Would you get a dog if you could not always pay your bills?

Thank you Jugs for the BR. I believe she shouldn't have gotten a dog. I hope and pray she takes good care of this dog.

I hope she will.

I hope she does take care of that dog too. I hate to hear of an animal needing help. It hurts my soul to see animals do without what they need.

Believe me they have beeb contacted several times as she has others living there withthem for free, even the landlord has contacted housing as to the amount of people living there and that they have nothing in their lease that states they can have a dog and I know this as I work for the landlord doing the cleaning and repair of his apartments, as of yet nothing has been said to them, makes you wonder if housing even cares as long as they get the funding from the government. Yes it is fraud and yes something should be done, but do you have any idea how many are doing this type of thing. Guess it is like food stamps when you know they are defrauding them also and they don't even come to check. Or child endangerment programs that you call when you see the people 2 year old out in the street and the parent no where around, or you know that they left and left it playing with the other kids, no one ever comes out. So after awhile you just give up cause seems you the only one that cares.

I learned a lot about many of the county run "governmental" agencies and who they hire to work for them. It seems like there is a lot of indifference on many of their parts because of the amount of "work" involved in an investigation and the paperwork involved in pursuing people abusing the system. While they use the excuse of being over worked it is a matter of the organization of the departments. If I ran my business the way that many of the governmental agencies run their offices I would be out of business in a week! I too, have turned in system abusers. I have been successful previously in having charges and funds taken away from abusers. One instance it was a pair of people that had just made a month long trip to New Zealand, owned a thriving business, owned a Cadillac and spent money like it was going out of style. They were going to food give aways for turkey distributions. I happened to overhear one of their conversations and that they felt it was soooo funny that they got their Christmas and Thanksgiving food for free...needless to say I was a bit upset that they were so willing to take food out of the people's mouths that couldn't really afford to pay for that kind of food...I turned them in and all HE11 broke loose. I'm not afraid to take the hard road, and will do it every time. I just hope there is a way to sink these people starting with that they need to come up with the money to support the dog themselves. I just wonder if they bought the dog or stole it... Plus if it is a female you can be sure they will breed it like crazy to sell the puppies at an exorbitant price! You're not doing anything wrong, unless you feel that being honest is doing something wrong. You have a heart and a conscious; rather than getting an animal that you can't afford, you have made the tough decision and have opted not to put the animal through the hardships of an owner not being able to support them. I am forever thankful that I can afford mine. My Willy cat is laying at my side with his head on the computer, happily sleeping with a healthy coat, full belly and his shots and having been neutered.

[b]HUD? You should contact them, as that's fraud, & it's our tax money they're using! They have no right to the money if they're doing this! Maggiepie "GLOBALLY ACCEPTABLE 'TRUTH'" IS UNAMERICAN![/b]

Now that would be sad!

[b]Maybe, but the dog will need a vet, if for no other reason than to get a license. And it might also need special food, too. We don't know, nor does she, until after the dog is settled in, really. And what if she & the dog bond, & then she gets kicked out? What then? I'd hate to see the poor dog have to get kicked to the curb, or at best, back to the shelter! Maggiepie "GLOBALLY ACCEPTABLE 'TRUTH'" IS UNAMERICAN![/b]

[b]I must disagree. Just as we are "our brother's keepers," we're also charged with taking care of dependent, helpless creatures. That dog is everyone's business. She may be lonely, but that's no excuse for acting irresponsibly! I think you have a point about the proper time to address this to her, though. Given her history, it won't be long before she realizes she's made an error, & will ask for money again. That would be an excellent opening. And as for discussing things "behind her back," how easy has she made it to discuss things directly? You can see her friends must be pretty frustrated with her! I'm sure they're trying to figure out how to deal with this before they approach her again. I don't see this as mean or evil, but as trying to find the best solution to a bad problem--for both her and the poor animal. Maggiepie "GLOBALLY ACCEPTABLE 'TRUTH'" IS UNAMERICAN![/b]

I would have not been so critical if the topic had explained that the situation had been discussed with the person and what her reason was before her friends took it upon themselves to disapprove of her actions. BTW Maggies I do not understand why you felt the need TO SHOUT AT ME by commenting in BOLD script I find that to be rather insulting. I would still have read your comment.

