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I am going to assume you are talking about dogs and cats here. If you are speaking of small, pocket
pets or fish, that price is through the roof and no one would ever purchase a hamster with an
average lifespan of 1-3 years for $100. Our local shelter places even mutts at $150. It goes up
depending on age, breed, etc. The reasoning is that when one pays for a dog, they are more likely
to take all of the pet's needs into consideration before making a spur of the moment decision on a
"free to good home" pet. I find, however, that even in the case of pure breed animals, people buy a
pet when it suits them and when it doesn't suit, they either try to make their money back by placing
an ad in the paper and reselling the pet or they turn it into the shelter. Some people turn to
rescues, but the rescues are generally full and there is a waiting period. I do rescue work and I
do not let the animals I devote my time, energy, love and money to go to people who want a free pet.
I do not set a price because I do vet checks, follow ups, occasional home visits and match an
animal up to the owner. I have a pure bred female rottie at the moment. I won't let her go to the
first person that likes her. If they are experienced with a dog that has some of her issues, can
show me that they can control her, have a good vet history and are going to keep her as an inside
dog, price will depend on how much I have had to invest in vet bills, food and supplies while she is
in my care. Not the total amount. I do not look to turn a profit or even to be reimbursed 100%.
I do need to make some back so the next animal that comes along can be treated if necessary. As for
pure breeds, the cost to breed a dog is up there for certain breeds. There is a risk to the mother
dog. Some breeders have lost the female and the whole litter before starting over again. To breed
an animal, one has to be selective and choose animals that are free from genetic disease. The
mother needs vet care, occasionally help with the whelping process or a c-section, the puppies need
worming and first shots. Breeders do not make the money people think they make, if they are doing
it for the love of the breed and not just backyard breeders or puppy mills turning out puppies for
the sake of the almighty dollar. Mutts are loving and generally have less health issues due to the
fact that the gene pool is less concentrated in them. If one wants a dog for the price you suggest,
it is not impossible. To suggest that all pets should be that price is unfair to breeders who do
have a true love of the breed they are continuing to breed and who are carefully selecting quality
dogs to make sure the puppies they sell are good pets and free of genetic health issues. Lastly,
the cost of purchasing a dog is the least of the costs one will encounter in that animal's life.
If you factor in emergency care, there are vet visits that could run in the thousands. Everyone
should take that into consideration before getting that next puppy. I do not feel dogs should be
luxury items and hope to find resources in my area to help people with vet emergencies get treatment
for their pets without having to make the heartbreaking decision to put the animal down due to lack
of funds because a vet is too set on the money to offer other options to the owner. Until that
time, it is a sad truth that one must have much more than the purchase price put aside if they want
to have and maintain a pet. |
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100-200?? Are you kidding |
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Pets are not expensive to buy. You do not have to get pure breeds from breeders or the mall pet
store. I agree that it does seem costly for certain breeds, but the breeds need to be kept at breed
standards.
Shelters and rescue groups are a better resource for lower cost pets. |
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When you say pet, i think cats, dogs, hamsters, and fish......a $100 goldfish is pushing it a lot.
And i come form a poor family and we bought a hamster for me for $6....that hamster taught me a lot
of responsibility that i never would have learned if i wouldn't have been able to afford it! |
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Mutts are often better than any purebred and can be adopted for a minimal fee from your local pound. |
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I don't see a point of paying 100-200 dollars for a pet. You can simply go to Petco or any other
animal center and adopt one for free, |
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You can go to the local animal shelter and adopt a pet. Petco holds animal adoption days. |
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No. It`s called capitalism. Pets are priced based on their demand, mostly for quality or
rarity.
1) Dogs and cats from shelters are already cheaper than this.
2) If all pets were required to be sold for 100-200 dollars nobody would bother selling or breeding
high maintenance pets and quality would go down. - This is called communism. |
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If you want a cheap pet, find your local animal shelter, there are tons of animals that need homes
and are much less expensive than you'll get from a breeder or a pet shop. Locally, dogs run $50 and
cats run $15. |
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I would have to say pets are like cars, some cost more than others and you pay for what you get, if
you want a expensive dog but cant afford one , look in a shelter but regulating others because you
can't afford the dog you want it is wrong. Its call a open market for a reason |
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04 Mar 2008 00:57
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