People spending on pets? The media is shocked!
By Gina Spadafori
July 22, 2008
I had the misfortune of listening to NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” at lunch, which was yet another in a recent series of horrified pieces in the national media on how much money we spend on our pets and how that is somehow an indicator of the Decline of Western Civilization:
From chemotherapy to psychiatric evaluations to estate planning, pet owners spend thousands each year to pamper their furry companions. How far have you gone for your pet? And where do you draw the line?
The media has spent the last decade eagerly covering every little dog on every idiot celebrity arm, has breathlessly laid out all the exciting options in canine fashions and now, when the economy has hit the rocks, they’re scrambling over each other to push the idea that the first over the edge of the lifeboat should be our pets.
Sorry, I’m not buying it.
But then I wasn’t buying it before, all that Chinese-made pet crap being pushed at us. I have leashes and stainless steel dishes that are 30 years old, still in good shape and still highly functional. We never did write about all the landfill-ready pet crap here, and so we’re not not writing about it now. That life jacket I bought Heather? I guarantee you I’ll be using it 20 years from now, to bring joy to another aged dog who has brought me joy for her entire life.
I have yet to understand why when someone spends anything over, say, $1,000 on pet’s illness or injury, suddenly that person has to justify to some outraged fool why she didn’t give that money to the poor. It’s a remark I have yet to hear made to anyone who buys a McMansion, a pleasure boat, a sports car or a few thousand dollars worth of electronics that will be obsolete the moment it’s unpacked. I also have yet to hear anyone kvetch about a kitchen remodel or an expensive vacation, and yet as far as I can tell, all these things are optional, too, using funds that could certainly aid “the poor.”
A pet? If it’s going to cost you much, well, maybe you should have the vet kill the pet. After all, there are lots of others out there! Get another! Incredibly, that’s what self-styled dog expert Jon Katz — you know, the guy who has made a lot of money writing about his dogs — was arguing, saying how he finds it hard to justify spending very much to have his dogs cared for when the people down the road are starving and don’t have health care.
I don’t know, Jon … if it worries you so much maybe you can sell that play farm of yours, cutesy name and all, place your dogs and give all your money to the poor. You can even start by selling that nifty little ATV. Or, you can thank God for all the good material (and income) those dogs have provided you and not begrudge giving some of it back to them with veterinary care.
Look, I am not suggesting we should all do everything we can to keep alive pets who are not enjoying life and cannot be made young or well again. I am also not suggesting we put ourselves at financial risk chasing hopes of miracles. Anyone who has ever read a word on this blog knows we’re about planning for the worst (with savings and pet health insurance), informed consent and good, humane decisions regarding the stewardship of our animals.
The best “thing” we can give our pets is time, good food, exercise and meaningful work, and I have pretty much adjusted my own life to provide as much of all this as I can. That, and top-quality veterinary care, with an emphasis on prevention.
How I spend my life and my money is my choice, not anyone else’s.
As for Jon Katz, who justified the killing of his border collie in a best-seller that’s soon to be a Hollywood movie, my suggestions would be that he keep his self-promoting pontificating to his own arrogant self.
The next time the me-too media calls with a trend story, Jon, just say no. You might sell a few less books, but at least you won’t be promoting the attitude that when the going gets tough, the pets should go.
C’mon Gina, stop holding back.
Tell us how you really feel.
Just in from pulling wires and whacking cobwebs in the barn. On my new farm. Bought for the dogs, make no mistake. Which, however, cost less than a modest Manhattan apartment, less than a tasteless McMansion in my old township, less than my doctor’s automobiles, less than Jon Katz’s running tab at Ben & Jerry’s.
NOT THAT IT’S ANYONE’S BUSINESS.
Especially, not the business of some bloated POS who has profited to an obscene extent from the convenience killing of a neglected dog he proclaimed to LOOOOVVVVE.
Comment by H. Houlahan — July 22, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
Listen, don’t get me started on the OTHER guest, who kept going on about how awful it was that she what guilt-tripped into spending $1,300 on her cat by the vet, and how she loved her cat “to pieces” and it wasn’t fair to “put him through it.”
And, of course, that after she had her BABY she realized the love of her cat was “conditional.”
