Poor People Should Not Have Pets?

[Addicted to Tequila]

I think that I can say I know where she is coming from. It may very well depend on more info about the dogs.

Let me explain.

When I was 19, I had a chow/collie named Raja. That dog was my life. Many places do not rent with pets. Most have a 1 pet only rule. Almost all have a ridiculous "weight" restriction. In order to keep my dog, I was paying twice what any other apartment would have been in the area, but this place allowed big dogs. Plus I had to pay an extra "pet fee" each month. Plus, on moving in... I had to pay double the normal deposit, of which a portion was non-refundable.

I am not sure that she cannot afford the dogs... it seems more a fact that she cannot find/afford a rental place that will take them.

There would be a difference.

[Halo]

I have run into the situation as well where I had to pay more to be allowed to keep my pets when living in an apartment. And it seems even harder to find a place that allows pets anymore (at least it is around here).

[gottaluvmacaw]

I have a few opinions, first of all, most people who are getting rid of their pets, say it's because they're 'moving', or 'just had a baby', or 'don't have time', so good for this lady to keep her pets, even through this tough time, if she is in a hotel, it wont be forever, if she did get 'rid of them' then one day after she had found a place, she would be totally crushed over the loss of her pet, I personally, wouldn't even tell the landlord I had a dog if i was looking for a place so desperately...
and secondly, smoking is hard enough to quit, with all the stress this lady is going through, she probably needs a good cigarette...
if she doesn't have kids, then these dogs ARE kids to her, would you 'get rid' of your kids, just because you hit a hard time??
I'm glad most people here have about the same opinions as I do :-)
poor lady.
P.S.
Why is something so personal in the paper?? as if she wasn't suffering enough, it had to be public??

[loyallyroyal]

gottaluvmacaw I dont know the laws in canada but you can get in BIG trouble in the States for lying about keeping pets.

Personally, if it came down to feeding and housing your kids or pets or buying a pack of cigarettes which would it be, essentials first, luxury later.

[alwaysontimneh]

Finding a place that allows pets is so hard! I have a boxer and so finding him a place that allowed him was very difficult in fact he is over the weight limit at my apt but they decided to let us keep him since he is such a sweet heart and they said me and hubby are as well. When we got him we had a yard and were living in base housing in Washington but got orders to San Diego where base housing for pets is more then a year wait and hubby never liked the housing any ways. I paid a huge deposit and pay a monthly rent of $30 that covers two pets I am lucky some apts charge $50 for one pet so its another $50 for pets after the one. When we move again I have no idea what will happen and how long it will take to find a place or get into base housing but I can afford my pets its just hard to find housing.

[KimM]

Do apartment complexes charge deposits for kids? Kids can be just as messy and destructive, sometimes more, than pets are.

[Addicted to Tequila]

I have made that argument SO many times Kim! LOL

And me and my kid having one of our blowouts (we are both screamers when really upset) are louder than ANY barking dog or parrot! Luckily this is far and few. It did not used to be so bad... but she stomps upstairs to her bedroom in the back and we still both continue trying to be heard. LOL

[Eliza]

Originally Posted by Addicted to Tequila

I am not sure that she cannot afford the dogs... it seems more a fact that she cannot find/afford a rental place that will take them.

There would be a difference.

Exactly. There are places that WILL rent to pet owners, whether they have one pet or more. They often cost more and landlords/rental agents have every right to ask for extra security deposits and/or monthly fees. I might be inclined to say that children should have a damage deposit, too ;) J/K...

Pets and cigarettes are BOTH luxuries. Neither are necessities. I'd like to think that the woman in question had taken on the responsibilities of the two dogs before things went south, financially speaking, but how are we to know if that is indeed the case?

It's foolish for her to continue smoking, not only for health reasons but financial ones. The occasional smoker doesn't complain about a near - $7/pack of smokes. It's the pack a day or more smoker that does.

The woman in questions might deserve sympathy but those dogs need home that can provide them with proper care. I don't know if their owner can do that at this time. I certainly don't wish her ill will; I just hope that by the OP sharing this story people will take an uncertain future into consideration when deciding to take on the responsibility of a pet, whether it's your first or 15th.

This goes beyond the poor not being able to have pets/ nice things. There are different levels of poverty: you have those who cannot get ahead, despite all efforts on their part. And there are those that cry poor when they spend every cent they earn or are given with no respect for saving for the future.

The fact of the matter is, pets, iPods, designer clothes and trips to Disney are nice but they are not necessary to survival. It's time that North America gets over this "Keeping Up With the Joneses" and "But I Deserve" mentality.

-e-

[loyallyroyal]

The fact of the matter is, pets, iPods, designer clothes and trips to Disney are nice but they are not necessary to survival. It's time that North America gets over this "Keeping Up With the Joneses" and "But I Deserve" mentality.

See, thats what I was saying!

[Addicted to Tequila]

Not sure I agree with that wholeheartedly.... what about therapy animals?