Getting Along Tired of Excuses

[BabyGrl]

On the other side, many people I talk to here are devoid of any kind of fiscal 'common sense'. People -- friends, work associates, etc. come to me and say things like "I have $1000.00 in the bank, what should I spend it on. New computer? PSP? mp3 player? Digital Camera? Upgrades for my car?" Saving the money or investing it never even enters their mind, and when I try to explain that, it just goes in one ear and out the other.

That why so many people are in debt right now. There are too many people that want to live in the now and not prepare for later. Instead of saving money and buying something they put it on credit because they have to have it now. Unfortunatly I learned the hard way. Now that my hubby and I have wised up we have not owned credit cards for about 4 years now. We have a debit card that we only use if neccesary and we pay cash for everything. We are still working on paying off things that we bought years ago and probably don't even use. Unfortunatly until my debts are paid (mostly now to my parents) I don't get to have that $1000 in the bank. And until I have that and more I will not be getting any ridiculously expensive new things any time soon. As bad as I want that new living room set I am not willing to spend the next 5 years to pay it off with interest. I would just rather wait until I have saved enough to pay cash for it. It will make me appreciate it more knowing that I worked X amount of time for it instead of the 5 seconds it takes swiping a card. Plus I don't have to pay the interest for it.

As for investing I think alot of poeple are going to have a rude awakening once they near retirement age. If you haven't been saving chances are you are not going to be able to continue living a champange life on a beer budget (sorry my dad's favorite saying). It is going to be alot harder to change your ways when you have been living that way for so long. My husband contibutes the max to his 401K and I will do the same once I have a new job. I also have other things I want to invest in. Bonds are great too. In fact my parents paid both my brother's and my college tuition using bonds. That's $20,000 that I did not have to take out in student loans. I want to be able to provide the same for my kids. My parents are probably two of the wealthiest people I know and they have pretty modest jobs. With the amount of saving and investing they did over the years they are going to be able to retire comfortably and my brother and I are not going to have to do too much worrying about them. I want to be able to say the same for my children.

Okay sorry I am off my soapbox now.

 

[cavypaulita]

Hi..

I feel so helpless when I read about a guinea pig/animal that needs to be taken to the vet and isn't.

I understand that sometimes there are finantial problems. Sometimes I can hardly pay the rent and I'm very tight finantially. But if one of my piggies needed to go to a vet I would take him, no matter what. If I didn't have the money I would ask the vet to wait for me, I would ask friends, people to lend me some money, I would find the way. I would make a sacrifice myself so as to take them to the vet.
I understand being in a difficult finantial situation, I am, but I Would never put my piggies' lives at risk.

There's always someone willing to help...

And I agree, situations can change, but these little animals are our responsibility, they depend on us for their care, if we have pets we know that we have to take them to the vet if they are sick, not just hope that they'll be fine...
I know situations can truly change..but I still think that there is help available...

I've got into debts to have surgery done on my kitties, sometimes I can't buy things I need, but my piggies and pets always have what they need. I couldn't live with myself if I just waited while my piggy or pet is at risk.
I would beg the vet if needed to please treat him until I can pay him.

I think there's always a way....
I truly feel helpless sometimes to read about a piggy that needs urgent treatment and isn't getting it...

pauli

 

[WEAVER]

We all have experienced hard times at one time or another (or most of us), I do understand that, is what I do not understand is someone watching their animal suffer needlessly and sit on the forum and expect others to feel sorry for them. I am sorry, I do not feel sorry for you if you are not bringing your animal to the vet, I feel sorry for your guinea pig. Sorry that you are his owner, sorry that you are not finding a way to resolve whatever his situation maybe, sorry you are not even making an effort. That is my point. There is NO EXCUSE for animal abuse and that is what that is.

