Guest Post
Like kids, taking care of a pet requires a significant investment of time, energy, and money. Nearly all pet owners would say the pros outweigh the cons, but before adding a pet to your family, run through some of the costs to determine whether you’re financially ready for a fur-kid:
Purchase Price
This figure can vary widely, depending on what kind of pet you want and where you get it. If you want a cat or a dog then you have several options, including the local animal shelter, a breeder, a breed rescue, a pet store, Craigslist, etc. Shelters and rescues offer older dogs for adoption for a nominal fee (generally less than $100, which includes any vaccinations they may need) and although puppies and kittens tend to be pricier, their adoption fee includes a spay/neuter procedure. If you’d rather get a puppy from a dog breeder, you can expect to pay between $300 and $1,000 on average (“designer dog” breeds such as Puggles or Labradoodles tend to be on the higher end). If you go to a pet store, you can expect to pay a couple hundred dollars for a puppy, though I should note that the ASPCA is against pet stores because they tend to get most of their animals from puppy mills.
For other pet varieties such as hamsters, bunnies, lizards, and turtles, you probably won’t pay more than $50 for the animal (unless it’s a rare breed). Birds are more expensive, ranging from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars (though more common birds such as cockatiels cost much less).
Pet Supplies
Aside from the cost of the animal itself, pet supplies will probably set you back a couple hundred dollars. You need a home for the animal (crate, cage, outdoor pen, etc.), a blanket, towel or bed to make it feel comfortable, food and water bowls, and a litter box or potty pads (for younger animals that aren’t housetrained yet).
Ongoing expenses you’ll incur over the life of the animal include: food, treats, toys, litter or cage bedding (for hamsters, guinea pigs, and bunnies) and leashes/collars. To cut back on the cost of pet supplies, check for coupons from a local or online pet store on SumoCoupon.
Vet Visits
If you want to adopt your pet, then your initial veterinary expenses will probably be lower, since many of the vaccinations – as well as the spay/neuter procedure – are included in the adoption fee. Puppies and kittens need several shots in those early months however, so be prepared for a few vet visits up until they’re a year old (after that, a once-a-year checkup is a good idea). Older pets may also require more medical care. Veterinary expenses vary widely so it’s impossible to estimate how much you’ll spend on your pet’s health, but instead of rushing out to buy a pricy pet insurance plan, you may want to set aside a few dollars each month into a fund for any medical emergencies your pet may have). There are also ongoing expenses to consider, such as yearly vaccines, flea protection, and heartworm prevention.
Boarding
If you want to take the family on vacation and the place you’re staying at doesn’t allow pets, then you’re going to have to find some temporary accommodations for your pet while you’re away. Boarding kennels generally charge between $20-80 per night (depending on a multitude of factors including your location, the amenities provided, time of year, etc.) and professional pet sitters may charge between $15-40 per visit if you leave your pet alone at home.
Training
If you get a dog, you’ll probably have to invest some time and money into training it basic moves such as sit, lie down, and stay. There are books and videos that could help you do this without the help of a trainer, but taking group classes from a professional trainer has the added benefit of socializing your dog to other people, dogs, and places. You may also find that you like training your dog to do tricks and may want to get involved in sports such as Frisbee, agility, or tracking.
