How many is too many?

[Dani]

I'm curious...given the amount of money, time and energy to properly care and love animals, what do you think is the appropriate number of animals a person/family should own? I'm talking regular people...not farmers, etc. When does it become a hoarding situation and when are the animals at risk for neglect? I'm sorry to say this, but it bewilders me when I see people who struggle consistently financially obtain pet after pet, and complain about being broke. I don't get it...because pets aren't cheap.

Discuss.

[BoatDog]

I have 2...and know I couldn't take care of them the way I do if we went over 3...and I don't intend to skimp on care! (That said, 1 more at this time would really piss Morgan off!)

[bett]

if you can't afford to care for them, vet them, keep them the way they should, then don't have them.

[Canula2000]

it bewilders me when I see people who struggle consistently financially obtain pet after pet, and complain about being broke.

If a person is struggling financially then I don't think they should be looking for more...but I can't see that as a good reason to find homes for their animals unless they really can't afford the basics like food and vet care.

Most of my dog friends have 5-10 dogs. Since I have friends that are involved in rescue work, these animals are shelter dogs they have decided to adopt for various reasons but number one reason, the dog was too difficult to rehome so they kept it. I also have breeder friends and they tend to end up with too many dogs because they are keeping the next show potential. I find it interesting that my breeder friends are more likely to sell their older dogs into "retirement" homes and my rescue friends are more likely to keep the old dogs. different worlds!

[MidwestGirl]

Some people's hearts are bigger than their brains and I would be one of those people if I didn't have my DH to keep me on track

[Samson]

It totally should depend on your income !

You can afford more than one dog when you can afford the vet's fees/food etc !

Sadly UK have seen an increase in abandoned pets recently because of the economic climate. People don't tend to look ahead very far with their finances.

Time is also an issue if you are adding a puppy to an existing pack !

[Princess Zoe]

I couldn't imagine more than 2, and that isn't even about what they cost. That's just too much to take care of for me. But that's me.

[gundog]

We have 2 dogs, (soon to be three in a couple weeks) two goats, 5 chickens and 3 ducks.

My wife would throw in a horse and some llama's.......I think where we at a good point right now. Although i might foster some more labs when I get the pup lined out a little.

Oh and we have a 6 year old daughter.....that equals 3 dogs right there.......

[Baloo317]

Are you looking more for numbers? Like, pets per tax bracket?

I think it's obvious that if you can't afford them, don't have them. I would say put aside a minimum of $1000 per dog per year, personally. And that's not including aquisition or anything (spoiling, lol!), just general basic adult care. Probably a little less for cats...?

Although I am a little conflicted about this. I know many low-income people who own dogs and are fabulous dog owners. They feed them cheap grocery store food and the dogs play with discarded water bottles and the like, but they're happy as hell, and so loved. And then you have your high income families who own dogs more for the status symbol than anything else and the dog is seriously emotionally neglected. And everybody in between on the continuum.

So.... I can see both sides, I guess. Same as any "parenting" situation.

[Canula2000]

Did anyone watch the show "Last Chance Highway" about a woman that ran a dog rescue and transported them across the country to find them homes. She had 20 something of her own dogs...even though her home was clean and dogs were taken care of, I thought that woman was a hoarder! I can't see how 20 dogs can get enough individual attention.