Oh, Lord, the “isn’t this a miracle!” attitude of new mothers. I have never observed there was anything noble or notable about having a baby. (Now raising that baby to be a responsible, loving and contributing member of society … that’s special!)
I am sick to effing death of people who assume that I think my pets are my children. I don’t. I never have. And I know lots and lots and lots of pet-owners who never have, either. As in the vast majority of them. In fact, despite young bubble-head mommy’s sudden realization that her cat isn’t her child now that she has a baby, most of the pet-owners I know already well understood the difference between a pet and child … because they’ve already raised their own children. Many of them now have grandchildren to dote on … and they understand the difference between those children and pets, too.
The whole show was completely stacked to the point of view that pet-owners are delusional mental cases who don’t care about people.
And Jon Katz, the “dog-lover,” was the worst of all.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 22, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
These arguments make no sense to me. If you have $XXX available but can’t justify spending it on vet services because your neighbors are hungry and need health insurance, are you turning around and purchasing a health insurance policy and groceries for the neighbor with the $XXX? If not, what are you doing with it and how do you “justify” it to yourself?
Comment by slt — July 22, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Way to whack some heads with a whiffle bat, Gina!!
Everything seems to be disposable, including pets. It makes me sick. These jerks are propagating that attitude. Isn’t there enough abuse in this world?
Comment by Sharon H — July 22, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
There seem to be a lot of people out there who are very, very threatened by the idea that somehow an animal might be considered “as important” as a human, which somehow gets turned into if you spend money on an animal it’s being taken away from a human.
Some people are almost desperate to ensure that homo sapiens “bats last”, maybe because they’ve never gotten everything they think they deserve in life and here’s this effing DOG, for crying out loud……
Comment by Susan Fox — July 22, 2008 @ 7:06 pm
Susan, I think that’s an excellent point. Certainly my hate-mailers generally seem like sad, bitter people. They’ve just decided the reason “they got screwed” in life is because of “crazy people who love pets more than people.”
Easier to point the finger elsewhere than to look at your own responsibility for your life.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 22, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
It extends to wildlife too. Like any bison who has the temerity to step outside of Yellowstone can be killed because they “might” transmit brucellosis to cattle, even though there is no evidence that that has ever happened. Don’t even get me started on the wolves.
Comment by Susan Fox — July 22, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
Well, heck. My response isn’t showing up so I’ll try again.
I’m spending money on my dog Lydia’s cancer treatments and I won’t apologize to anybody for it! She has health insurance but I also have to pay what the insurance doesn’t cover. I have every reason to help her fight it - she’s young, active, happy, and living a good life. I want her to have that as long as possible, and will do what I can to help her.
I don’t have room in my life for people who think they have a right to tell me how to manage my finances. I have even less room for people who think they have the right to tell me what my priorities should be, which is essentially what they’re trying to do. It’s my money! I earn it, and then I spend it…however I see fit!
Comment by Therese — July 22, 2008 @ 7:57 pm
I just love it when people start telling us what we should be spending our money on.
After Katrina, some friends and I organized a small group that helped hands on with rescue. I heard the most amazing crap from people - “How can you justify helping pets, when there are people in need?”. “Why do you care more about pets than people?”. “Why don’t you turn that donation money over to HUMANS?”
Time and time again, the people saying this garbage were doing nothing - they weren’t donating money, or time, or anything but their incessant whining to those of us who were just trying to alleviate a tiny bit of suffering.
The people who think that our caring for animals comes at the cost of our caring for people are, as people have said above, the kind of jerks who think animals have no intrinsic value in and of itself, and that a penny spent on one is a penny wasted.
You know what? I don’t even argue with them anymore, because it’s my g-d penny. They can spend their own on whatever the hell they want. Sometimes I think Ayn Rand wasn’t completely wrong about altruism being pointless.
Comment by Carol — July 22, 2008 @ 8:14 pm
XX and OO’s from dog lovers and especially Border collie lovers everywhere.
Comment by nancy freedman-smith — July 22, 2008 @ 8:31 pm
OMG, they’re turning JK’s book into a movie?! He needs to zip it. (imo!)
