I never thought I’d say this. Me, of all people. But do you ever think we might need some balance about the dog and cat thing as the world seems to come apart? I know I’ll get in trouble for even suggesting it. World politics and the extreme suffering of those caught up in war or famine are hard for me to comprehend, so with apologies, I need to start on a smaller problem.
I’ve spent the last four months obsessing over two sets of statistics that are crashing and exploding in my brain daily. The first statistic is not as surprising. The ASPCA reports shelters euthanize approximately 920,000 dogs and cats each year. We should cheer, that number is down from approximately 2.6 million in 2011. But then this: According to federal statistics, veterinary prices have soared over 60 percent over the past decade. Please read this NYT article that explains it.
Most problems boil down to politics and money. Just when we finally get the shelter numbers down a bit, the financial challenge of a kitten skyrockets. The benefits of pet ownership are infinite, but will the adoption numbers hold if vet care becomes prohibitive? Yes, I know there is pet insurance. Betting against your pet’s health might be smart, but it’s also another bill.
Most Americans have pets, but almost one third can’t afford their vet care. According to the Humane Society, there are at least 19 million pets living with U.S. families whose income level is below the poverty line. And there are millions more in working poor and middle-class families struggling with the cost of caring for their pets. Many organizations are working to aid those pet owners in keeping their pets, but some people don’t think poor people deserve to have a pet. Is it prejudice against the joy of puppy breath?
Aware of my privilege, I would never underestimate the importance of companion animals. Pets are as important for children as a library card. Who would I be without the dogs and cats that raised me? Looking back, those first few years on my own when I could afford pets the least was also when I needed them the most. I’ve long worried that horses will become fodder for the wealthy and girls like me will only gallop in our dreams. Now that worry has spread to small animals.
The other change in this period is that we are more commonly calling pets family members. Mind you, we always loved them as family members. We just didn’t use these words. Previously, dogs wore fewer clothes, and almost never any sunglasses. Cat furniture was not a carpeted series of perches. The couch by the window was good enough, and it came with a scratching post on either end. Sorry if I sound cynical, but did we become a bit more dysfunctional by using the word family?
I’ve talked to so many friends who have had pets needing repetitive surgeries. Or who have extreme chronic conditions that made for a pet in pain, but also a crippling financial burden. Sometimes the vet was understanding. Sometimes the owner left feeling like a murderer for not signing up for procedures they couldn’t afford. Losing their pet felt even more monstrous by their financial reality. How could she do that to a family member? How can we shame someone at such a sad time?
I can’t forget a man I met years ago, who proudly stated he’s spent $160k on his Great Dane with brain cancer. The dog didn’t survive, but he said he didn’t regret a dime. He sounded defiant, but all the money in the world couldn’t make his dog right. His spending bought my healing as well. That was roughly the value of my farm, which I had nearly lost trying to find a cure for a young horse. Until one day, I looked around at the other horses, donkeys, llamas, goats, ducks, dogs, and cats who depended on me. It’s never too late to consider common sense, but it takes courage to say ‘no’ to hope.
Some say all lives are equal. I notice I’ve been swatting lots of flies lately. I don’t feel good about it, but I do it while thinking about those statistics. How many dogs could we save for the cost of that surgery? How many people? But is common sense even a possibility if it’s your pet who needs surgery?
Can I even afford a cat? According to Petwise, a corporate veterinary practice, the cost averages between $15k and $45k over its life. Dogs are $20k-$55k. Maybe kids need pet funds just like college funds. Adults certainly do, even knowing it’s an investment we will lose. But do we want to live in a world run by people who never had a puppy?
Sometimes I wonder if “The cure is worse than the disease.” Ironically, this unscientific quote is by Francis Bacon. In 1620, around the time that people first looked through microscopes, he was widely regarded as a pioneer of the scientific method. The quote makes me think he was as confounded by science as I am.
We fight our own aging as much as we fight the mortality of our pets. They may be family members, but we can’t change the fact they have brief lives. That means humans get passed from one pet to another. Is there a lesson we are missing?
I’m 70, and have gone to the doctor more this last year than I did in my twenties and thirties combined. I’m grateful for Medicare now that I’m old enough to qualify. Most of our healthcare dollar is spent after age 55 and the same is true for our older pets.
