Musings...

Why is it that most people don't consider "vet care" as part of the basic needs of an animal?

I am a member of a rodent website, and there is a young lady there who's pet has mange. Now, most people would either 1. take the animal to the vet or 2. take the animal to the pound, where THEY can fix it. However, this young lady chooses to completely ignore her pet, and is getting another. Her dogs are also unfixed, and had a litter. Her reason for not fixing them? "Because they are purebred with papers."

This girl isn't stupid, she takes general great care of her animals. Her pets have food, water, a home to live in- everything they need. So why is it that she ignores their right to veterinary medicine?

The dogs, okay. I can live with her not fixing her dogs. She claims they can be responsible, then alright.

But when does basic medical care stop being an important factor in the choice to own an animal? To me, these are the things you HAVE to consider before you get an animal:

1. Can you afford food?
2. Can you afford shelter?
3. Can you afford vet care for it?
4. Have you done enough research about its basic needs?
5. Can you fulfill its basic needs (food, water, shelter, vet, etc for certain animals like hamsters which need a certain amount of space in its cage, bedding, etc)?
6. Are you prepared to take on the responsibility of getting the animal something it needs if your parents suddenly decide its 'not worth it' or they 'arent paying for this anymore'?

If you answered no to any of that, you shouldn't get that pet. I'm sorry, but if you take on the responsibility of getting it- you take on EVERYTHING it comes with. All its illness', all its diseases, everything.