 

[Inrun]

Not everyone can just rush off their seat though to take a Guinea to the vet. Sometimes people post so that they can make their guinea comfortable or do something until the time is at the point where they can go do something about it. If you're trying to make the guinea comfortable in the mean time, then I see no problem with people posting. Often many people say that they're going to take the pig to the vet. Not everyone can just rush off and go do that.
I for example, am in University. There is no way in heck that I would be allowed to miss an exam and say that "It was a guinea pig emergency" I'd fail that exam and seriously damage my chances in that course. No matter how legitimate, the answer to me would be "You should have come to the exam, and then taken your pet to the vet". (Note: I would probably fail anyways because all i'd be doing during the exam would be thinking about my guinea).
Is that my choice? No. And it would be a tough choice to make and horribly unfair to me. I'm sure a few of my professors would be understanding, but a few others would probably scoff and simply say "Guinea pigs? Thats not a viable excuse." And so be it.
Other people have to wait for transportation. Buses just don't come running by every 15 minutes where I live. I'm lucky if I can catch a bus out of my area every hour, and sometimes due to snow or weather they may be late, or may be early. I myself do not carry cash with me, so i'd be a bit hard pressed to pay for a cab off the bat and would be forced to bolt for the nearest gas station to go find an ATM BEFORE I could pay for a cab. (Luckily I have a car, so this isn't really a problem in my case, but it is in others).

I understand where you're coming from WEAVER, but not everyone lives in the same circumstances. Every case is different, and I don't feel it right to judge everyone the same way. Unfortunately people can often just hit a string of bad luck (I just got out of one), and that can be excessivly hard to deal with. You can't plan for everything.

 

[JennG]

I understand about having to wait as well. I had to wait until the next morning to get Angel to the vet. I couldn't find an emergency vet, my kids were asleep and hubby was not home. I had to wait but I made sure I got her there as soon as I could. I posted to get help to try and figure out what was going on, for support and to try and make her comfortable.

I guess I do agree with Weaver that you shouldn't post if you're not going to even attempt to take your piggie to the vet but then I also agree with Inrun that sometimes you can't just drop and go. Unfortunately, this happens.

 

[Access]

Actually I use that excuse all the time for work, the key is never to refer to them as guinea pigs just say 'my boy'/'my girl' or 'my baby' or such. This is common-rhetorical english, it's not like you are lying. Just watch your language and the exact words you use. Most people will just let it go at that and not question you any further. Or if your pig has a human name you can use the name ie. 'my Charlie was sick so I had to stay home and take care of him' will do the job in most social situations.

 

[Inrun]

Actually I use that excuse all the time for work, the key is never to refer to them as guinea pigs just say 'my boy'/'my girl' or 'my baby' or such. This is common-rhetorical english, it's not like you are lying. Just watch your language and the exact words you use. Most people will just let it go at that and not question you any further. Or if your pig has a human name you can use the name ie. 'my Charlie was sick so I had to stay home and take care of him' will do the job in most social situations.

Thats also lying and should your job find out you could lose it or get in an incredible amount of trouble. My job is also aware of the fact that I don't have children (as benefits are included for those who do have children), so....
Generally I like to be as honest as I can when it comes to work. And it is lying. You're leading them on by letting them believe you've got children.

 

[Cavyslavesteph]

Going on this theme of being able to afford vet care, I was wondering if anyone has personally tried pet health insurance? Our three girls have each had a check-up by our cavy vet (he checked them all for $31.00) and they are healthy, but I'm worried about emergencies. I found a company that will insure my three girls for $9 each a month plus an annual discount of $12.60 for multiple pets. It includes medicines, lab work, x-rays, surgeries, and I believe one annual check-up exam per pet. They cover 90% of the costs, but it is a re-imbursment policy, which means we pay for it up front, and they mail us a check re-imbursing us the costs. My boyfriend and I are trying to decide if it is worth the $27/month to have our girls covered, or if we should just go with out it and pay out of pocket for anything that comes up? I was hoping if someone has personally tried this, they could tell us if it is worth it, or if you are just better off for the money to pay for expenses out of pocket?

