Expensive Dave,
My spouse and I are on Child Step 7, and we’ve a family revenue of $127,000 a yr. We now have an older canine who has had some very costly vet payments not too long ago. It has us each questioning how far, financially talking, we must be prepared to go to maintain him alive. We each actually love our canine, so we might respect your ideas within the occasion we’ve to make a very arduous determination someplace down the street.
Jeff
Expensive Jeff,
Wow … You’re actually attempting to get me into hassle, aren’t you? To start with, let me say this: I. Love. Canine. I actually do. I’ve had a number of throughout my life, and proper now, I’ve one I like greater than most individuals I do know.
That being mentioned, this little animal that I really like like loopy remains to be … a canine. It’s not one among my grandchildren, and it’s not one among my youngsters. If you happen to have been to ask me how a lot cash I’d spend to maintain one among my youngsters or grandkids alive, the reply is straightforward — all the cash I’ve bought. Every part. I’ve began over from nothing earlier than, and I may do it once more. However there’s your reply.
Now, right here’s one thing that’s going to be arduous for just a few of us to listen to. With some individuals who love their animals as a lot as I do, what I’ve noticed is that the entire relationship can turn into extra concerning the human than the animal. I’ve seen individuals spend tens of hundreds of {dollars} to maintain their pets alive, though the animals have been nonetheless struggling. At that time, it’s not honest to the animal. And sadly, that’s what usually finally ends up taking place with this type of state of affairs.
Hear, I perceive this. I’m not bad-mouthing anybody, as a result of I’ve skilled these sorts of emotions, too. I’ve needed to have animals put to sleep, and I’ll be 100% sincere with you: I’ve sat there and cried — I imply flat-out sobbed — whereas it occurred. And in my thoughts, that’s a greater path to take generally, fairly than selfishly letting the animal spend its final weeks or months in ache simply since you don’t need to undergo one thing troublesome.
Now, if you happen to can repair the animal — if you happen to can provide it a more-or-less regular, pain-free life by spending some cash and really correcting the issue — then, certain. Do it. There’s no rule of thumb or share on one thing like this. If you happen to truly have the cash, let’s get them mounted up. But when it takes going deep into debt, wrecking your funds or leaving your loved ones scrambling to make ends meet because of this — then, no. I’m sorry. You must honor and love that fantastic little animal effectively sufficient that you simply don’t make them undergo for you.
I hope you perceive this, Jeff, and that it is smart to you. God bless you all, and God bless that previous pup. I hope you’ll have many extra glad days collectively.
— Dave
