Honestly I am so crazy about our pets that I cut back on stuff for myself before them!

I definitely rationalize a lot more on things they don't need.
Like those Buddy Belts I want to get them so badly I can taste it, are gonna have to wait.
& just any extra expenses that can be spared.
Good thing they're spoiled enough as it is and have tons of things to keep them happy =)

I've definitely cut back on the treats. My dog now only gets cheap ones or homemade. And no new sweaters or toys. I'm working with what he already has, but it's been ok.

I'm cutting back, but not because we cannot afford them but because I'm donating those money to the pets in need right now. I've donated to the Houston SPCA for the aftermath of hurricane Ike, and I've increased my donation to ASPCA - too many pets are homeless because of the foreclosures.
My kitties at least have a roof over their head and a "mommy" to take care of them and love them, those poor little souls need the money so much more than them...and I think that if my babies could speak they would ask me to do the same

that puppy is tooooo cute!
I don't cut back for B-Bop, he gets the same food and he doesn't get many treats, so that's not a burden and he has a newer harness that we got on vacation so he's set for a while. He's well loved and taken care of, no worries about that!

The ONLY thing we cut back on were my babies Beggin' Strips. It's okay, they don't seem to miss them as I do have two children who can't seem to get it into their heads that table scraps are BAD for dachshunds! LMAO Fortunately my two are so young, active and healthy that a few table scraps right now while not GREAT for them, aren't so detrimental.

Other than that though, as long as I can keep them in balls of any sort, they are happy. We have many, MANY MANY fuzzless tennis balls around our house. LOL

I tried not to spoil my pets from the get-go, so their treats and frequency of new toys remains. No deprivation for them!

Since we just spent a ton of money getting a puppy and all that comes with one, I'd say no!

With the gas problem here in Georgia, we walk her in our neighborhood as opposed to driving out the canal or the river like we normally would. =/

Oliver has an Rx for his PKD. I used to spend 50 dollars per month to have the medicine compounded into a liquid form that was chicken flavored. (Sound appetizing, yes?) Now, I've gone back to the 12 dollar per month tablets and pop them into Greenie's Pill Pockets, which he gets even more excited about!

Okay, I have to be honest... we are not pet spoilers. Our dog gets his regular dog treats when he behaves or does something we want him to do, but that's it. We take him to the groomer when he needs it, and the vet, but there is no freaking way I'd ever take him to "doggie daycare" or the "pet spa" or whatever frivolities they have out there if I was a millionaire, let alone your average American. I love my dog, but he is a dog, not a model.

Doggie day care isn't for millionaires. Sometimes it's just for normal pet-parents who don't have the time to adequately walk/play with their dog that day.

I agree that day care isn't always something frivolous. I travel to my job once a month for like5 days and since he comes with me I drop him off at day care while I'm at work. Where else would he stay, the motel?

Gretel always gets spoiled first, me second... so now I just get spoiled less.

Nope, our pets are not affected at this time. Thank God, we've always lived within our means and have no serious financial issues. We still spoil them rotten.

Bravo to you, flyingroo !! My cats have food, clean water, litter, and attention and affection. They do not need clothes or expensive treats. The little extra money my husband and I have for animals goes to our local SPCA (where we also volunteer). Those cats (and dogs) need food, treats, toys, medicial attention, medicine, etc.

I strongly encourage you all to donate whatever you were going to spend on an expensive food dish or collar to animals who are in REAL NEED!!

Well, at the shelter less people have been donating food and there are way less adoptions and more intakes. It's really depressing sometimes.

My cat and dog don't get as many treats now. But I've been making homeade peanut butter dog cookies. And giving my cat tuna treats. She likes them but I think they are gross smelling.

Flyingroo and Runnungrsq, you are heroes in my eyes. And several animals eyes alike. :]]

For us, doggy day care is a necessity when we work long days, so that will stay the same, but I've cut back on other things. I used to buy him new toys fairly often but I'm not doing that now. I've discovered that he has started playing with some of his very old toys that he hadn't payed attention to in years. He is a big toy lover and it is cute that he is rotating them himself

homemade* oops