Don't judge me!!!!

[vangarret2000]

Just re-reading my last post and noticed, with my hampster the biggest part of why I didn't pay was because there was still a huge chance he would die even after seeing the vet. If he deffinatly would have lived I would have paid the $100, even just for a hampster. So guess a big part of paying a vet bill would be if it is really going to do anything or not. If my snake gets sick and the vet can deffinatly (or at least have a strong chance) of saving him, I would probably pay more then I would want to to save him. Still I know there is a limit to how high I would go, I just would never know what that limit truly was until I had to face it for real

[wolfy-hound]

I think you also have to think that as a breeder, the value of the animal is not the price paid, or the price you could get if you sold him then, but also his/her potential value as a breeder. A pastel female pet isn't worth as much $$ as a 3 year old adult pastel breeder female ready to be bred and produce.
A het pied male hatchling? $50. A adult het pied male, ready to breed that throws good pieds from your het pied females? Much more valuable.
This is all considering DOLLAR VALUE. This is beyond the value as a companion, or the 'sentimental' value of an animal that you've had in your collection for a while, or if it might be an exceptionally brilliant individual.

[vangarret2000]

I think you also have to think that as a breeder, the value of the animal is not the price paid, or the price you could get if you sold him then, but also his/her potential value as a breeder. A pastel female pet isn't worth as much $$ as a 3 year old adult pastel breeder female ready to be bred and produce.
A het pied male hatchling? $50. A adult het pied male, ready to breed that throws good pieds from your het pied females? Much more valuable.
This is all considering DOLLAR VALUE. This is beyond the value as a companion, or the 'sentimental' value of an animal that you've had in your collection for a while, or if it might be an exceptionally brilliant individual.

I am not a breeder but this sounds like a good point.

[demonicchild]

Hm. I would do whatever it took to help my animal. Whether the snake is a normal or a pied, a life is a life and they deserve the same treatment.

[wilomn]

Dannnnng Mike, you're not just peering over the side of the box, you're jumping right out and looking at how small it really is.

Good job.

For me it's animal by animal. They're not my dog, no matter how much I like them they don't care whether I come or go, he does, hence a difference of treatment between them.

Way to go, really.

[mooingtricycle]

As a responsible breeder, i would spend whatever it took to get an animal healthy again if it is fixable, and isnt obviously a slim chance thing.

If a snake had massive injuries that it might recover from, i would weigh the odds of that snake living, and living well, versus the cost and the reality of the situation as a whole.

I wont keep an animal alive for my own sake, but i wont put an animal down for my own sake either. I will do what is right by the animal in any case that i can. *edit* I dont care if its a morph, or a normal. They are still living animals, and have every right to the best care i can provide regardless of color. *edit*

Prevention is key. Proper housing and care to start, and you shouldnt have to worry too much about problems. Sometimes they do arise, and as the keepers of these animals, it is up to US to care for them and give them the care and medical attention they might need.

If you get an animal, and refuse to pay a vet bill because its more than the animal is worth then you probably shouldnt be owning animals period.

[Dave763]

As a breeder/collector I would look at the vet bill versus cost of the animal plus how important to my breeding efforts.
If I had a 3000 gr. female pied, I would be willing to fork out a bit more for the vet bill, than say a, 300 gr male pastel.
I have paid vet bills that were more than what the animal cost me in the first place. I consider that part of being a responsible pet owner.

[wolfy-hound]

By pure business aspect, you should not put out more money to maintain a animal than it can reasonably be expected to produce for you.
However.. in real life.. I've run up really LARGE vet bills on a het pied male. Yes, he was an adult.. but honestly? I could easily have replaced him for about $400(at the time), without any effort. I paid well over a grand for vet bills. Was it smart? No, not really. I was lucky that the vet did allow me to pay payments, which I paid EVERY month, early.
So it's whether or not you look at it from a purely business, or purely pet view. You can't really find that viewpoint from most people.
I'd be interested to see how many of the people that say "Whatever it takes" have had to put out a couple grand on a pet, and whether they were supporting themselves and a family on their income at the time.
Sometimes.. no, it's not worth the bill.. even when the animal WOULD recover. If I had a ball python that would cost me $5K to fix up.. I'm afraid I might have to say no. I couldn't come up with that much, and I could not rightfully say I would put myself into that much debt. I'd feel bad, but all in all.. yeah, I'd say no.
Does that mean I shouldn't own any animals? I don't think so. I think it means I'm a realist. I don't have $5K laying around, and there's not a vet that I've seen around me that would allow payments I could afford to pay.

[mooingtricycle]

By pure business aspect, you should not put out more money to maintain a animal than it can reasonably be expected to produce for you.
However.. in real life.. I've run up really LARGE vet bills on a het pied male. Yes, he was an adult.. but honestly? I could easily have replaced him for about $400(at the time), without any effort. I paid well over a grand for vet bills. Was it smart? No, not really. I was lucky that the vet did allow me to pay payments, which I paid EVERY month, early.
So it's whether or not you look at it from a purely business, or purely pet view. You can't really find that viewpoint from most people.
I'd be interested to see how many of the people that say "Whatever it takes" have had to put out a couple grand on a pet, and whether they were supporting themselves and a family on their income at the time.
Sometimes.. no, it's not worth the bill.. even when the animal WOULD recover. If I had a ball python that would cost me $5K to fix up.. I'm afraid I might have to say no. I couldn't come up with that much, and I could not rightfully say I would put myself into that much debt. I'd feel bad, but all in all.. yeah, I'd say no.
Does that mean I shouldn't own any animals? I don't think so. I think it means I'm a realist. I don't have $5K laying around, and there's not a vet that I've seen around me that would allow payments I could afford to pay.

Just so you dont take my post the wrong way.... Because im a realist too.... Im Bolding this single word, that makes all the difference in my meaning.

"and refuse to pay a vet bill because its more than the animal is worth"

[RobbinRN]

I am an ICU nurse. I deal with "quality of life" issues on a daily basis. I witness family members struggle with life and death decisions regarding their incapacitated loved ones...their parents, their siblings, and their children. That last demographic undoubtedly provokes a pain I cannot begin to fathom.

Those who know me, especially my family, understand that I consider my pets my children. I have had every animal you can imagine as a pet in my adult life. If I didn't feel that I would be able to shoulder both the emotional and financial responsibilities of pet ownership, I would hesitate to continue adding to the family roster. No matter the species, my husband and I feel our animals enrich our lives and we will always do anything within our power to ensure their health and happiness.

I have always been saddened when I hear of a breeder (most notably dogs) who so readily sell an animal that has been "retired" from breeding or showing. I never really understood how a family member could outlive his or her usefulness and just be sent away like that.

I feel as much affection for my three snakes as I do my two Pomeranians. They are all followed by a vet from the moment I bring them home. I took them to raise and will do whatever it takes to do so properly, such as dip into my savings account, sell something, give up something I really don't need (do I really NEED to eat out or have every movie channel known to mankind???). And when quality of life becomes the main issue (regardless of financial burden), I will weigh all possible outcomes and ultimately do what is best for my animal.

Forgive me if I ranted nonsensically, for I am exhausted from a long day at work, but the topic is one that is dear to my heart in both my professional and personal lives.

Robbin