Perfectly said

Well I do actually think there should be more 'preparation for parenthood' than there currently is too.

I still don't think it's a bad thing to make prospective dog owners aware of some of the extra cost that they might have to incur after 'getting a dog'.

Obviously everyone who insures their dog has already taken this on board and thought about it and what might happen if they couldn't afford to cover the cost of vet treatment or even compensation for damage caused. Otherwise there wouldn't be so many pet insurance companies and so many people who do insure their dogs.

And you never think that maybe something would go pear-shaped and things could end up so boogered and the dog you love as much as I love Pereg ended up as not the dog I anticipated but a wubble who is not not the normal wubble I expected.

I do not like the question in this OP because it makes me feel that I am wrong in having been "AFFORDED To GET A DOG"

None of your business Tang as to whether any or us can afford to get a dog or not.

Yes - I could always do with more 'intelligence' and 'patience' too!

It was just a question up for debate which is what 'debate' is supposed to be all about.

But I see it has degenerated into another tirade of personal abuse against the poster (me) by someone who obviously doesn't understand 'debate'.

Therefore I stand by what I said yesterday about your idea re this debate section - you will always get those who see any DISAGREEMENT with what they think (even if they haven't said what they think) as being a personal attack upon them.

So I don't think I will be starting any more 'debate' threads. If they subject was not a contentious one at all - obviously I wouldn't have posted it in here. It would have been in the general dog or chat sections. People who can't 'debate' should perhaps stay out of the debate section?

Geezus.

How many times are you going to find it necessary to repeat that on here? That it's none of my business?

I don't think it's a case of the person not understanding debate at all but said person is currently finding herself in very difficult circumstances with her beloved dog that no amount of money or forethought can resolve. We've all been in similar but different circumstances and tbh my heart is breaking for her at the mo.

This and my heart is breaking for her too. Sadly when we post we don't know all that is happening in each others lives.

Paging ADMIN!

As my debate thread about whether people give enough thought to whether they can afford a dog now seems to be being interpreted as a personal attack on one member whose dog is ill - I'd be glad if you'd just remove the whole blerdy thread!

No one is saying that at all Tang it is an interesting thread, one member has taken it a bot personally due to stress IMO no one thinks you have targeted her at all.

No it's not a bad thing to be prepared and be as well informed as possible just that sometimes all the preparation in the world won't help.
Are you saying people who don't insure are ignorant of the risks to their bank balance? Or with many is it a case of once bitten twice shy. Insurance isn't always the safety net we would like to believe, many an owner has been left high and dry by their insurers.
Loads of owners do have insurance but sometimes for what I'd consider to be pretty limited cover. You still have to find the excess every time too. I have considered it, used to have insurance but never used it and now manage just fine without. Why are there so many insurance companies is a bit like asking why are there so many Ppi companies or payday loan companies, cos there's money to be made in my opinion. So many people insure their dogs not just because they don't have deep pockets but fear of the unknown is also a factor.