Earlier this year, one of the dog rescues I work with posted a 13 year old yellow Labrador Retriever on a pet adoption website. The dog's story was that his owner lost his job and couldn't afford to keep him any longer. This broke my heart, to say the least. I too have a yellow lab that is not much younger than this dog and I couldn't imagine having to put her up for adoption because I could no longer afford to keep her. Nevertheless, I believe that this person did the right thing for his dog, as heartbreaking as it may have been. Fortunately, with the help of the people at the rescue, the dog was quickly adopted. Other dogs and other pets in general aren't so lucky, especially older ones. Many of them end up in shelters, where they are at risk of being euthanized, and some are just plain abandoned by their owners and left to fend for themselves.
Let's face it, owning and caring for a pet is expensive. The costs of medical care for pets in particular can seem insane, especially when your pet gets older and requires more attention from the vet. Sadly, many folks are forced to give up their pets or even euthanize them because the financial cost is too prohibitive. Over the last couple of decades, pet insurance providers have appeared offering affordable plans that help pet owners cover the costs of taking care of their fur kids should the need arise. But of course, pet insurance isn't perfect, because just like private insurance companies that provide health care coverage for human beings, there are many restrictions and conditions that will still leave you paying for Fido's vet care out of your own pocket.
I would strongly contend that if pet ownership was made easier and more affordable, there would be a lot less homeless pets out there and a lot less cases of pets being euthanized for financial reasons. But how do we make pet ownership easier and more affordable? Here are three of my own ideas:
1. Tax Deductions for Vet Costs
As I've already said, the amount you may be forced to pay the vet to keep your pet healthy can seem outrageous. For me, it seems like almost every time I visit the vet with my dog, I'm out at least fifty to one hundred dollars. In fact, if your pet requires anything complicated, like surgery, you may have to shell out hundreds, even thousands of dollars. But what if you were able to claim tax deductions for the costs of your vet bills or for pet insurance? I think this would make a huge difference and help prevent pets from being put up for adoption, abandoned or even euthanized just because the financial cost of keeping them is too great.
I would not, however, propose that governments allow tax deductions for just anyone who chooses to own pets. In fact, I would restrict such deductions to those pet owners who adopted their pets through registered charitable groups that specialize in finding pets new homes. This will encourage potential pet owners to acquire their new furry friends by adopting a homeless animal rather than shopping for one from a breeder or pet store.
2. Financial Aid for Pet Owners
Some groups and charities for animals in need have taken up the task of making pet ownership more affordable. The Toronto Humane Society, for example, offers low-cost spaying and neutering services for pets. Many veterinary clinics have also chipped in, offering customers who can't afford to pay everything up front for their pets' care more flexible payment plans. But I think there's more that can be done, like giving money-tight pet owners some financial aid so that they can continue to keep their pets rather than having to give them up. I think it would have been better, for example, if that poor man I mentioned at the beginning was given funds that would have allowed him to continue feeding and vetting his furry companion. There would, of course, have to be some measures of accountability put in place for such an idea to work. For instance, had this man I mentioned been given money to help him keep his dog, he would only be given it if he could produce receipts for the dog's food and medical expenses, plus provide documentation of his financial situation that would rationalize him being qualified for financial assistance.
I think that this kind of financial aid program (maybe we should call it pet social assistance or pet welfare) is something all charitable organizations for animals in need should consider implementing, but I don't think they should have to do it alone. I believe governments, especially at the municipal level where animal services are usually managed and regulated, should be involved as well. Perhaps, for example, taxes could be imposed on registered breeders to help pay for financial aid programs for pet owners as well as other services related to controlling the pet population and ensuring the well-being of pets.
3. Encourage Pet-Friendly Policies in Rental Units and Condos
If you've ever looked for an apartment to rent or a condo to buy, chances are you've probably come across plenty of postings that say, "no pets" or "pet restriction". And I have personally heard the stories of many pets who end up homeless because their owners have to move in to some place where pets aren't allowed. Okay, I understand that there are a lot of folks out there who aren't "pet people" and don't want to live in a place where there are pets that can make noise and even cause damage. So I don't believe that landlords and condo corporations should be forced to accept pets onto their properties - the one exception being service animals, such as guide dogs. I would suggest, however, that governments offer up tax incentives to landlords and condo corporations with pet-friendly policies. Doing so may encourage some landlords and condo corporations to liberalize their pet policies and open up more options for pet owners struggling to find new places to live where they can continue to keep their furry friends.
Any Other Ideas?
The three ideas I mentioned above may not be new or even untested. For all I know, perhaps one or more of these ideas has already been put into practice somewhere. If that's the case and you folks who are reading this know about it, I would love to hear about it. So please feel free to let me know if any of these ideas are being tried somewhere around the world, or if you have another idea that you think would make owning a pet easier and more affordable. Because making pet ownership easier and more affordable will mean less homeless animals, less animals being euthanized needlessly and a lot less broken hearts.
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