I’d pay anything if the treatment made my dog three years old again, but he is past his expiration date. Cleaning his teeth won’t make his hind end stop giving out. He doesn’t want to have more tests. He reminds me that every car ride nearly kills him. And that getting old isn’t a disease to be cured. My dog is snoring under my desk, keeping me honest. He won’t suffer needlessly or get high intensity end-of-life care. He is a dog and proud to be no more or less. Like me, he always had more love than money.
Mostly, I worry about the world to come. Not just the obvious environmental damage done by climate change. Or that wildlife populations have declined by 73% in the last 50 years. I worry we are losing ourselves to cures that ruin our quality of life. As costs go up, so does our need for their judgment-free companionship. What if sweet old dogs and cats are part of the solution?
…
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My husband and I are medically savvy folks who are faculty in pharmacy and medicine, respectively, at our State university. We also have extensive backgrounds in veterinary medicine, although granted, it was a long time ago. When our vet insisted we do either monoclonal antibodies or gabapentin “right now” for our 14 year old stiff but happy standard poodle (who cannot tolerate any NSAIDS and hates water) and refused to acknowledge our concerns, we switched vets. Dog is happier, we’re happier– new vet said she would never do either with a 14 yo who looked as good as she does and recommended toe grips for her hind feet. Game changing!!!
Thanks for your comment, Cait. It can seem hard to talk back but so important to question things! Going to look for toe grips.
We had success with Dr. Buzby’s when my jack russell terrorist had arthritic issues toward the end of her life. She seemed to feel more confident moving around on non-rugged surfaces. 😀
You really hit the conversation/thoughts/worries that bug me. When I moved to the place I live now – about 40 years ago – I still had Chico, although he was boarded all the time I had him. But I moved dog, catS, rabbits, chickens and ducks at the time. Now I have one dog, one cat, and one bird! And the reason I have just the 3 of them is because of the financial burden it would be if I had as many animals as I really would like. Now have a country vet practice about a half hour away with 2 vets, one who also does large animals – a SMALL practice! I had to use my daughterinlaw’s account for a while until they accepted more clients. My son, with four cats, also goes there – one of the cats now has diabetes so has to have shots am and pm. I must say this practice is much much less expensive than the one I used to use. But they seem to be an outlier at this point in time. I know they have been looking for another vet but as far as I know havent found one. They also have several vet techs – everyone there is just great – to my animals and myself and now both my son and my daughter go there.
I used to worry 20 years ago when I had Chico – the “if something happens to me”. I really couldnt expect either of my kids to take on the expense – you know, board, farrier, vet visits, supplements (etc). I guess in that respect it was good I outlived him – but so very hard.
Now I know my kids would care for my animals if I kicked the bucket – which is comforting. I think far too many people do NOT think ahead about that – thats what happened to both my dog and my cat – how they ended up in a shelter.
I have to say in MY opinion, the whole “furbaby”, clothing & sunglasses thing is pretty ridiculous – they are dogs – cats – THEMSELVES – I really doubt any of them want to be human!!! Why would they?
As usual, Anna, I do go on!!!
But this really grabbed me – Obviously, yes, over the years, I spent way more money than I really should have when Chico had issues – colic, injuries etc. And the vet I used at the time was absolutely wonderful & allowed me time to pay the bills. That does not happen most times. As I have said here before – I had NO business buying a horse, much less affording one for 16 years! But it worked out.
Thank you, Maggie. I’m no smarter than you about what I can afford. But you are so right… I also doubt any of my animals would want to be human!
I meant to list a book I read a while ago “Re-Thinking Rescue by Carol Lynn Mithers. It gave me a whole different perspective that animals should be “rescued” from homeless/poor people & found “good” homes.
Also that there have been attempts over the years to not only assist those people with their animals, but with other needs as well – medical, etc. Unfortunately it appears these attempts werent “financially” feasible over the long run!
Its really worth reading and the woman she mainly wrote about did a lot of good – for people and their animals.
I recommend it. I dont think I ever mentioned it here before (if so, sorry)
Thanks.
Excellent blog.
We need to love our domestic animals enough to let them go when the time comes…give them dignity.
Sometimes an owner cant see past the obvious issues, and that euthanasia is the good death.
It is great when one can help an animal, it is very expensive, for sure, finding the right answer is hard sometimes.
