Dichotomy

“Money will buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail” – Richard Friedman

"Anyone obtaining a dog or cat as a pet accepts a responsibility for that animal's care and existence for the rest of its life." - Bonnard L. Moseley

Both of these quotes are very true, and both symbolize one of the biggest problems I see with veterinary medicine today. On one hand, pets provide us with a sense of devotion and love and unquestioned acceptance. Pet ownership is a global phenomenon that started way back in the time before civilization when there was a symbiotic relationship formed between wolves and man. It progressed to work animals and to cats worshiped as royalty and today we continue to see a change in that bond as now pets have become family members. We LOVE them, they are so important to us, everybody needs a furry, 4-legged love in their life....right?

On the other hand, pets are a responsibility. A responsibility for a life. Once we have one, we are responsible for making all decisions pertaining to that pet's well-being. It's not free. They get sick. They get into accidents. They have parallel medical conditions to those experienced by humans. They have pain perception and personalities and feelings. They experience everything we do, and are subject to the consequences of the decisions we make for them.

So? What's the problem?

I am concerned about pet ownership becoming an elitist luxury, but at the same time I don't think anyone should be denied the ability to have a pet. It happens too often that in an exam room I am told how much someone loves their pet in one breath, and in the very next one they can't afford its treatment. It literally comes down to the dollar. Where do we draw the line and who gets to decide?

Who am I to say that if you can't afford a $1,000 knee surgery that your pet needs to be able to walk comfortably for the rest of its life, then either the pet doesn't get surgery and suffers or you have to find a way to pay $1000 even though your husband just got laid off and your kid needs braces?

Who am I to say that you have to pay $3000 because your beloved little dog slipped a disc in its back and without surgery the condition will decline and it will kill your pet because its bladder will rupture so we will euthanize it even though it is only 4 years old and you've gotten it spayed and kept it on heart worm preventative and fed it good food and "done everything right" and loved it like a child?

Who am I to say that I know you are on social security and your husband passed and now this little cat is your ONLY companion, and your grand-kids got it for you after he passed and the cat eats, sleeps and breathes with you but you can not afford to "take care of it"? 

Then, there is the imaginary stamp I own that is bright red, with a big bold border around it, and I place it diagonally across the chart that simply reads "REVOKED".  It literally covers the entire page in the chart from corner to corner. It's for the the people who "can't" afford to treat this pet or the 2 others they have at home and then they come in next week with a puppy they got on Craigslist and "saved" it. Or the people who go adopt 2 new kittens after putting down their cat last week because they couldn't treat hyperthyroid disease. Or the people who are on disability and have a new $400 Yorkie. Or the people who come in and get vaccines but will not keep it on preventative care, but are flying out next week for a family vacation to Las Vegas and have a brand new Altima in the parking lot. I always play in my mind that I'm stamping the REVOKED stamp on the charts of these owners, forbidding them the ability to ever own a pet again. 

All of these events are normal, every day happenings. NOT exceptional. We see it all the time.

It costs money to go to veterinary school and run blood work and correct these issues.  It costs money to pay the technicians and to buy vaccines and to run anesthesia. It costs money to have the power and air conditioning on in the building. It costs money to do a major surgery or even do a physical exam. We are not able to treat these pets for free and there is no financial back-up system in place for pets.

I don't have any answers for this, but I sure do see it as a problem that is not being addressed. It's overwhelming and disheartening and disappointing. 

I want the little old lady to get to keep her cat. I want the student to be able to provide back surgery for her dog and get to keep it for the rest of its expected 8-12 years. I want to revoke ownership to the lady who "can't afford" her pets and saves another on Craigslist. I want to revoke ownership if you will not provide the basics for your pet. I want to yell, "Don't get a pet if you can't afford to take care of it!!!!" and then I want to help find a way to help the dog that needs knee surgery to walk better.

So, I will continue to do everything I can in my power to educate owners, prepare people for the idea that they are living beings with needs, and ultimately put the pet FIRST. At the end of the day, if the decision is 100% with the pet's interest at the heart of the decision, then I can have some internal peace. And my imaginary stamp.