Pets are People Too
Posted by Gail | Filed under Smart Shopper
I’m always amazed at the differences between people who have pets and those that don’t. Pet people will often move heaven and earth for their precious poochikins. Nothing is too good for their sweet kittiboo. People who don’t have a pet – because they don’t want a pet – think the other guy’s a moron! You spend what on your dawg? Seriously?
I’m a pet person without a pet, and I miss it like all get out. But the timing isn’t right and my current circumstances won’t let me make the commitment to a puppy just yet. Because I travel a couple of days every week, and Alex is headed off to university in less than a year, getting a puppy right now doesn’t make sense. Course, it gives me something to look forward to the next time I get fired!
While animals bring great joy, they also bring additional expenses. How do you keep those costs in line is the key to not going bust over Buster.
Know your financial limits. If you can’t afford to spend gobs of money on a critter, then be careful what kind of critter you choose. I’ve owned birds, rabbits, fish, dogs, cats, horses, a llama, a pony, and each has come with it’s own set of expenses. You can spend $1200 on a puppy or you can rescue a pup and for 1/10 the cost for shots, a neuter fee and a license, and you’re in business. Some animals come loaded with expenses: horses have to be fed in the winter and unless you grow and bale your own hay, that cost can be prohibitive. Bearded dragons need only a few grasshoppers.
Know your time constraints. This is my biggie right now, but most people jump into pet ownership without really considering the time it’ll take. And so is born doggie-day-care and the pet-walking service. Can you imagine your grandmother’s face if you ever suggested spending packets of money sending the dog to day-care? Hold that thought. If you can’t walk your own dog, maybe you shouldn’t have a dog.
Build a pet-care network. From time to time you may need a place to put your pet while you go on an extended business trip, take a vacation, or have to deal with a family crisis. This is where having a pet-care network can really pay off. Find friends who have creatures of their own and agree to be a back-up for emergencies and travel. Make sure your pets will be compatible before you do this since your Siamese may not thank you for bringing that Great Dane into her space. The upside – other than saving on boarding fees – is that since your pet knows your friends, she may be less stressed out by your absense.
Shop second hand. Everything you need for your pet is being sold by someone who is getting out of the pet ownership business. Whether you’re looking for a puppy crate or a kitty scratching post, a fish-tank or a cage for your new budgies, it’s being sold second hand for a fraction of the cost. Visit a swap site or Craigslist or check out the local supermarket bulletin board or the newspaper for great stuff for a fraction of the cost.
Be Food Savvy. Maybe the thing people spend the biggest bucks on when it comes to their pets is food. I’ve met people who feed their animals human-grade organic meat at a whopping cost. Hey, if you’ve got the money and that’s what you want to do with it, that’s your business. But a high-quality diet which prevents long-term medical problems doesn’t have to come with a huge price tag. Make sure you read the label so you can avoid known allergens (like corn). And don’t let your pet set the agenda on feeding or you could end up with a overstuffed omnivore.
Grooming can run into big bucks too. If you have to shell out $50 a month for a shampoo and cut, learning to do it at home can be a budget-saver. Invest in a good shampoo, a quality brush and a pair of scissors. You’ll also need some nail clippers. And some practice.
Shop sensibly. Where you buy your pet supplies will play a big part in how much you pay for everything from flea treatments to food. Pet accessories are a huge business and people seem willing to drop buckets of money on outfits, jewelry and toys for their animals. When I was growing up, an old tennis ball would do. Now there are aisles and aisles of stuff we can buy to entertain our furry friends. Purists will always come up with a good reason why a sock full of catnip isn’t a good idea. But if you’re dropping money on a critter when you have debt, have no savings or have no emergency fund, then you’re just using your pet as an excuse to shop.
Get pet insurance. And, while you’re at it, make sure you set a limit in terms of what you’ll spend for medical intervention. Years ago we had a cat who got very ill. The vet convinced my husband to leave her overnight and do a bunch of medical tests. Natasha died a couple of days later leaving a whopping vet bill. If you can’t afford to drop thousands of dollars on medical care, then you should know when it’s time to put your pet down. Going into debt for a pet isn’t going to make your life easier down the road and will negate all the “emotional” and “stress” benefits you’re supposed to derive from pet ownership.