My pets are not my kids, but they are important. And yes, I also have the “luxury” and will to provide my pets with what they need in regards to time, proper nutrition and everything else. I waited to adopt a dog until I knew my life was “okay” for one. YEARS. Luckily, I’m surrounded by people who feel the same way about pets that I do. Kinda funny that I met my current #1 client at the shelter, lol!~
I really have a low tolerance towards people who are going to judge me on how I “spoil” my pets. Especially when they have their own “excess”* issues ;)
* I do NOT see my pet care as excessive, nor do I think anyone here would. Although, I will readily admit the upcoming move to the cabin is even more exciting because I KNOW my dog is going to be SO. DAMN. HAPPY. up there! Hopefully next summer I’ll have pics of my girl wading in the river and retrieving balls just like Gina does :) And my cats will have their safe outdoor space also :)
Ahhh, thoughts of the future with happy pets, such a bad, bad, thing! lol!~ ;)
Comment by straybaby — July 22, 2008 @ 11:29 pm
Get out of my head!
Comment by Caveat — July 23, 2008 @ 3:08 am
As a Border Collie owner, the only good thing I can think of with Katz’s book becoming a movie is that I can’t imagine that Hollywood would actually let the dog die at the end of the movie. I bet they bought the “option” and that means that they can change it however they like — which means the dog either dies a natural death (doubtful — dead is still a downer at the box office) or gets a new home.
I couldn’t believe my library has all of his books — I have to read 15 books this summer for the Adult Reading Club, but based on the comments here, I passed Katz by and read Hogdkins (sp?) book on cats and now have the Pitcarin Natural Health for Dogs & Cats.
Comment by Dorene — July 23, 2008 @ 5:53 am
I guess some people are control freaks and they want to decide for us what we should enjoy.
It makes me happy to see a happy pet. I do not need others to decide for me where my money, time, and energy go.
I have heard that the DNA in animals is similar to humans. Animals are alive just like we are.
Sensitive people who have had pets in their life are usually warm and caring individuals.
I usually do not talk to the rest of humanity unless I need to.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — July 23, 2008 @ 6:07 am
The Katz book being adapted is “A Dog Year,” which describes the first few months after Katz adopts Orson, then known as Devon. So I suspect there won’t be any hints as to the fate the awaits the dog a few years later.
But I also suspect that the movie “A Dog Year” won’t be in theaters anytime soon. The movie was supposed to released this past January. That didn’t happen and, as far as I can determine, no new release date has been set and no trailers are available. Meanwhile, the trailer for “Marley and Me” is getting lots of hits on YouTube, and is readily available at the marleyandmemovie.com website, even though the movie’s not due out until Christmas.
Comment by Susan — July 23, 2008 @ 6:26 am
Though I absolutely agree with you regarding Jon Katz and find him to be fairly irritating with the smug, holier than thou attitude that comes through in his writing…
I do find it a little disingenuous of you to tar and feather him for putting down his dog due to aggression as there are many articles in the pet connection library advocating euthanasia for aggressive dogs — some of them more dismaying to me than the book in question.
Though I can’t say I’ve read all of them, management of the dog and behavior was not an option offered in the articles I read.
Comment by Sheyna — July 23, 2008 @ 7:29 am
There is a similar thread over on Doolittler. I said it there, and I’ll say it here, if one more SUV driving, McMansion owning friend or relative (particularly the relatives) give me crap about what I spend on my pets I may have to hijack a CTA bus (I don’t own a car) and run them over with it.
Its my frigging money, earned through my hard work. If I want to spend it on a fancy car, expensive clothes, trips around the world, fishing equipment, gambling in Las Vegas, or on my cats its nobody’s business but mine. I have no other dependents and owe not a dime to anyone and am accountable only to ME!
I donate 6% of my GROSS income to a variety of charities that address both human and animal needs.
And I unapologetically consider my cats to be my “children.” So sue me.
Comment by 2CatMom — July 23, 2008 @ 7:30 am
My dogs are my family. If I have taken a dog in then it is my responsibility to do everything possible to assure his/her safety and well-being. That means doing the best I can for medical care also. One of my dogs is currently at VMTH undergoing tests to determine the cause and prognosis of kidney failure. What that outcome will be right now, I do not know. But I feel in all conscience I owe something back to a dog who has given so much over the past 10 years.