My heart aches for birds everytime I need to treat a wild bird from a cat bite, or mauling. It is a human decision to let your cats roam. Wild bird numbers are way down. I try to reach out to horse folks to skip the barn cat idea, it is old fashioned and destroys a lot of wildlife. I feel hopeless about the issue. It really tears my heartout. Songbird rehabbers are volunteers. We pay for the meds and vet exams, in some situations. We read and study about all species to care for them correctly.
When we know better we do better.
Wonderful comment, Evangeline. Thank you for what you do. I have seen the number of birds on my pond drop to tiny numbers. And I feed feral cats in my barn, hoping to catch and neuter them. But the problems continue. I miss those birds so much and the cats deserve better, too. But like you say, When we know better we do better. Again, thank you.
There is a term that’s SO common now that just chaps my cheeks! Yeah, THOSE! “Furbabies” UGH!!! My now deceased mother used to give me all kinds of crap about “getting rid of” my horses. She claimed they were SO expensive with all the feed and vet bills… I told her numerous times that I have a pasture and grow my own hay. My vet bills are nothing compared to hers for her ONE cat. She lived in Florida where small animal vets charged exorbitant fees to their aging clients. I had her tell me what she spent in a year’s time and compared it to mine.
I’m now at a point where I have one cat and he has issues that may end up ending his life if we can’t fix him. The bills have been more than what I pay out for my two horses. I won’t get another cat after this one even tho I have in all my life never been without one for much more than a year.
Thanks, Leslie. What I could afford when they were young has become unaffordable now. But save me from ‘furbabies!” Best wishes for your cat.
Thank you for saying this! I give my pets the best life I can, but will not go into debt for them or spend exorbitant amounts on an older animal whose days are numbered – especially if they are suffering. Current culture pushes me to feel guilty about this. But I will continue to provide them good care during their life and let them go with love and the ease of euthanasia when it is time. And then go on to love / care for another (while missing my passed pets forever). In so many ways, it’s helpful to know when and how to let go….
No pet could want more than that. Thanks, Janine, for the heartfelt comment.
Thank you Anna for this Blog. I once asked my vet “When did it become the norm to suggest a dental cleaning for a dog that can cost up to a thousand dollars?” I never got a straight answer. My husband /wife vet practice was sold to a corporation. The intimate knowledge of my elder dogs health and treatments is lost. I keep getting emails about the new facebook page and instagram page as well as adds for buying products my pet would never need at 17. How is this beneficial to my pets when I walk in the door for a sympathetic, proffessional appointment? Oliver Chuckles is on 5 medications twice a day…strangely it is not as costly as you would imagine. I set my max financial capabilities and this course of action fell within my range. Prior to her retirement my vet said Oliver Chuckles situation is complex. He is just getting very old and his conditions are nothing specific but all interrelated. At this point I will stay the course and when too many days go buy that Chuckles does not have a little giddy up in his go….I know his time is near. I won’t subject him to new Doctors and new medications that to me sometimes seem like throwing darts and hoping something sticks. I don’t love my pets any less than the person who calls them “a member of the family” I just have come to terms that these family members were never designed to live past a certain age and unfortunately like all living beings, the years may be cut short or the years may drag on too long. I hope pet owners can find the courage to speak up and be brave enough to make decisions that are sensible and humane for all.
Thanks, Tiffany. I think the only way to steer these trends back in the right direction is to say no. Sorry when small practices need to grow like that.
Beautiful, thought provoking post. Thanks once again, Anna, for your thoughts and word artistry.
Thanks for reading along, Verna
Rocky, the Arabian, is 31, and still enjoying being a horse of course. There will be no drastic measures. And at home, we have a long-standing tradition: we always have two dogs, but when the elder dog really starts to slow down and more or less “retire” we add a third. This takes the onus off the elder, whilst giving him a puppy to dote on in small doses. It also gives the “middle dog” a new position in the pack – he has a puppy to show the woods to, plus a new playmate. We’ve been very lucky in the passing of the generations. Medical bills are usually short term, and affordable. Fingers crossed!
Sherry, that is just so smart. Old dogs like it, too. Thanks.