Make a budget. Yup, your pet should live on a budget just like you do. If this month’s medical costs are up because Fido got an ear infection that needed a visit to the vet, that means less money available for that snappy new coat you’ve had your eye on for him for winter.
January 28, 2010 at 8:16 am
Great advice for Pet owners. I loved the dog I had at one time. Wish I could get another but it’s not in the cards because I can’t commit enough time to training and spending time with it.
Regards,
Jason
January 28, 2010 at 8:25 am
My husband and three kids really want to get a dog, and I’m not up for it. On top of all that we do, I don’t want to be responsible for an animal to get fed, or go for a walk, or where does it go when we go on vacation/emergency trip/etc.. So I sat my husband down, we talked about our budget, I showed him how much we already spend on the kids (two are still in full-time daycare), and that there wouldn’t be enough left for an animal – money, energy, or time wise. So it’s gotten them off me for a few years – at least until the youngest starts school. I think I’m going to save this post and look at it when the time comes.
January 28, 2010 at 8:43 am
There used to be a saying that all the poor people had pets.
That typed we used to have dogs, they died of old age but alas no more.
January 28, 2010 at 8:48 am
Could you be pet sitters to share the good times but not the expense?
January 28, 2010 at 8:49 am
Couldn’t a lot of money be saved by raw food diet or home cooked meat etc? Lots of books at the library. Fewer food additives and fillers will save on vet bills.
January 28, 2010 at 9:01 am
I had a dog or two in my life from infanthood until i was about 30.
The last dog I had suffered separation anxieties and therefore had to be dropped off at my retired parent’s house every day on the way to work, and picked up on the way home. After a while, mom and dad told me to just leave the dog there. Then mom got terminally ill. My dad found it hard to care for the dog and mom too. The dog was given to friends of ours who had a home by a river, which was great since the dog was a springer spaniel.
Fast forward a few years, and I was feeling the need for a pet again. But working 10 – 14 hour days, and not having the ability to come home at lunch left me few options. So, we got a hamster. He was fun. But short lived. I managed to go about a year before I felt the urge to have another pet. We ended up getting a kitten. I’ve never had one and didn’t know what to expect, but hubby had had a few and missed having one. Now I can’t picture life without one. I’m still miss having a dog, but that will have to wait until retirement. Then we’ll see.
Pets are great, and they add to your life. You just have to be sure to get the right pet for your lifestyle, and living arrangements.
Gail brings up a lot of valid points. And quality food goes a long way to lessen the costs for health care and grooming. You also have to give the proper amount of time to your pet. Don’t get a dog if all you are going to do is toss it in the backyard at 7 am so the entire neighbourhood gets to listen to it bark until 10 pm when you bring it back inside again ! That’s not pet ownership, that’s having a dog to keep the kids quiet.
January 28, 2010 at 9:06 am
dlm – I know someone who feeds their dog raw food/home cooked meat, etc. It is hard to get the dog the proper nutrition that way, the dog is overweight, and they have to wipe it’s butt. Literally. Some of those ‘fillers’ and ‘additives’ are actually necessary.
January 28, 2010 at 9:13 am
I own two bunnies, whom I thought cost me nothing….but then I started keeping track of my monthly spending, and found out they cost me about $50/month. They’re worth it, though.
January 28, 2010 at 9:20 am
We have four cats and they do honestly cost quite a bit. We feed them good quality food, which costs a little over a hundred dollars a month.
We have decided not to get pet insurance, but put money away in an account for vet bills. Two years ago one of our cats took quite sick, and we spent $1500 to make him well. He was only 4 and we couldn’t imagine putting him down over that amount of money. (It helps that we have no children!)
January 28, 2010 at 9:28 am
I have been involved in animal rescue for 13 years, and have a large pet family of my own. I have often seen how pets are euthanized or given up for what should be simple vet treatment.