There is nothing that infuriates me more than someone saying they can not afford to do anything. They object to any veterinary costs. I certainly know that circumstances sometimes can be difficult financially. However it seems that those who are outraged the most at the costs of veterinary care are those who can afford it, IF they wanted to. Unfortunately, the dog (or cat) are not considered a priority. They are after all “just a dog”…..
Comment by Terry — July 23, 2008 @ 8:05 am
I called Christie last night and ranted about this more. Poor girl was trying to pack!
My pets are my family, too. But I understand well that my pets are dogs and cats, not humans in furry coats. (In fact, I love them for being dogs and cats!)
I HATE the term “pet parents” because in my experience it’s often used by people who want to sell me something. But, I have no problem with people using it in reference to themselves and their relationship to their animals, because I know that like “pet” itself, “pet parent” is a term of endearment, and the use of it does not mean the person literally thinks she gave birth to a kitten.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 23, 2008 @ 8:20 am
There are members of my family that ask me the same thing: “why did you spend over $3000 on hip surgery for your dog?”. I have to admit to feeling a bit of guilt when first asked but then I thought, “well, heck. He’s only 15 months old. He has a long life and this surgery stands a very good chance of making that life a pain free one, plus, I work for a living. It is my money”.
However, I have to say there are some veterinary interventions that I would think twice about. Early this year, we removed what we at first thought was a neural sheath tumor on my senior citizen, Andy (spaniel/rott mix). The vet told me that if it was a neural sheath tumor, he would be talking with me about chemotherapy since this type of tumor is very aggressive. Fortunately, the “lump” was benign. But, I have been an oncology nurse. I know and understand chemotherapy and radiation. I would not put my 10 year old dog thru it, but only because my preference would be to make him as comfortable as possible and make his finals years as happy as possible and not interfere with that by throwing something at him that is going to cause him to be even sicker and have no guarentees for a pain-free long life.
Now, if my 5 year old german shepherd girl, or my 5 year old pointer needed chemo, that would be a much harder decision because these dogs have many more years of life and a few months of being sick from the chemo and such is just a small blip in the road.
I agree. The decision is mine, and I should not be chastised for making it. During Hurricane Katrina, my donation dollars went to the groups that were rescuing animals. When someone asked me why those groups rather than the human oriented non-profits, I simply said “because the groups helping people are being overwhelmed with help. The animals have no one, so I will put my money where it is needed most”.
Comment by Katrina — July 23, 2008 @ 8:53 am
Gina: Of course I didn’t give birth to my cats - they’re adopted! (Sorry, just couldn’t resist).
Comment by 2CatMom — July 23, 2008 @ 8:59 am
“I do find it a little disingenuous of you to tar and feather him for putting down his dog due to aggression as there are many articles in the pet connection library advocating euthanasia for aggressive dogs — some of them more dismaying to me than the book in question.”
Comment by Sheyna — July 23, 2008 @ 7:29 am
I didn’t tar and feather him for putting down his dog. It may well have been that was, in the end, the only option he had. But of course, all we have are his words making the case for that.
I tarred and feathered him for repeatedly making the point that anyone who spends much money on a pet is clearly the kind of person who believes her dogs are her children and who has the inability to make good decisions regarding the animals in her care because of a psychological problem with understanding that a dog is not a person in a fur coat.
In other words, that anyone who makes decisions different from his own is a nutcase.
As for your larger point …
Yes, I believe and have written that euthanasia may be the only responsible choice for a dog who has bitten or is likely to bite a person (prey aggression or dog-dog aggression is another matter entirely). But I also advocate a complete physical work-up by a good veterinarian to rule out potential physical issues and a referral to a veterinary behaviorist or trainer with experience in canine aggression for evaluation and advice before euthanasia is even considered.
That said, I believe relatively few people are able to “manage” a dog who has bitten someone (really bitten because the dog meant to bite and did, not a nip or a tooth catching in play, or a bite wound as a result of breaking up a fight, etc.). I do know more than a few people with high-level dog skills,time and dedication who have and do manage such dogs, and even a few with an even higher level of training skills and committment who have managed over time to recondition such animals.
But that’s not something that most people can do. In those cases with a dog who theoretically could be reconditioned but is in a home where that’s not possible — or one with children who will be put at high risk — well, there aren’t many options.
