW where that will lead. But...

I guess even that goes back to deserving. Who decides? Who is policing it? What are the moral issues? What is right? There is a lot of gray here.

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

Yes I did say "Nobody has to have a dog, nor do they need a certain kind of dog? So let me clarify why that statement was made. Nobody has to have a dog IF they do not want a Dog, or they choose to own something else they want, nor do they need for it to be a doodle if they want a Rottie. It was stated as Personal Choice....

[Adina P]

I also said this (I think) but I took it farther...nobody has to have a dog period. It is a privilege and luxury, not a right for the average person to demand. So in other words I might want a Hungarian Puli...but if I couldn't find a breeder willing to sell me one (or couldn't afford it), tough luck. I haven't been denied rights, for instance.

[Debbie, Brianna and Duncan]

lol, I had to google that one, cool dog!!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

WHAT THE H*ll IS THAT? It looks like one of the dust bunnies under my son's bed. No one DESERVES that!

[Jeannine]

A Puli!

[Jeannine]

And YES! It is a real dog! Just more hear than Jack!!

[Jeannine]

Just imagines the kind of grooming those dogs need! Each "cord. have to be done by hand and very frequently too. Now try to give a bath to that sweet mop!

[Debbie, Brianna and Duncan]

I bought a scushie bounce ball for my girls that looks just like this little guy. If you look REALLLY close he has a cute little face :)

[Jeannine]

There not that bad looking. This guy is jumping with the wind behind him!

Normally their "cord" (hair that you HAVE to turn like a cord) are closer to their bodies

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

OMG LMAO at the pic of that MOP!

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

Hey Adina, can I use this picture to enter the contest? It is a winner for sure.