I agree with Teresa. I try not to use an analogy of choosing between the life of a person and a pet because i would think/hope that ultimate situation wouldn't arise.
But we just had this conversation in my office where a sales rep i deal with set a $1000 limit on their new 8mo lab pup. He and his wife both do very well financially. They just felt anything more than that was crazy.
So my take on it was that it's hard for me personnally to put a limit on it. I'll spend 5k on a bicycle or materialistic things but not spend it on my dog ?
A broken leg can cost over 1000. I told them they could not spend the 1000 and spend 1500 on a new marble counter top the very next week ?

I know worst case, i throw it on a card and figure out how to pay for it later. Keeping the animals best interest in mind. Obviously I wouldn't spend 5k in chemo on a 15 yr old dog for example.

Now i know that not everyone has the same financial means, and i understand that. But like i tell the woman i work with (single mom,2 kids). Animals arent cheap, even the free ones, so if you can't afford the expenses don't get the animal.

I just discussed this topic with Brian a few weeks ago and he wants to cover it on a SB episode