On our first day of vacation last week, we got off the highway and stopped off at the WDST station to appear on NPR's "Talk of the Nation," hosted by the utterly charming Neal Conan. The subject: "No Expense Spared on Nation's Pets," a subject we talked about in this Salon story. It was our first-ever radio experience and so pleasant. Here's why: The engineer was super nice. Our co-subject, Jon Katz, who's written a bunch of books and Slate columns and other fancy things later invited us to visit the famous Bedlam Farm if we're ever in the neighborhood.
And behind the station, while we were sitting inside with our headphones and coffee, our toddler son and husband were tossing rocks into some water on the edge of a forest when a deer actually came up and hung out there with them until we got done. (Son's commentary in car for rest of trip: "Deeeeeer. Deer. Deer. Deer. Deer? Deer.") So, yea for radio and yea for animals.
You can listen to the 30-minute live interview here and you can mock our voice in comments. Also be sure to weigh in on how much is too much to spend on a pet. Should the sky be the limit, as some of NPR's listeners suggested in feedback and some of you did here the last time we discussed this topic? Or should we start being more pragmatic about our pets, as Katz eloquently argued on the show?
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. God created all creatures. All living, breathing creatures have a soul if made by his hand. He did not discriminate and say "animals have no souls so therefore shall have no feelings" and this forth we can torture, abuse and cause them mental pain because they won't understand or feel it. When you child or yourself comes ill, you run to the Dr. for a cure, why in God's name would you not afford your pet the same luxury. They do feel pain, they do feel abandonment, they do have feelings as God intended or they could not love mankind unconditionally the way they and only they have the capacity to do so. Are we so stupid and shallow we don't know this. YES OF COURSE they deserve the exact same care as our children because in a sense they are the same, our children. One certainly, in alot of cases, gets more respect, devotion and love from thier animal than thier children, so why not afford them the same care.
connie funnell at 10:21AM on Jul 29th 2008
2. We are all God's children.
Bob at 12:30PM on Jul 29th 2008
3. Geez Ada, you sound like you're 16 years old. Anyway, vet bills have always been costly. My first two springer spanials died of old age, but I gave them the medication provided by their vets to make their old age comfortable. I don't know, how much is a faithful companion worth?
The guy I have now is 8 and healthy, just routine boosters for rabies, heart worm, lime disease, distemper and a shot for when I board him in a kennel. Oh yeah, and some stuff for his ears...he likes to swim.
One thing about "saving ole Yeller". As I recall, Ole Yeller died of rabies after he was bitten by a wild animal. For a while the movie was used as an example of what could happen to your pet if it was bitten by a wild animal carrying rabies. The message...get your pet vacinated.
Willet at 12:41PM on Jul 29th 2008
4. Just a question here. If you had ten dollars to spend for "Feed the Children" or UNICEF or a donation to the local Boy Scout Council or to the Red Cross for disaster relief or are you really doing the right thing if send the money to a so called animal shelter where most of the dogs and cats are killed? Its just a question of course, but if you belief that a cat has a soul like human, then I realize the question will not make any sense.
Jim K198 at 1:43PM on Jul 29th 2008
5. As I recall Ole Yeller died from a gunshot wound from his owner who killed him because he was rabid. I think the owner did the right thing under the circumstances. What do you think?
Jim K198 at 2:06PM on Jul 29th 2008
6. I once knew a whooping crane that practiced veterinary medicine. Now THAT was a high vet bill!
Clif Kuplen at 10:47PM on Jul 30th 2008
7. I am in the thrust of beginning care for my newly diagnosed diabetic 11 year old dog. SO far the bills are at $400, just for diagnostics. The thought of not providing this care has never crossed my mind. I am not wealthy by any means. However, that animal has been as faithful and loyal a family memeber as any human could ever be. Whether he has 1 year or 10 years left, I will do whatever it takes to keep him healthy and happy. And when he leaves the earth I am confident that we will be re-united for eternity one day. I Know I am not alone in these feelings. We are a nation of pet lovers. Look at the video of Christian the Lion from 1969 that just came out on U-Tube last week. 5,000,000 hits so far. It's as sappy as it gets and has grown men weepy. The love in our hearts for animals was put there by the good Lord. If He loved them enough to spare them the great flood, I guess we should too.
Tinabeana at 11:50PM on Aug 1st 2008