Vet costs today are terrifying for those of us with moderate incomes. One of the few perks of my job, that helps make up for the pay scale, is that we can get wellness services done by our shelter staff Vets at a fraction of the cost. They also help with some basic Vet care and end-of-life services. We offer low-cost wellness services to the public and staff gets a discount even on those low prices. If this were not the case I would not be able to afford three dogs. I have never been an advocate of taking extraordinary measures to prolong the life of a geriatric pet. I would not want them to suffer terrifying and invasive procedures to live a few weeks or months longer for my benefit.
I feel the same way about myself when it is my time. I watched a brave friend, who had fought and survived three types of cancer die slowly and painfully of liver failure. Her husband could not let her go and insisted on all measures, which gave her six extra days of agony and delirium at a cost of $500,000. dollars. I would not do that to an animal. Just because we can do something, doesn’t make it right, even if money isn’t a problem.
Thanks, Peggy. You have great job benefits. And these years are definitely tricky to plan for. We can only hope for the right end.
Basic care for all animals has skyrocketed in cost. Portable shot clinics are growing in popularity to save money but then the relationship with a vet who knows a pet for a lifetime is lost and emergencies are a real problem. I do get very, very angry at what I feel has become a financially predatory veterinary care industry with options in the lobby to apply for short-term loans to care for your pets. It is infuriating. I see small animal emergency clinics popping up all around me and many of them have these kiosks that take advantage of people when they are at their most vulnerable and unable to make a sound decision.
Another issue I see is that there is access to as much or more care options for animals as for people and vets are skilled at giving all the options and often with an ailing animals we want that hope no matter the cost. Palliative care is something that we all need to be versed in and understand but those skills are difficult to use when its personal.
I had the means to leave my boarding situation 2 years ago for my own modest property and I am grateful to be out from under the gaze/judgement of people who cared for their aging horses much differently than I will choose to care for mine. “A few more good days and a graceful exit” is my theory as opposed to just more days but finding a practitioner that supports and understands that approach is important. No, I will not do everything to heal their ailments and prolong their life, but I will do what is sensible and compassionate. I think that is still enough.
Thanks, Erin. I agree that there is pressure when we are vulnerable. Cheap shot clinics are great, but we get what we pay for. I miss thinking my vet was my friend.
Thank you for this insightful writing. Love in any form takes a lot of courage to hold its hand. Sometimes letting go is the kindest and most loving thing we can do. I believe animals are more enlightened than we humans are, and they don’t fear death. But they don’t like to be in pain or feel incapacitated. And they can also know it if we are harboring fear. I gear up to be strong and hold back the grief until they have passed. A life time of loving animals ensures a lifetime of letting them go.
And we still end up gaining more than we lose. Thanks, Julie. I agree.
You are so right. We gain so much more than we lose. That gain is beyond any sort of monetary calculation. I shared this post with all of my family. Thank you again.
Well I am a little late to this conversation, but when I decided to reply, I realized that I have way too much to say on the subject. I will try to condense my thoughts into a manageable amount. I have practiced vet medicine for 31 years now. Things are very different now than in 1993 when I started. And, by all means….please SAVE ME from the word Furbaby….
I believe the skyrocketing price of vet med is being driven by corporate buy outs of privately owned clinics. These clinics are greedy behemoths that suck in clients and prospective employees alike and steal them from small clinics without corporate backing. Smaller clinics simply can’t compete with their lighter working schedules and exorbitant salaries. I remain the defiant
single owner of my little clinic in a town of less than 2500 people. I have an “Angel fund” to try to help people who can’t afford care for their pets, or even euthanasia when the time arrives. In the past decade, people’s expectations of what veterinary care should entail have become unrealistic. I feel the same about the expectations of human medicine. Don’t even get me started on the way we treat our eldest members of society. At least we have the option of euthanasia for our suffering pets….
Their are so many factors leading to the “furbaby” culture that is prevalent today and I feel like I have had a front row view of it all happening. I also feel that there is no realistic way to stop it. I hope the pendulum of public opinion starts to swing back towards a more common sense middle ground (in regards to our pets and almost everything else in our country right now). Positive persistence and gentle guidance towards ultimately doing what is best for the animal and the owner will continue to be the way I try to help make a difference to pets and owners alike.