 

[WEAVER]

Jenn---I know you did what you could for Angel. I am not saying you have to rush out the moment something happens, I am talking about the ones who have a sick pig and don't do nothing about it. I am talking about the ones who come on to the forum and come right out and say they are not going to the vets and mention all the excuses. That is what I think is heartless and ignorant!!!!

 

[Percy's Mom]

My boyfriend and I are trying to decide if it is worth the $27/month to have our girls covered

I would just put the $27/month in savings instead. From the vets I've spoken to for my animals, many don't accept pet insurance, and if you have to pay out of pocket up front and wait for a reimbursement, you could be waiting weeks or months to get your money back if you get it at all.

 

[GuineaTV]

I love VPI pet insurance for my pigs mainly because of the peace of mind it gives me. My Fozzie has a humungous tumor in her intestines, and when talking with the vet about options I was able to make a decision based on what I thought was best for my baby and not on whether I could afford it. I've decided to let her live the rest of her life naturally and spoiled rather than risk this huge surgery that probably wouldn't even help the little thing. She's still doing wonderfully and I think I made the right decision. When the time comes that she stops eating or is in pain, VPI will reimburse for euthanasia. I've gotten back more than the amount I paid for insurance every year so far due to my pigs' misadventures, including Fozzie's X-rays.

 

[pink_cottonball]

I agree with all of this, the other thing that I don't get is when zillions of members(maybe and exageration lol) come ont he forum stay for awhile then start posting about "lovely petstores". And isn't just one there is a whole neverending parade!
I'm not pointing fingers nor am I trying to start an argument!

 

[PiggieMamaKelly]

I generally agree with all of you. I have spent a good deal of money at the vet's office and have made emergency visits when I noticed something wrong, etc. But do you all consider that there is a line that might have to be drawn at some point? For example, I would pay hundreds of dollars for my sick pigs, but if the vet told me one needed a two thousand dollar surgery, I would have to put that pig to sleep. I simply could not afford that. Do you consider that someone in my position should not have pets because I have a limit? And do you all have a limit at which you would have to say you couldn't do it?

 

[WEAVER]

My personnal belief on that topic Piggie Momma is this:
If your animal's (not just a guinea pig) quality of life is never going to get better and that is animal is suffering I personally think it should be put to sleep. If for whatever reason the vet can make your pet well again and your animal can continue with life the way they know it and are going to continue being well and happy than we should not have the right to deny that from them. I do not look at life with a price tag, I personnally would do whatever I could to not have to take my pet's life, although I would never try to procratinate the death of a animal in pain for my benefit. I have and would again make payments, get a second job, cut back on other things whatever it took to save ANY life if at all, even a guinea pig. A life is a life in my eyes.

I know everyone does not feel the same way as I do, but you asked, and I just wanted to voice my thoughts and feelings on the topic. I will have to say, I personally have only had to make the hard decision to put an animal to sleep one time. I went into debt very badly to try and save his life while my vet did everything to try and regulate his insulin when he got diabetes. I would do it all over again and even to this day sometimes wonder if I made the right choice. Taking a life for me, even when he was so ill and beginning to suffer was one of the hardest choices I have ever had to deal with.
I now look out my kitchen window to the spot his body now lays and my heart breaks. Even though he was so sick, I would have spent all my savings and done anything to make him better and continue his life and I feel that way even after he has been gone for over six years.

 

[pink_cottonball]

I majoritly agree with WEAVER. However, if you would be risking your life(spending more money than you reallly "have") Then I would have to say, try to find another owner for your pig who has the money to pay for the vet, see if you can get friends and family to donate money towards the vet fund,even rescues might have a little to share, or if worse comes to worse you may have to ptu the pig down. I suppose you could always try to reason with the vet as well. Hopefully none of us are ever faced with a situation like this!

