I have not read the dog whisperere, so I really can’t say yea or nay to anything, but I hope that after reading the last post that people for the most part and I’m sure most do, sit, think, weigh it out in their minds what they read, and then decide if they believe some, all of the authors point or none of it.
Having said this, I’m not sure I’m following all of what I was reading in it, but depending on the way it was written and the way you are putting it across I have to say, some I agree with, but a large portion I do not.
I guess I’ll just have to read the book or books by this author to get a feel for this because I’m not sure he’s accurate in knowing what a dog does or does not feel when death is encroaching upon our beloved canines.

In other words, don’t take everything you read on any subject as gospel.

Study, sort it out and then decide what you believe.

I guess that’s why I’m having trouble with the last post. It made me feel the poster, and I could be wrong takes what was said by the dog whisperere as gospel, and that there is no way he could be wrong.

So would you please mind clarifying your position so at least if not myself others might understand what point you are trying to make.

I am afraid that I do not agree with your statement at all. As long as the owner of any pet is giving it love and attention which any animal deserves, and that the pet is happy then should’nt that be all that matters? I live in England, where I know that there are schemes for people on low incomes with pets, so if their pets get sick or injured they get help toward vet costs.
As for "high quality" toys/chews/food etc. most animals I have had and know of, are just as happy to play with a stick! I don’t know if it is the same in the states but in the UK you can get decent dog food, at a price anyone could afford, so no one has to suffer. I think it is more important to spend time with your pets, than to spend money.

Well, in speaking for those of us who think financial situation should be a consideration when deciding to have a pet, I am not refering to expensive toys etc… I am simply saying that you need to be able to cover health care costs should an emergency arise, or basic necessities. I hate to see pets put to sleep because their parents couldn’t pay for medication or surgery. It is just being realistic about the costs associated with having a pet. I think everyone on this site probably has the means, but many people take on the responsibility of ownership without realistically having the means to provide the basics. Doesn’t everyone agree that you have to be able to provide food, shelter and medical care?

I agree with the statement about Pedigree…it’s garbage food. In fact, the pet food sold in most grocery stores is awful. ‘Nuf said. Owners could look into Pet insurance, which is available in the States, and it comes in mighty handy when a dog or cat has a huge medical bill. Of course, you have to pay a monthly premium. There’s also a credit card called Care Credit, which can be used for dog/cat health expenses. If the cost is over $300, they give you three months with no interest to pay it off. Afterthat, you continue making payments but are charged interest. In the bigger cities, low income people can get help with expenses from some of the larger humane organizations, so there is usually a way out. But pet ownership is a huge responsibility, and an expensive one to boot.

wow what a shame-has anyone walked threw a shelter recently?if only people that can afford dawgs can have them what a world! their are so many doggies in need of homes (as well as other animals) my newest car is a 1988 olds with 230 thousand miles on it so i do not have luxeries mydog eats very well he has his shots he is now 5 chocolate lab and is blind as a bat- I do not have the 15 thousand dollars for the eye surgery that may or may not give him sight back-there are no gaurentees according the the vet he is happy well adjusted and even plays ball as long as we dont move furniture around the vet says he’ll be ok he listens and smells for everything should I get rid of him sign him over?we go for jogs occasionally and play ball everyday I guess I am his seeing eye master !because i cannot afford something so expensive people should not judge-however when my cat was sick last year i spent 3500 dollars when all was said and done- he dies at 18 anyway do not really believe the vets need to make as much money as they do-we have rescued cats over the years my husband is allergic and he jumped onto a bridge In January to get the poor thing which was set on fire before launched into the water-he fell out the car when he got home.we had her fixed up and found her a home

I wouldn’t call my family rich…or even well-off for the most part. We struggle at times, just like a lot of people. Between 2 households, we have 7 cats and 3 dogs. Ya it gets tough at times. We’ve got one dog who needs eye drops for an auto-immune disease, one cat who needs to be fixed, another cat who is getting pretty old and another cat who needs a second-opinion on a diagnosis made about him. None of this is cheap, and comined it’s even less-so. Our animals dont eat "high quality food" or necessarily play with "high quality toys" (the cats would rather play with small stuff they find around the house most of the time, anyway) but our animals are fed, our dogs are walked and played, our animals are all healthy, licensed and happy. And so are we. And trust me, if an emergency came up, just because we’re on a tight budget most of the time doesn’t mean we couldn’t come up with the money.
I’ve seen the way that some "rich" people treat their animals and I would bet that most animals would be happier in a house with lower quality food and lots of love than high quality food and the amount of love I’ve seen some animals receive.

I just want to clarify that I am not saying that "rich" people all treat their animals badly. I’m saying that they can be put in the same situation as us "poor" people. An example that I have witnessed: An much older lady on my street had lost her cat and he showed up at my house. He had been out for days and was covered(and I mean COVERED) in mats. Apparently this happened on a regular basis because she was suffering from Alzheimer’s. I offered to come over regularly and brush the cat and just generally make sure he was ok. She bought him the best of the best food, there were toys all over the house and her daughter told me one day that he gets taken to a private animal clinic here in our city when he needs anything medical. He got the best of the best for everything. But she couldn’t take care of him anymore. How is he better off there? Granted, I know this is kind of an extreme story, but there are many, many stories out there just like this one of cases where an animal is NOT better off with someone "rich"

Well suebegone, Firstly I never said that I had my vet fees paid for me, and I would beg, borrow, or steal if I had to help to stop any animal suffering! Love might not be just enough but it is what an animal will remember.
As for Pedigree, yeah it is big over here, but isn’t PCP big over there? I don’t suppose you feed your pets that? I have had pets all my life, and I must have done something right because I have only ever had to take 1 Staffordshire Bull Terrier to the vets because she had a grass flea in her ear. Unfortunatly I had to have my 17 year old cat put to sleep yesterday as he had fluid in his stomach, and would have ended up suffering. Just so you know I did pay for that myself!, and I am a single parent. I am sorry to hear that you have had to see so many animals suffer in such horrible ways, but as I said above, there are ways and means. We have a saying in London, maybe you have the same over there: "Needs must when the devil drives"

I appreciate your view and am gratefull for the feedback, LOVE might not be enough but, let’s have it right, it’s HUGE!!!