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.

[Adina P]

I say NO, if we are using 'deserve' in the sense of 'have a right to' or 'entitled to.' But I don't think people (in general) "deserve" a lot of things: spouses, pets, kids, large screen TVs, cars. I consider pets a privilege not a right or something anyone is entitled to.

That's my answer, and I'm sticking to it :-D

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

I always thought that some people should have a license to have kids. Especially bringing kids into a poor, teen mother, etc. family. I feel so sorry for the mothers and the children. AND having my own children I saw so many of their friends parents who just dropped the kids off at school, Boy Scouts, B-day parties, where-ever and expected others to watch them. (You'll find out!)

With respect to dogs, you read all the time that dogs are one of the first affected in this bad economy. "Deserve" is a status word. You are right, Adina, do people DESERVE many things they have?

[Adina P]

The only rights and deservations (new word as of today...don't feel bad you don't know it yet ;-)) people should have, in my totally biased opinion, are what our constitution grants us... and maybe education. But that's getting political. Yeah I agree with the kid license...=) in theory. Though, once we talk real life 'shoulds' it gets into federal law/govt poking their noses where they don't belong. And that can get ugly.

But yeah...there are people with $$$$$ falling out their noses who probably shouldn't have a dog and poor people who would give a dog a good home...neither "deserves" a dog...but one might have better qualifications/readiness for dog ownership.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

So a better question is: SHOULD everyone have a child/dog/big screen TV?

BTW, I like the word of the day "deservations." Spell check doesn't like it though.

[Adina P]

Just wait till I submit the word to Webster...it'll end up in your class spelling tests :)

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Oh, you cannot imagine the words I see in student essays. You would think I was reading George Bush. I work in an inner city high school, deservations abound!

[Michele Barton]

A lot of people probably deserve a pet, but that doesn't mean they should be allowed to have one. Did I deserve a pup when I moved to Atlanta to work 50-60 hours a week for 3 years? I think so and I really wanted one, but I didn't get one because it would have been unfair to the pup. I waited. Just like children, the pet's happiness and well-being needs to be the number one consideration when deciding whether or not to have/get them. And finances are a big part of that, whether we like it or not. If you can't afford it, don't get it.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Octomom certainly didn't think this way. If we thought about "Can we afford it?" would we have/get/do anything?

[Michele Barton]

I think Octomom is certifiable, for many more reasons than money. I've certainly bought things I shouldn't have because I couldn't afford them, who hasn't? I think about it now, though, when I want to buy something I don't really need. Kids and dogs aren't "things" though. Of course no one knows what financial circumstances they will be in in the future; I'm not saying we should never take a leap of faith. I guess what I'm saying is that when it comes to deciding whether or not to buy a dog, a person should not ignore the financial consequences and just go with their emotions. If they truly can't afford it, the dog loses. As for children, that's way too complicated an issue to get into here.

[Jeannine]

Agree 200%!

[fergie11]

This is so-so true! As far as children - I'd probably have the police at my door if I said what I felt. (Incidently, my kids are 23 and 24 and doing well - thank you.)

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

There ARE many shades of gray and many sub issues, that's what makes it a good debate topic. Do you share your life now or save your money for when you retire. My DH is the save kind and I am the live now kind. Guess what? I went with the 3 dogs. Maybe I will wish differently someday, but for now, I wouldn't change a thing.