Dogs Are "Luxury Items"?

You know, I totally get that families may not have funds to pay for veterinary care, which leaves them with little options. But I totally dispute that "domestic animals" are "luxury items" as posted in the following:

http://www.underdogged.net/?p=325

Things that are luxury items:

• Watches
• Jewelry
• Latest Model Car
• Cable
• Wireless phones (for some people)
• Internet access (for some people)
• Overuse of electricity or other utilities
• Having the fridge fully stocked for every conceivable want, and having food spoil.
• Vacations
• Movie Rental
• Your home if it's too much for you to afford
• Clothing
• The most up to date furniture
• Kitchen accessories
• Ipods
• Subscriptions
  
  In fact, I was blocked for pointing out (in a totally polite way) that these companion animals are living breathing parts of our families that would give us anything. Sacrifices such as services not needed, less snacks bought during grocery times, not upgrading the vehicle, and so on can be made to provide for our pets' care, except in the most dire of circumstances.
  
  Rescues can sometimes step into the picture if you sign your animal over to them. It's important that owners consider ALL THE COSTS OF PET OWNERSHIP before adopting or "rescuing" a pet. A pet is not so much rescued if they end up just as dead as they would of before. Negligence is not an excuse to euthanize your animal because you don't want to "put that much money into them".
  
  The blog above by the way, one of the fierce number of purely positive owners out there. Which makes me say again, when did death become a positive solution to a problem?
  
  Need training for your dog using motivational and positive techniques (and other tools that you might need?)? Call Mannerly Mutt's Dog Training, Maine Dog Training Service, at 207-361-4395. Or e-mail mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com for Maine Dog Trainer, Robin Rubin.