I forgot to add that I have two of my own dogs and four cats. Each month the first thing I do is to buy their food. I budget for them and myself. I make sure all my bills are paid and I have money to make it through the month. If I borrow, the money is paid back as soon as possible. But, I wouldn't dream of adopting another animal right now. The dog I am taking care of eats three times as much dog food as my little Dachshunds...so I go through a forty pound bag of dog food a month where if I was just feeding my little guys a bag would last me about two to three months. But the main thing is that even with my friends dog, I still can afford to pay my bills and have the dogs. I just wish that she would chip in towards the dog food!

Actually the dog is living with me, and has been for the past year. As for the other dog, I don't think I want to even try to take it as she is shy and a biter...I am rather partial to my appendages! I have accepted that their first dog, "Abby" is now my dog. It took a bit of training to break some of her bad habits (like stealing food off the counter, running off and not coming when she was called, and heeling on the leash- she would about pull my arms out of their sockets when we would walk) but all in all she is turning out to be a great dog. Plus she hated cats when she moved in with me and now she and the cats have a wonderful time playing together. I feel much safer with her here, as the only man she allows in the house is my BF. The rest of the men around here are rather frightened of her. So, she has a new home, and not to be conceited, but I feel it is a great home with me. I live in the country by a lake and she is in seventh heaven. But I am financially able to afford to feed her, my mini Dachshunds, my four inside cats and my four feral cats. Besides it is totally worth the money for the joy and love that I receive in return. But, if I didn't have the money, I wouldn't have all the critters I've got right now.

[b]Yes. Any pet I've ever had got food before I did! It's bad when people don't think ahead. Maybe you could steal the dog & find it a good home? I mean, since you're already paying to feed it anyway, it won't cost you any more, & it would put a stop to it! 'Til they find another one, anyway. But one problem at a time! Maggiepie "GLOBALLY ACCEPTABLE 'TRUTH'" IS UNAMERICAN![/b]

I think they call it being responsible. Hehehe Happy Holidays!

I have dogs as well as cats and yes the food for pets are expensive and if there ever came a time that i could not afford to feed one or any of them i would go without myself,plus cut back on a few things that i did not need just to feed the pets.If i had bills and could not afford to pay the bills i already had then i would not get a pet as i would know that that would be another bill and so i would not get it.

I have 3 dogs as well as 6 cats and that is with out any other pets,but thankfully i can afford to feed all of mine,i know it is not a cheap pet to have having a dog as well as the vets bills are expensive as well.If i could never afford to have pets then i would never have got any.

[b]Same here, Tamara. The poor dog--already has lost one home, at least!--deserves to have a stable home, not be yanked from pillar to post, unable to understand why it's not allowed to stay, or be truly loved for itself. You're right. Selfish. Maggiepie "GLOBALLY ACCEPTABLE 'TRUTH'" IS UNAMERICAN![/b]

I think you are right as well as i think it is very irrisponsible to take on any extra bills no matter what knowing that you can not afford all the other bills that you have to begin with.

She has never had her prioritys right and i do not think that she ever will have either.Now she has given herself more bills to pay by getting a dog and it is not bcheap to feed let alone like you say all those vet bills as well.

[b]Now that is the best advice here. Good for you for thinking of the obvious solution, which all the rest of us, myself included, didn't think of! Maggiepie "GLOBALLY ACCEPTABLE 'TRUTH'" IS UNAMERICAN![/b]

I think that she should have sorted out all of her finances then once she was up to date or mybe in advance with a few of the main bills then she should have worked out if she could then afford a pet as well as a vets bill if there was ever a time she got a vet bill.

[b]Maybe, but that would still be bad for the dog. Any animal that loses homes repeatedly eventually feels so rejected it's just pitiful. If I lived near her, I'd take the dog & find it a good home, where it would be kept for the rest of its life. Maggiepie "GLOBALLY ACCEPTABLE 'TRUTH'" IS UNAMERICAN![/b]

That is my point i have 6 cats some are rescue cats as well as i have 3 dogs and one of those i rescued and if i could not afford to feed them then i would not have got them.My friend has always lived in debt for as long as i have known her,so i think it is a way of life to her.