You can:
1) Keep the dog, try to avoid problems, hope for the best, and euthanize AFTER the animal bites again;
2) Lie about the animal and rehome him (you have to lie, because no one will take a dangerous dog as a pet), setting up a likely attack on someone else, statistically likely to be a child, after which the dog will be euthanized;
3) Euthanize.
As I’ve written before, I’ve had the unfortunate experience of knowing a child whose face was torn off by her family’s dog. Over the years, that child endured many surgeries and turned from an outgoing little girl to a shy, sad child who cried when forced to play with children she didn’t know because she knew they would taunt her for her scars.
I’m sorry, but I would never take a chance of being responsible for a person’s life to be ruined as this child’s was. Nor can I in good conscience suggest to readers that they take such a course of action.
***
And by the way … although the turn Katz has taken lately is beyond comprehension to me, considering he’s a smart fellow and a fabulous writer who surely has been around lots of really incredible dog-owners/trainers, etc., I do think he has turned out some fabulous, thought-provoking work. Most notably: This piece from Slate, one of my all-time favorite pieces of writing on dogs ever.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 23, 2008 @ 9:45 am
Well, I just spent $50.00 for Thistle this morning at PetSmart.
I wanted another cat but Thistle has been there a year because she was a black cat. She is sweet, though.
I wonder what Jon Katz would say about me wasting my money. Hahaha.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — July 23, 2008 @ 9:47 am
Thank you for the clarification Gina, what a thoughtful reply. I think Katz came to the same conclusion in the book.
Perhaps the amount of time and money someone would spend to rehab and protect a potentially untrustworthy dog is similar to spending thousands on medical treatments.
Not a perfect analogy because there is the threat to other people and animals in that case which makes a much more persuasive argument against it…
Comment by Sheyna — July 23, 2008 @ 10:32 am
I had found comfort in the waiting room of my dog’s oncologist as I found myself not having to explain to anybody why we were going to treat a 16 month old puppy with chemo and radiation..after surgeries..I found myself having to “justify” what my husband and I chose to do..we were not in the greatest financial situation then but we thought we would rather give “Harry” a chance at a longer life with us than say.. take a vacation for the next few years…we figured any vacation memory would never be so special as a Harry memory..so his treatment doubled his short life but even with losing him I have gotten a thicker skin when the topic comes up—-of course my blogs I visit and post all understand..it is like being back in that oncologist’s waiting room…no need to explain anything!
Comment by Carol V — July 23, 2008 @ 10:36 am
I can state, unequivocally and without hesitation or embarrassment, that I care much more about my pets than I do about Jon Katz or his opinions. In fact, now I consider the matter, I believe I care more about the plants in my garden, and even, dare I say it, the earthworms and birds and the spiders under the eaves.
Mainstream media trots out these stories every few months it seems, likely because we always respond to them and never mind how. But what never ceases to amaze me is how readily they find folks willing to appropriate the mantle of moral authority and then bloviate at length about it.
Comment by Eucritta — July 23, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
Carol V: I know just how you felt in that waiting room. When all of us show up for our Mon-Weds-Fri radiation schedule (for my Sophie’s brainstem tumor) it feels like a support group in progress.
No one’s breathing down your neck about why you’ve chosen $6,000 of radiation after wafting in with $300 sunglasses and a $400 dye job.
Comment by Dr Patty Khuly — July 23, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
Congrats on the new addition Colorado Transplant! My next kitty will prob be a black one. I have 2 B&Ws and one all white, so I might as well complete the picture, eh? ;)
Comment by straybaby — July 23, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
Yeh, way to go, straybaby. I might call her Ebony and BonBon for a nickname. Dunno yet. Black is in!
Thanks for the congrats.
Having trouble with the older cat being very mad at me, for he is giving me dirty looks, like I betrayed him.
I needed another cat to love, I tell him. He tells me (by his expression) you got ME.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — July 23, 2008 @ 6:20 pm
I just stumbled onto this site and saw the thread. I got to say very single penny I spent on my cat’s chemo was worth it. He just passed the 2 year mark after threatment for Lymphoma. I would reccommend the University of Wisconin Madison protocal to anyone that loves their pet as much as I do. He is one of the very lucky ones. The quality of life while on the treatment was wonderful.
I don’t know how much I have spent. He’ll probably get the house too if he outlasts me.
Comment by Mary Stevens — July 30, 2008 @ 4:00 pm