Vet costs have gone up dramatically in the last few years. When I do adoptions, I always encourage people to research pet insurance but to be careful because many times they are very limiting. My usual suggestion to people is that they put away $25 – $50 per month per pet into a separate savings account that is for vet bills only. That way the $$ can cover what they want it to.
One thing that people often forget to plan for is dentals. Most pets require a dental by the time they are 7-9 years old and as they get older, possibly every couple of years – and they’re expensive. Since dental problems can lead to a lot of illness, it needs to be dealt with.
Feeding good quality food can actually be cheaper than feeding the junk found in most stores – they eat less so it becomes more economical. Also it saves on vet bills down the road – one of my cats has been very ill and it is almost impossible for me to treat him with medication as he is not very sociable, and raw food literally saved his life – much cheaper too!
And if you have a dog – good idea to save a bit in case he gets out and you have to bail him out of the pound. Somehow gates always seem to get left open. And actually licensing your dog can save $$ if he does get impounded (and save his life too!)
January 28, 2010 at 9:31 am
Colleen, I have a Springer Spaniel and I understand where you are coming from with the needs of this breed. He’s a good boy, but man is he energetic! lol!
Last May I lost my precious Jack Russell Terrier, “Doggie love of my life” Libby.
She became diabetic at almost 12 and the vet & I tried several things to change her health, but in the end I had to put her down as she was shutting down and suffering. We had tried a homemade diet and it was very difficult to find a balance and figure out what she needed. It was also costly & time consuming.
I miss her terribly still and will bring home another puppy bundle of joy in the future, but right now, I know I need to save money to do so and for the initial vet costs etc.
What do you all think of pet insurance?
January 28, 2010 at 9:42 am
Offer to walk a dog(s) for an owner who has mobility issues. Earn a little money, help a neighbour, and enjoy time with a grateful dog. As someone who has a mobility issue, walking my dog on icy, poorly shovelled streets is a genuine hazard. In the winter, our dog is either walked by my husband in the evening, or I pay a professional dog-walker $16 for a half-hour walk, or I hire a young and responsible friend of the family.
As dim mentioned, pet-sitting is a great alternative to pet ownership, too.
January 28, 2010 at 9:47 am
Pet ownership is serious business…they are living beings that deserve a good quality of life…We had to put down our beloved yellow Lab Sept 30 and were (and still are) devastated…we are dog people and like to have a dog all the time…Brea was very protective of our son Brody who is severly autistic and they had a very special relationship…with my husband being retired from his job due to illness she was a wonderful companion…so, when she was nearing the end we knew we wouldn’t wait too long to bring another puppy into the home…on Oct 6 there was a litter of Chocolate Labs born..we spoke up for a female right away and brought home Tess at the end of November…she was a good distraction for the heartbreak of missing Brea and we are having alot of fun with a puppy again…between purchase price, first year of vet bills, spaying, puppy food and crate (Brea came to us at 5 years old after both her owners passed away and before that we had mini schnauzers so we didn’t have lab puppy experience or her size of equipment)…we budgeted aprox 1200.00 – 1300.00…we had the money to pay for everything with cash and with my husband being home full time we had the time needed to devote to her training and care…(she is never left outside all day…short playtimes only in our fully fenced yard…she is part of the family and we want her with us!)….we went ahead…BUT if we didn’t have the money or the proper time or we believed she could just stay outside all day long we never would have gotten her…they take planning and committment and money…and they are worth the effort:)
January 28, 2010 at 10:06 am
We have a lovely golden Retriever. We do have pet insurance, but each year less and less is covered, and the co-payment increases. Animals can be quite expensive, depending on your location (city vs rural) and your expectations. We have had an expensive year, with the dog requiring a $2500 surgery. Insurance will still cover it mostly, I think, and I have been putting money aside. The dog is wonderful, and we couldn’t do without her.
January 28, 2010 at 10:11 am
Gail — pet’s aren’t people too. I’m sorry have to say it – and I’m a proud pet owner of a cat for 10 years now but there’s no comparing caring for a pet is the same as caring for a human. Don’t get me wrong, I in no way advocate pet neglect, but they’re pets, not children. Maybe that’s just because I’m the son of a woman who grew up on a farm, where they did not name the animals on the farm if you know what I mean.
