How Much Should You Spend on Your Pet?

在寵物身上該花多少錢？
Is there a limit to what you should spend to save your pet?
為了維持寵物的生命而花下大筆金錢，是否值得？

Is it worth it to spend a lot of money to keep your pet alive?
by Jeremiah Clark and Chelsea Ewald

Today, humans aren’t the only ones benefiting from advanced medical technology. For a price, sick pets’ lives can also be extended through medical procedures. While many people support this type of spending, others are strongly opposed to it.

Adam: My dog, Cooper, has been a bit under the weather lately. I took him to the veterinarian a few days ago and learned that he needs some minor surgery to fix the problem. It will cost a few hundred dollars, but it’s well worth it!

Beth: Just be glad that Cooper’s illness isn’t more serious. I recently read about a family who paid $20,000 for their sick dog to have a bone marrow transplant. Can you believe that?

Actually, I can. someone is willing and has ability to spend that much money, but many people are not able to afford it.

Did you know:
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 49 percent of people consider their pets to be "family" while 48 percent consider them companions. Only 2 percent consider them property.

Some pets are so loved that after they die their owners have them stuffed and then displayed in their homes. And now, today, thanks to modern science, rich pet owners can opt have their aging or sick pet CLONED.

under the weather (idiom)-Carl stayed home from work because he was feeling under the weather.
transplant (n)-many kinds of transplant. -from donors give their organ to someone and placed into a person's body. liver, Kinney or other. 移植trans-转移 plant种植
After receiving a heart transplant, the patient had a greater chance of survival.
*The doctor specializes in kidney transplant surgeries.
*Her body rejected the liver transplant.
outrageous (adj)-unbelievable. 令人吃惊的，让人无法忍受的， 不可思议的。
outrage-引起义愤的。
Jill thought it was outrageous that the government decided to double taxes.
*It's outrageous that people waste so much food while many people are starving in undeveloped countries.
span (n)-a length or amount of time, a period of time.一段时间。
Ray doesn't like to watch movies because he has a very short attention span. 集中精神的时间
*The life span of a butterfly is only a few days. 蝴蝶的生命周期只有几天。
*The attention span of children of this age is about 30 minutes.
benefiting-good things
be extended-be lived longer
oppose-against. If you oppose something that you are against it.
prolong- 延伸，延长，托长。发长音。
bone marrow-
orthopaedic-something relate to feet and bones.
You got to be joking (idiom)-When someone says something ridiculous, weird,you will say “You got to be joking.
companion-refer to close fried or mate, spouse.
acquaintance- associate (n) 相识，熟人, 习知，熟习（但不是朋友）
associate(v)-spent time with someone. 重音在第二个a (e)
conviction (n)-断罪，判罪，确信，信念坚信。

Andy has strong convictions about politics and shares them with as many people as he can.

*It’s Larry’s conviction that only money can make him happy.

*Patricia has strong religious convictions.

*The woman’s conviction to be a good mother is unshakable
to put pets to sleep is nice way to say to put pets to dead, don't want to see pet to be hurt or suffer.
I don't make sense-
stick -not to change.
Trivial (adj)-ordinary, common generally, usually, ordinarily, as a rule, outmoded,old fashion, out-of-date. 锁碎的，微不足道的，陈旧的，无趣的，平常的. trivia 锁碎的事物，琐事 Jim had a bike accident, but his injuries were trivial compared with when he crashed his car.
discretionary (adj)-任意的，自由决定的。

That is not one of our regular bills, so please pay it out of our discretionary.

*The CEO of our company has a discretionary grant to encourage those who work hard.

*Judges have discretionary power to decide one’s future
jeopardize (vi)-put it in risk. 委及,（使）受危困

The student jeopardized her success on an important test by watching a movie instead of studying.

*The rushed decision to expand jeopardized the company’s finances.

*Overworking can jeopardize your health

Chat Room
in favor of / set against = for/against 支持/ (坚决）反对。
in favor of -to support something.
against-not in favor of
debates (n)-people to discuss two different idea, one person or team is argue in favor of the idea and another person or team is against the idea.辩论
debate (v)- debating, you are involved in the act of debating.

Grammar

Talk about ridiculous!

Talk about--regarding what was just mentioned, that is…

Whatever was just mentioned is ridiculous.

Talk about + description

Stuart lives a block away from his office, but he always rides his scooter to work. Talk about lazy!

Terry had overslept but was still able to get to the airport in time to catch his flight. Talk about lucky