As pet food costs rise, some people are getting rid of their pets

According to a story by one of our local TV stations, rising pet food costs are being blamed for more pets being brought into the local animal shelter.

I certainly understand how increasing prices are hurting us all. I would be the first to say that, if it really comes down to affording cat food or dog food at the expense of adequate food, shelter, medical care, etc., for your children -- you obviously have to take care of people first.

But I would suggest this: If you really cannot afford your pet because of increasing pet food prices, you had no business getting the pet in the first place. I don't honestly know how that will resolve your problem, but it's true nonetheless.

Pets have at least one characteristic in common with infants and small children. They are helpless and depend on us for the basics of food, water, and shelter. Just as our infants and small children can't say, "No problem, Pop, I'll go out and forage for my own food this week," our pet cats and dogs can't care for themselves.

Certainly, giving a pet to a friend or even taking it to a shelter is preferable to abandonment. But you must think long and hard about how much food costs will affect your ability to keep a pet before taking it.

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