Squish–I worked in veterinary medicine for about 10 years. Ceased in 2001. At the time, pet insurance wasn’t very robust.
So it wasn’t until my dog go sick a few years ago that I looked into it again and at that point, we were kind of screwed due to pre-existing conditions.
However, we are now putting our youngest pooch on a plan. He’s only a year old and has no issues.
But to insure my older pup would be nearly impossible.
Pet insurance has come a LONG way though. It’s wonderful!
[QUOTE=BuddyRoo;6037270]
Squish–I worked in veterinary medicine for about 10 years. Ceased in 2001. At the time, pet insurance wasn’t very robust.
So it wasn’t until my dog go sick a few years ago that I looked into it again and at that point, we were kind of screwed due to pre-existing conditions.
However, we are now putting our youngest pooch on a plan. He’s only a year old and has no issues.
But to insure my older pup would be nearly impossible.
Pet insurance has come a LONG way though. It’s wonderful![/QUOTE]
Good idea to start it for your younger guy. Theres a lot of good and lot of bad ones out there- make sure to do your research. We have some that have covered FULL surgical/medical (including chemotherapy) and others that cap out at $5000 per illness. Its always a good idea if you can budget X per month, rather than having to risk a huge bill for an emergency.
"I’m a sucker for animals and a curmudgeon when it comes to people. But lately, I have found in necessary to get firm on the ranking of people and animals in my own mind. I don’t know be ethical any more and not do that. "
Charity to animals/ charity to humans does not have to be mutually exclusive! This seems so black/white in a gray world.
Sometimes, it is the same thing (google “Pongo Fund” for a great example)
OP, I think it’s really cool you did that. I don’t know what I would have done in your shoes, had I hit the dog and also had that kind of money around.
[QUOTE=mvp;6035426]
I thought hard about posting this and I hope you’ll all forgive me for being the voice of dissent.
I think it’s wrong to spend that chunk of change saving an animal who has no idea people can give or take away life when human beings who do understand that also need help and would be materially helped by an act of charity that large are suffering.[/QUOTE]
I was going to post, but I didn’t want to be the voice of dissent. 
I don’t think I’ll touch the right or wrong issue, or whether it should be an animal v. human issue…but I would not have been able to justify that amount of money for one dog/one event (as opposed to over a lifetime), particuarly for someone else’s dog. I would hope that if I were in this position the vets would also counsel against spending in excess of $20K (which I assume is the real cost before the discount) on a pet. I am pretty sure my own vet would do this; not sure about the emergency vets in my area…
Certainly was one lucky dog.
She IS an older dog - this WILL be her lifetime budget!
Why would I end a life on something as trivial as money? If I have it to spend, why not do something good? Like I have said, we have always been a family to donate to charity - however, like 99.9% of you,we also spend our money on horses, shows, kids, pets. The actual dollar amount is irrelevant - its how much YOU have to spend.
I have absolutley NOT put myself or my family at risk over this $ spent, no credit card was touched, no second mortgage was taken out and the kids are still getting food :winkgrin:
You can judge, but I am happy with my choice.
[QUOTE=3TBS;6038302]
You can judge, but I am happy with my choice.[/QUOTE]
I’m not trying to judge you, I’m just discussing the issue, since mvp brought up being the voice of dissent. But perhaps this would be a lively spin-off thread at some point rather than making it appear to be directed at you specifically.
3tbs, any chance of getting a picture of Ms Money celebrating the holidays?
Such a heartwarming story. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and years of joy and good health with your new friend.
What an awesome story for the holidays! Good for you.
[QUOTE=mvp;6035426]
I thought hard about posting this and I hope you’ll all forgive me for being the voice of dissent.
I think it’s wrong to spend that chunk of change saving an animal who has no idea people can give or take away life when human beings who do understand that also need help and would be materially helped by an act of charity that large are suffering.
OP, I am glad you did what you could to maximize this dog’s quality of life as you could when given the opportunity. Nothing takes away from that; it’s a great a noble act. I’m also glad you could honor your FIL-- that he was a dog lover, that he left your family an inheritance, that you chose to do as you did.