 

[WEAVER]

Sitting here and really thinking about what Piggie Mama asked I would like to add this:
You would not be a bad mom for having to make a decision if the surgery was going to be a ungodly amount of money. I think that if a surgery does begin to get into the thousands for a animal small like a guinea pig, the surgery is very severe and your pet would be very ill. That would again go back into the quality of life and their personal well-being. I do not think any of us can sit and put a dollar amount down for "what is too much" but that would have to be an individual decision. With that being said, I do think that if you have a pet and it becomes ill and you are not willing to spend "money on it (talking about over $250. or so, just to use a number) to make the pet well again, than maybe that person's budget does not allow for the expense of a animal. Make sense?
I do believe that if you visit the vets office regularly for your animals and your vet knows you and your pet, most will try and work with you. When I ran into this financial burden, he took off office visits for everytime I walked in the door, some overnight stay charges, that kind of thing. Being a vet, you have to have a love for animals and most good vets will be willing to work with you and help you save your pet's life. I made payments to my vet for a little over a year even after my cat passed away. Sometimes that is just part of being a pet owner, at least a good one.

 

[suzilovespiggie]

I get hassled all the time over my animals. I get told "You have to come first. They are just animals, just a rat, just a cat etc." My animals come first. I make sure they have food. How do you tell an animal that counts on you for their food and well being, I can't feed you today because I don't have it? When I get paid, all of their needs are in my budget. Their supplies come out first. If I am short then I don't eat as well or I cut back somewhere. I have credit cards that are used just for animal emergencies.I am lucky that I have a vet that will let me make payments, if need be or they work something out. I believe like Weaver, I try to do all that I can unless there is no qualitly of life or no chance of survival. That goes for all of my animals, even a rat. (My daughter had to put her rat down just last week,after numerous vet bills to try and save him).I am paying off vet bills. I live alone on a limited budget. My animals are my children. I too get upset at those who won't take an animal to the vet for the care they need. I feel for the chlidren on this forum that love their pets and their parents won't take the animal to the vet. It goes that if you own a pet you must be prepared to care for it if it gets sick. IF you can't or won't don't get the pet. You must also know your limit and give the best care you can. I have a friend you wants me to take another boar. He's gorgous but I am at my limit. Not just with GP's (I have 6) but all of my animals.

 

[DaCourt]

There is nothing wrong with coming her, or GL or the Pigloo, and asking medical advice. Someone who is new to piggies, may not recognize the signs of a serious illness. What bothers me, is when someone comes here, asks what they think is a simple medical question, and are told that it is possibly something serious, and then get upset when we can't give them better help. Or, we give them the answer...this is probably what it is and this is what you need to do (go to a vet), and they don't like the answer and they start to argue. It's one thing to not know any better, but once you have been educated, take that info, and learn...go to a vet.

 

[WEAVER]

DaCourt--That is EXACTLY why I started this thread. We have started several different topics on this topic, but my initial complaint in my first post is just what you discribed. I hate people coming onto the forum KNOWING they need a vet and yet make excuses or agrue why they are not going to go. So now, not only is their animal's life in jeopardy, but we are now worried more about it than they are and yet there is nothing we can do to help the animal. That is my biggest complaint on this forum ----It really boils down too---don't want to go to the vet, don't get a pet, any pet. Get the pet, begin saving for the vet. Last but not least, even if your animal was for FREE, know overall good care is going to be expensive, no animal really is "FREE". Don't let a animal suffer because you can not plan accordingly----make a plan now, know what you would do before you need to do it. Last but not least, once you have the knowledge your animal is in fact sick, know you are NOT a vet and take it to someone who is.

 

[LovesCavies]

DaCourt is right, but I have only one question : If all the people who can't afford a vet bill but can still provide a good and loving home had decided not to get them there would be alot more Guinea Pigs in shelters. I am not arguing with anyone. I just feel there are alot of familys that take care of there pets but cannot afford to take it to a vet .