Pets-How much would you spend on them?

Sorry, but no. You married someone who cannot understand the value of true, pure, unconditional love. Apparently her friends and family are the same. You have a bigger problem than spending money on your pet.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

Thanks for all the responses. All of you share my thoughts and response, but the wife does not agree. She is def not an animal lover and of course she has all of her friends who support her opinions, as well as family. I think its true with every issue you have with someone. You will always get more support from your co-workers, friends, and family. They will sympathize with you and not the other. The dog is a Yorkie by the way.

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Your dog is not the only issue you have here!

ukathleticscoach wrote:

Thanks for all the responses. All of you share my thoughts and response, but the wife does not agree. She is def not an animal lover and of course she has all of her friends who support her opinions, as well as family. I think its true with every issue you have with someone. You will always get more support from your co-workers, friends, and family. They will sympathize with you and not the other. The dog is a Yorkie by the way.

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Your dog is not the only issue you have here!

Unfortunately I'm going to have to agree here. You should spend enough on the dog so that it doesn't suffer and that it has a decent quality of life. If that includes cataracts surgery (I feel it does if you dog really should live another 5-7 years) then so be it. Not every person is an animal lover, but your WIFE should be sensitive to things that are important to YOU. She knew you had this dog when she married you. Taking care of the dog including reasonable expenses for health care is part of that. I haven't yet seen anything unreasonable. If you said your dog had cancer and was 11 years old and usually would only live to be 13 anyway and that cancer treatments would cost $3000, then that would be different.

Pay the money to care for your dog. Consider marriage counseling with your wife.

$1500? That is insane especially since that type of procedure is very rare on a dog. I would say the cutoff on spending money on a dog is $400. beyond that, just keep them comfy until they pass on.

rahm emmanuel wrote:

Wrap the bitch around with bacon, broil it medium rare, and serve it to your bitch.

Which one does the eating and which one gets cooked?

To the OP: Time to put Old Yeller down. Take the 1500$ and give it to some humans that need the money.

I don't know what your financial status is, but unless you're essentially destitute -- and I see nothing in what you've said to suggest that you are -- then my very strong opinion is that you should spend the money on the dog.

My two cats are almost thirteen years old. When they were kittens, and I decided to take them in and be their caregiver, I recognized that this was a lifelong responsibility. Children grow up and (one hopes) become independent and able to fend for themselves. Spouses (and ex-spouses) can usually take care of themselves. Dogs and cats, however, are dependent on you for life. To me, it's a huge moral responsibility that does not diminish simply because other relationships arise and develop over the years.

Regarding your original question: Although I'm pretty sure that there's a limit, I would spend many, many times more on my pets than the amounts that you're talking about.

By the way, there's a movie from the 1970s, starring a young Don Johnson, called "A Boy and his Dog." The ending of that movie sums up my views about your choice here.

I don't know what your financial status is, but unless you're essentially destitute -- and I see nothing in what you've said to suggest that you are -- then my very strong opinion is that you should spend the money on the dog.

My two cats are almost thirteen years old. When they were kittens, and I decided to take them in and be their caregiver, I recognized that this was a lifelong responsibility. Children grow up and (one hopes) become independent and able to fend for themselves. Spouses (and ex-spouses) can usually take care of themselves. Dogs and cats, however, are dependent on you for life. To me, it's a huge moral responsibility that does not diminish simply because other relationships arise and develop over the years.

Regarding your original question: Although I'm pretty sure that there's a limit, I would spend many, many times more on my pets than the amounts that you're talking about.

By the way, there's a movie from the 1970s, starring a young Don Johnson, called "A Boy and his Dog." The ending of that movie sums up my views about your choice here.

$1500 is not an unlikely vet bill for a dog. When my dog got hit by a car it cost me $3000. I would have felt really guilty if I let her die because I wanted to use the money for myself.

Cataracts surgery not common for dogs? It's definitely done all the time for animals. Anything done for a human is done for animals. Insulin injections, prozac, knee reconstruction, radiation treatment, it's all done for animals.

If you won't pay over $400 for your pet please don't ever get a pet.

Alternatively, I highly recommend PET INSURANCE. It is absolutely worth it. Especially if you are unable to spend large amounts of money without notice.

Some numbers:

A thyroidectomy on a cat = $200

A stitches on a dog for a puncture wound = $150

Knee surgery for a dog = $1500+

Anesthesia costs at least $60

Euthanasia = $60 or $90 if you opt to get the ashes back from a private cremation.

X-ray = $80.

If you can't afford the surgery, talk to the vet clinic about it. They may let you work out a payment plan.

If you don't want to pay for your pets medical issues consider surrendering to the vet clinic. They will do the procedure a find the pet a good home.

To the OP. I do think your wife is heartless.

Time for you to watch "A Boy and His Dog," the answer you seek is there.

the guy that owns my racecar has spent almost 3000 in the last two weeks on his wifes dog removing cancer out of its ear or something, i about crapped but he has money so to him its not that big of a deal

db

.. but this your dog. Your wife has made it abundantly clear she's not a dog person. Great. Not her dog. YOUR dog. I'd be goddamned if my wife's friends or family think they can have any say in what I do with my dog. They can have a cup of mind your own business. Wife doesn't like it? Well that's too bad. Sorry. You can't sympathize with something I feel is this important then that's on you. This isn't spending an extra 50 on a video game. And if you don't do this, you're going to feel like crap for the next few years knowing that YOUR dog could be more comfortable.

This is a good response to the dude who would only pay $400 for health care for a dog. I agree that he need not get a pet if that's his limit. People can't and shouldn't spend inordinate amounts of money to prolong a pets life if they were going to die soon of something else anyway, and it does bug me when people give as much love and attention and status to a dog as they do to their children (and that happens a lot; dogs are dogs, not people!), but $1500 for surgery that will improve the life of the dog for another 5-7 years. That's reasonable.

Bump! Should I show all of these responses to my wife?

florida wrote:

Bump! Should I show all of these responses to my wife?

You should have her watch "A Boy and His Dog" with you, then she'll know where she stands.

florida wrote:

Bump! Should I show all of these responses to my wife?

I suppose it depends on how your relationship is with your wife. Given her shrewishness about your dog, I'd say letting her know you post on LR for advice and family argument ammo, that would probably work against you. But if you want to stir the pot of contention, go right ahead and show it to her.

florida wrote:

Bump! Should I show all of these responses to my wife?

I have been in her position. I am married to a man that has a dog. He wuuuuuuuvs that dog. Sometimes it seems that he loves the dog more than he loves me. You know what? I don't blame him. The dog gives total unconditional love while I, as a human, do not. But I love my husband and I would never tell him what to do with his dog. I respect their relationship and happy for him that he has that in his life. So, it's not just that your wife doesn't like dogs. It's that she doesn't respect that you do. Basically she doesn't like you being happy.

Does she know that taking care of the dog makes you happy and that you feel responsible for the dog's happiness? I'm assuming that you have, but if not, communicate better. If so... then yeah, she seems like she doesn't trust in your judgement or want you to be happy. Do what YOU need to do or you will regret it AND resent your wife for it. Its better to have her mad for at you for a bit than you resenting her for the rest of your life.

OK, I don't want to get down on your wife without knowing the whole situation, so I'll just throw out a question or two:

Do you support the things that your wife cares about? Do you really want her to be happy even if it means spending money on things that you would not yourself? Have you ever told her not to spend money on something that she wanted to?

There could be other reasons that she doesn't want you spending money on the dog other than her not liking dogs.

Bump

get over dog

respect wife

kill dog

get on with life

get new dog

a real dog, not a 4 lb. dog

wtf