Shauna, thank you so much for this comment. I would never blame a person who spent a fortune on an education to work long hard hours in difficult conditions, and more than once has found my farm in a ground blizzard at 2am. Who wants that job? Vets are saints… and like you say, much of it isn’t visible to the consumer, so I appreciate that NYT article. For all those changes over the last 30 years, both good and bad, we have to navigate the best we can, both vets and horse owners. I appreciate your words about middle ground. I agree with your answer. (for horses and people) I appreciate all you do. And while maintaining a sense of humor. You rock.
Like you, I am a small business, and so aware of corporate takeovers. I want family restaurants to survive, local feed stores, etc. I know the challenges you face and I make a point of doing business with others, like you, who hold the line against a ‘box store world’. I encourage others to do the same. We vote for the future we want with our dollar.
I want to thank you too, Shauna – I’m very fortunate in having a small practice fairly close by for my dog and cat. There arent many of those remaining.
Keep up the good work – I’m sure your clients – human and animal – appreciate it.
Maggie
Thank you for being a holdout Shauna! We see exactly what you are talking about here in Texas, the Corporatization of Veterinary Medicine. It is pushing up costs and making it nearly impossible for a non-profit to attract and keep medical staff. We just lost one of our Vets to the corporate world.
Wow! This touched my soul in SO many ways! I’ve been having those same thoughts, that it may get outside the reach of many people to have pets and horses in their lives. I’ve also known those people who feel very proud about their investment in medical care, even as their animal suffers through to an inevitable end. Just everything about this resonates! Bless you for sharing those thoughts, and blessings to all of us aging humans and our aging animals!
Amen, Lia. Thank you.
I was quite recently vilified and evicted from a barn where I’d kept my aging horse – the owner said she did not want a heartless owner who would snuff out a life for no reason. My horse was 23, in constant pain, and I had spent close to $3,000 trying to find a solution to his hoof problem (we are NOT in that income bracket). I had hauled him to the best vets in the state, and winter in Wisconsin (with its uneven frozen ground) was imminent. I could not bear to see him hurt with every step, but the owner – watching him bravely struggling to keep with the herd – said he “wasn’t that bad.” The decision for euthanasia was terrible, the judgement heaped on me was like a lead vest on someone nearly drowning. Thanks for letting me vent, and thanks for writing your very important message.
Your comment is heartbreaking, Sue. Thanks you for venting. In my work, I see people unable to read pain in animals well. Professionals included. Your horse was not young, just because some live longer. Thank you for loving him enough. You know best for your horse.
I’m so very sorry for anyone who heaps that kind of judgement on someone who is having to make the final decision. On the other hand, boy do I feel even more sorry for any of that person’s animals!
Every time we bring an animal into our lives – most of us realize the kind of responsibility we accept. To do the right thing.
From my remote location, the closest equine vet, and my small animal practice, are 1 1/2 hr away. There is a flat charge of $250 dollars per client for the equine vet to step foot on our island, in addition to farm call, diagnostics, treatments and meds. Farrier care when I could get it was sub-standard and unreliable. This + the rapidly escalating prices and decreasing accessibility of hay and feed contributed to the decision to send my horse to an idyllic retirement farm. When I did the math – the cost per month was the same, except now he has access to immediate health care, green pastures and a herd to be a part of – and I get back 10-12 hours a week. (just to keep things interesting I’ve become a beekeeper)
Saw a statistic recently that vet students today can expect to incur 500k in education costs by the time they graduate. I can’t imagine what the cost of setting up a practice is. I try to remember this every time I pay vet bills.
Such a challenging place to keep a horse, especially as they age. At least the dog and cat can go by car. Glad for the bees! Thanks, Christian.
PS. You are right. I don’t blame vets…
Thank you
Thanks, Grace.
Yes, it is a sad state we are in, and the animals are suffering, between irresponsible breeders continuing to breed dogs/horses/cats/etc… the BLM rounding up thousands of mustangs, the monkeys being caught and tortured, the amount of road kill I see every day…it is sad sad state 🙁 I see so many neglected animals daily between unknowledgeable owners and just bad or irresponsible owners. I don’t have any answers other than to stop breeding animals, and as you said, start saving for end-of-life expenses feed top-quality food, and avoid the vet. I have personally had a vaccine kill my 3-year-old dog and had a friend’s kitten killed by one as well. Other than rabies I would avoid putting any chemicals in or on my animals. I wish everyone the best for what is to come.
