More About Money...

[moustachios]

That post about low-income pet owners got me thinking. Most people are saying people shouldn't get pets if they can't afford them, which I think is very sensible. But what if you weren't planning a pet? You find a starving dog while you're out hiking, or there's a flea-bitten kitten under your porch, or whatever. You weren't looking for a pet, you

Comments

[amazonvera]

If I had resources like local services for low-income pet owners and/or philanthropic friends and family, I'd keep it.

If I didn't, I'd foster as long as I could and try to place it in a permanent home with the help of a local rescue or shelter. If I couldn't place it and was no longer able to foster effectively, I'd find the best possible rescue or shelter to surrender them to and hope for the best.

[faceless_bride]

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone with any money right now. So, I'd take it in and keep it warm, fed, and clean as long as I could, but if it was in desperate need of vet care or after about a month I couldn't find anyone to take it, I would drive wherever I needed to in order to get it into a shelter. I wouldn't feel great about the choice, but sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do.

[erica057]

IMHO, if it comes down to it, if an animal is starving/suffering it is less cruel to at least take it to be put down humanely than to let it waste away. I have fostered strays since I can afford to do so, but if I couldn't that's probably what I'd do.

[sblmnldrknss]

I'd do what I could to reasonably get the animal into decent shape. A flea bath, get it fed, and then find a rescue that will take it and try to find it a home.

[imagine_eyeball]

My girlfriend found our second kitty on the street a few months ago, eating out of a rubbish bin. Luckily she was in perfect health and after some budget re-shuffling we could afford to keep her. We have savings and the bank of parents in case they get sick. If another was to come along, (which is very likely, there are so many effing stray cats around here) we wouldn't be able to keep it. We'd probably try to pawn it off onto my girlfriend's parents or someone else we know after making sure it was healthy. If that didn't work, we'd probably end up keeping it anyway.

[faceless_bride]

Why would you keep it if you couldn't keep it?

[imagine_eyeball]

We'd work something out. We can always budget better, and I know that even if we had no money if something happened to one of our cats and they needed medicine or surgery my dad or my girlfriend's parents would help us out. It wouldn't be the best thing financially and I wouldn't choose to get another cat, but if we found another stray I'd rather keep it than get it put down or give it to some stranger without knowing if they'd take care of it properly. In all likelihood if we did find another cat, my girlfriend's parents would take it. They only have one cat, one dog and plenty of room and money for more if necessary.