Just wondering :)

No

Isabel.......you really must stop these lengthy rambling replies of yours  ;) :D

:D  

LOL

A nice idea, but how would it be funded?? The NHS for people is seriously under funded and struggling as it is :(

jus people that have pets wud pay towards the contribution :)

Someone with a hamster is going to be narked at paying for a c-section for someone else's great dane! :D

:D

No...if you can't afford to keep a pet you shouldn't have it.
Archer

The NHS is paid for out of taxes. How much of a tax rise do you think people would be willing to pay to fund an NHS for animals?

It would mean something else that I, as a goody two shoes pays for everything I am supposed to, end up paying more for to subsidise those people who refuse to pay or duck out of the system

with that being said...u cud still choose whether to pay pet tax or not.

and those that dnt contribute to the pet tax wudnt be eligible to claim free healthcare

I think they call that insurance, buy your own.

Yup which is what most responsible pet owners already do, they're the likes of the PDSA and Blue Cross et al for those on low incomes etc.

Everyone in society needs access to medical care and the NHS was introduced to ensure that everyone was able to access it regardless of their financial status. As JG has said this comes out of everyone's tax.  Pets are in essence luxury items so why should the system change you might as well stick with insurance. You can then pay the amount you want to pay or not have any, the choice is down to the individual.

No, you can't opt out of any taxes. It's all or nothing. :)

Voluntary payment for 'free' healthcare is called insurance. It's been going for years.

There's already an NHS for pets, the PDSA etc. etc. for people who don't work or are elderley etc.  Don't agree with some ofthe people who are able to claim benefits but it's the same as those of us who pay out for working to our NHS!

Our NHS is still working brilliantly but more and more people are accessing it, greater medical intervention these days and new things coming out all the time. 

It annoys me when people slag off the NHS as most of the time it does work well.  Maybe there should be less managers in it though :d

Isn't the PDSA a charity?

I believe so, but then so are the Blue Cross and the RSPCA who all offer free/assisted health care and treatment for people on low income.

Edidted to say.......I meant peoples pets, not the people themselves :D

It'd be a nightmare to administer, a nightmare to calculate equitably and then there's the nightmare of collecting the contributions and the enforcement necessary to ensure that the correct contributions have been made - can you imagine the bureaucratic structure necessary to send out Inspectors to check for hidden hamsters?  And that's before embroiling vets in the sort of paperwork necessary to be repaid for treatment.

So all in all, no. I don't think there should be a pet NHS.

>There's already an NHS for pets, the PDSA etc. etc. for people who don't work or are elderley etc. <

An NHS for pets would just encourage more stupid people to have pets they can't care for adequately because if they get sick it's all free, so why should they give a monkeys. What next - cider and fags on the NHS because some people on benefit would rather buy those than feed their kids? I'm on benefits because I'm ill and I pay for my own pets, thank you very much! My dogs are my one luxury item and I take full responsibility for them - including pet insurance.

Yes Phoebe but if you were in my area you'd be a rarity, most of them are able to work but don't!  There are people around here who are fit and able bodied but don't work!

I have many friends with disabilities so I'm not getting at anyone in this situation.  It especially annoys me as my best friend has severe disabilities and has worked all of her life.  Her cousin lives next door to me and well shouldn't say what I think!

These charities are obviously a lifeline for those who already have pets and find themselves in difficulties by loosing their job or illness and anyone in that position already should be able to take on a pet for company as it will often improve their lives but it does bug me when people who apparently do not have the wherewithal for vets fees buy an expensive pedigree, sometimes more than one and sometimes even breed them! and expect charities funded by others to provide veterinary care for them.

lol @ jeangenie.  as i was reading that I thought voluntary payment for treatment is called private!! must be on same wavelength.  don't want to say any more on this subject as I'll have to get out my soapbox and rant about people abusing and ripping off PDSA grr grr moan moan etc