Pet Spending Ethics?
As I was getting ready to leave work yesterday, I mentioned to my coworker that I had to take Quinn to the vet in the morning. It looks like her two front teeth might have holes in them right near the gums. 
I will update that story later.
We chatted for a few minutes and I lamented on watching my princess girl get older. I know she has to go over the rainbow bridge someday but we are doing our best to make that time far from now.
Somehow we landed on the topic of spending - probably because I was a little concerned about how much this vet trip would end up costing me. I mentioned that spending on pets is predicted to reach an all time high in 2008. In the billions! My coworker, let’s call her Sandy, said that she thought it was a shame how much people spend on their pets when there are so many starving people in the world. She thinks it’s completely wrong that people will spend $1,000 a night on “pet hotels” when that money could do so much good for others.
Hmmm…I tried to find a place charging that much, but as I’ve mentioned my search skills are pretty limited. I did find a couple that charge over $100 a night. A little steep for my budget but not necessarily breaking the bank.
Yes, there are starving people in the world. Very true. However, I always get nervous about trying to tell people how to spend their money. If someone wants to pay $1,000 a night for their little Poopsie to live a life of luxury who am I to tell them that they are wrong or unethical?
Do I think diamond studded collars are a bit much? Sure. But it isn’t my money.
I know that “Sandy” thinks that I spend too much on my dogs. But again, it’s my money to do with as I please. If I want to spend $100 or $1,000 a month on dog stuff then that is my right. I don’t feel like I can save everyone in the world who doesn’t have their basic survival needs met. I try to do my part via donations, but no one will solve the world’s problems just by giving their money away. It’s been tried.
What do you think? Do you feel guilty for spending money on your pets?
June 5th, 2008 at 8:00 am
That is a really interesting topic. I am sure there are people who think my Mommie spends way too much on me what with all the toys, clothes, and pet stroller. But my Mommie also does her share to help pets in need by volunteering 12 hours a week at a no-kill cat rescue center, so she does not feel one bit guilty about lavishing so much on me.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Well Daisy you deserve every bit of pampering!!! =D
June 5th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Very thought provoking! I do think sometimes that spending big bucks for luxuries for animals can be in the gray shades of morality, but like you say, it’s difficult for me to decide what’s a luxury.
If I had to spend thousands of dollars on a surgery that could save my cat’s life, I would do it. But I know plenty of people who would consider that to be a luxury and unethical. They’d say a cat’s life isn’t worth that money and tell me to put her down instead. Where as, I think it’s pretty unethical to bring an animal into your life if you aren’t willing to pay for regular vet visits and medications when they are needed.
Owning an animal is a luxury, and I tend to be more opposed to the people who feel they deserve that luxury without taking on the long term responsibilties that are involved, rather than those people who recognize their commitment and are willing to pamper their animals.
But yeah, diamond collars? A bit much.
June 5th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I don’t feel the slightest tinge of guilt for spending money on my dogs. I’ve taken on the responsibility for their care, and if that means spending $600 a month on good food for them, oh well. I worked for that money, and my dogs are my life, so why feel guilty?
June 5th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I think Sandy is way off. Her logic makes no sense. Why doesn’t she give up cable TV and donate the money saved to help starving children? Why doesn’t she stop eating out? Giving her kids Christmas gifts? Taking vacations? Sure, we go overboard with spending on our pets, but we go overboard with everything else, too.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I think you are well within your own rights to spend as much as you like on your dogs.
It’s very kind of you to donate when you feel like you can and should, and that is all that matters. 
June 7th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
I think Lindsay’s point is a good one: where do you draw the line? Some would say that bringing more children into the world when there are thousands needing to be homes is “unethical.” And yet people have babies every day. (Maybe next time you can ask Sandy how much she spends on her kids!
)
I give a small amount every month to charity and so long as I’m not going into debt to buy things for my dog, I don’t have any qualms whatsoever about spending money on her.