I’m a sucker for animals and a curmudgeon when it comes to people. But lately, I have found in necessary to get firm on the ranking of people and animals in my own mind. I don’t know be ethical any more and not do that. To me, the only difference between people and animals that matters enough to talk about how we distribute charity is the fact that humans “get it”-- the whole mess of things that come along with being helped or not, deserving or not, judged or appreciated unconditionally, and can understand the conversation about help in a way that animals cannot. A human who knows he needs help and is denied suffers more than an animal who was not aware of the option.[/QUOTE]
i totally get your opinion but would like to respectfully add that without people willing to spend on animals the effect on animal workers would be grave.
imagine vet techs laid off, lab techs, salespeople selling supplies to vets etc. while it seems outrageous, the fact that the op spent that $$$ helped keep a lot of people employed in a very dangerous economy.
i feel strongly that we need to be spending right now, even if it’s hard.
ymmv.
and op, you are my christmas hero this year!
I sort of lean to this side of the argument LOL’
[QUOTE=SMF11;6036113]
My old veterinarian once said:
"What’s the difference between feeding a starving dog, and feeding a starving man?
The dog won’t bite the hand that feeds it."
He retired a long time ago, but I’ve always remembered that![/QUOTE]
It’s after Christmas…where are the pics?!!
People buy $20,000+ cars when a $5,000 car would do just fine, people buy $300,000+ houses when a $150,000 house would do just fine, and no one judges their decision. People buy $15,000 diamond rings and no one judges them. But for some reason people think your crazy or wrong to spend $15,000 on vet bills? Makes no sense to me. Good for you for doing the right thing!
That’s a great point! This $15,000 is the same as what other people might pay over a 10 year span on heartworm tests and pills, xrays, vaccinations, little minor surgery here and there, antibiotics, ear infection, dog food…etc…
So you paid it all in one lump sum!
Why would I end a life on something as trivial as money?
I love this quote. I feel the same way. Money is just money. But life is something far more precious and special. I work 2 jobs, both of which makes very good money. I like being able to buy my animals what they need and not have to make hard choices about treating the animal…or not. I don’t buy $12,000 warmblood prospects, or $3,500 show saddles, or $350 breeches…but I do spend money on vet bills, rescuing animals, and feeling sorry for the hopeless and helpless.
To The Max I altered up to say this but I pretty much doubt that you will be seeing pictures. Am I the only one who is having a hard time believing this? Reading back posts is a wonderful tool when one believes something might not pass the smell test.
[QUOTE=BlissTate;6044947]
To The Max I altered up to say this but I pretty much doubt that you will be seeing pictures. Am I the only one who is having a hard time believing this? Reading back posts is a wonderful tool when one believes something might not pass the smell test.[/QUOTE]
Ditto.
[QUOTE=cute_lil_fancy_pants_pony;6044892]
People buy $20,000+ cars when a $5,000 car would do just fine, people buy $300,000+ houses when a $150,000 house would do just fine, and no one judges their decision. People buy $15,000 diamond rings and no one judges them.[/QUOTE]
Uh, yes we do. Ask any guy if he wanted to waste $15K on a ring, he will say “Oh hell no!”…but didn’t want to royally piss off his own version of Bridezilla. All his male friends think he’s stupid too and suggest dropping his fiance as a grasping loser.
Cars? I want my spousal unit to be in a very dependable car (and I love my little red BMW).
Where in the Washington DC area could you find a house for $150K where you wouldn’t be robbed by your scummy neighbors? Not around here for sure. I hate spending too much money on a house, but it’s like buying a friesian…find a cheap one you’d want to own.
I know I’ve heard from people, “If a horse is free, why did you spend $X+++++ for yours?” Well, they do have a sort of point…same with expensive barns and stall boarding when field boarding is so much cheaper (and after all horses in the wild live outside all the time…"
Yeah. Wow.
It was a nice story though…
I’m also calling BS.
Sorry.
I must be missing something here, because I just perused the OP’s other posts/threads, & can’t find anything that would automatically make this thread “bullsh*t”.
What am I missing? Something where she claims to be on welfare & thus wouldn’t have the bucks to pay for this dog’s vet bill?
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