Thanks Jeanne. We do keep on…
I’ve had to say goodbye to horses, dogs, and cats because the cost of keeping them alive was beyond my means. I don’t regret making the decision to euthanize rather than cause them to endure the treatments that would’ve eventually become ineffective anyway.
The idea that people are becoming unable to afford pets, at all, is a heartrendering idea. But yes, if changes aren’t made, it might come to that.
Thank you, Cindy. I agree. I hope we separate our fears of our own deaths from the welfare of our animals.
This really resonates. I have struggled to pay for care for my pets. Recently, my elderly cat needed a dental cleaning. The estimate for the cost was $400 to $1800. I told the vet that I couldn’t pay more than $400 (I had just lost my house in Hurricane Helene so things were a mess) so they were not to do extractions. If the cat needed extractions of infected teeth the only option would be euthanasia. When I went to pick the cat up and I said, “so, great, he didn’t need any extractions?” And the vet said “he did have a bad tooth but it just fell out on its own. “ They charged me the $400. Amazing bit of grace, there.
Thanks, Rebecca. Hurricane Helene should be challenge enough! But good to have your comment, no way to budget for natural disasters. Blad it went so well. Bless vets who do their best in difficult times.
Basicly gave a ranch dog puppy to a homeless guy. I feel responsible and make sure the dog has food. (Really good food) They love one another (he named the dog E’lov) and they do have a cabin to stay in the Forrest (trading chores for the privilege of a leaky, drafty roof over their heads). Is this a ‘high tide raises all boats’ situation or a ‘have another think.’? I carried insurance on the dog , too, until losing my job and concomitantly finding out the insurance had a low cap that only covered vaccinations and worming. (Heart worming). Was hoping for snake bite monoclonal antibodies but …no. Anyway, great read.
Thanks you, Paula. That was really kind.
In addition to going corporate and pushing high dollar tests and procedures, most vets around here don’t accept any kind of urgent care appointments. My dog had an ear infection, which she’d had before so the symptoms were obvious. My vet said they couldn’t get me in for 3 weeks and recommended I go to the pet ER! $250 just to walk in the door. Thank goodness our horse vet is still an old school independent and was willing to help.
I think the pet insurance is actually making things worse. Just like human health insurance, we’re separated from the cost and doctors just bill the insurance at inflated rates. And pet owners with insurance might feel like they’re not getting their money’s worth if they don’t use it. Ugh.
Thanks, Shaste. Those ER practices… I have spent some money there, all right. Glad you got help.
Yikes. How ironic, Anna. The very day you posted “can you afford a pet” I was at a follow-up vet visit for my cat ($440). Earlier this month, we rushed Monkey Do to an emergency clinic due to a blockage of his urethra ($4748). They found a large amount of crystal debris in his urine. The same thing happened to him back in December 2023.
Monkey Do is 9 years old. This time my vet has instructed me on a diet that hopefully will prevent a future recurrence. Except for a few months when he was a kitten, he has not been fed kibble. The major diet change is to avoid organ meats which are high in phosphorus which contributes to crystals forming in the urethra, I think.
As others have commented, vet care for our dogs and cats seems more expensive sometimes than our horses!
Lynell, Monkey Do is lucky to be your cat and not mine. I hope the blockage is resolved for good. Best of luck with the diet change. Thanks for sharing.
Lynell, one of my son’s cats (he has 4) was recently diagnosed with diabetes so now has to have a shot am and pm plus vet visit once a month to check his levels – hes also about 9!
Monkey Do IS very fortunate!
I hope the diet works out for him – and you.
Maggie
Thanks, Maggie.
So sorry for your son’s cat. How horrific.
Actually, Chewy is fine – not that he loves the shots but now he gets canned food!!!! I’m guessing the other three get a taste too.
Axel and Smurf’s yearly visit will be in a few weeks. But once a year (so far) is better than ER visits.
This is such a tender subject, that it took me a long while to read this piece. Unfortunately, euthanasia (which doesn’t come cheap) has been a constant in my adult life; twelve times to be exact, among my horses, dogs, and cats. This of course doesn’t include the cumulative loss of those animal companions who died unexpectedly from various causes. I cannot tolerate suffering among innocents. I think that a “good death” is preferable to immeasurable suffering. I guess my point is that if you dare to love, there is always a cost, and it goes way beyond the monetary cost.
Thank you, Laurie. Always the mourning because they deserve it.