Pet Insurance? Really? It seems like a really bad idea to pay for pet insurance. I mean, insurance in general is meant to pay for mega calamities such as your house burning down, death of a spouse (and their income), etc. I just don’t think the death of Poochy counts – traumatic yes, but financially disasterous? No. And I’m not a monster I’ve been through the death of pets, but let’s face it, every pet owner knows there will likely be a day that comes when we bury our pet – unless we own a turtle or a various types of birds I suppose
Looking at pet insurance – with their $2000 – $6000 premiums paid over the lifetime of the pet – and their various conditions such as:
* The policies typically have deductibles, co-pays and caps that limit how much will be paid out annually.
* Pre-existing problems and hereditary conditions, such as hip dysplasia in retrievers and German shepherds, are normally excluded, although one insurer, Embrace Pet Insurance, covers hereditary and chronic conditions.
* The older your animal, the more you’ll have to shell out in premiums. Some insurers don’t cover pets older than 9; others levy stiff surcharges.
Make it clear to me that pet insurance is not really the best product. Better to just set aside some money and do regular checkups if you’re that attached. Gail you knows I luvs ya but unless you have a stronger argument you haven’t mentioned, you’re off on pet insurance.
January 28, 2010 at 10:31 am
Just a caveat about buying second hand gear for unvaccinated puppies. Be sure that you properly disinfect anything you buy second hand to protect your puppy against deadly diseases like Parvo. Parvo germs can live on surfaces for months and months. We know – our puppy had it. He made it through but what a frightening, expensive time ($2000 in vet bills). I, personally would never give a new puppy any second hand gear that I wasn’t sure could be 100% disinfected (like soft toys, blankets etc). They say that crates can be disinfected, but I don’t know if I’d take the risk. Maybe save the second hand gear for older dogs who’ve had their vaccinations already and their immune systems are healthy.
January 28, 2010 at 10:33 am
We have pets and we never considered health insurance. Perhaps owners of the fragile purebreds (e.g., dalmatians-I’m told vets see dollar bills when they see these poor, inbred, health problem-ridden animals) would benefit, but we adopted a mutt from the pound, and the worst problem he’s had in 10 years is a broken tooth. Sure, it cost a bit to have him anesthetized so they could pull it, but only a few hundred bucks, nothing compared to insurance premiums for his 11 years on Earth (so far, hopefully many more). Of course, you could argue that we’re lucky, and we are, but I agree with Geoff-I haven’t seen the value in this insurance. I have insurance to mitigate serious risks (auto, home, life, disability, liability etc.) but if you can’t put aside a few hundred dollars over time to care for the health of your pet, perhaps your budget is too tight to accommodate a furry friend. They add so much to our lives, that its tempting to say “screw the budget” and just take the plunge, but imagine the heartache when you have decide whether to trade your family’s financial well-being for your pet’s health.
January 28, 2010 at 10:37 am
I also had the experience of adding up costs and realizing that I was seriously underestimating the cost of pet ownership. I would have guessed that I spend $50.00 per month on my dog and cat, but after tracking my pet expenses fairly diligently for several years, I find that my average is about $120.00 per month for food, vet bills, toys, grooming, etc. I’m not excessive, don’t take the dog to day-care, or even pay to have him walked. This is just for the regular expenses of responsible pet ownership.
For people looking for healthy alternatives to grocery store dog food options, without going to the trouble of cooking the meals yourself, there are lots of options which don’t include the brand which vets seem to push in their offices. Many independent or small pet food chains carry a variety of high quality lines and even though they seem pricey, the difference in quality is often well worth the cost. A quick review of several internet sites (culling the blatant schills) should give you lots of ideas.
January 28, 2010 at 10:49 am
Geoff, I couldn’t agree more (about pets not being people). I was trying to think of a way to politely say the same thing.
I don’t have any beef with people who love animals. Just please don’t compare them to children or other human beings.
January 28, 2010 at 10:50 am
Also, I love cats, but won’t even consider having one while I’m paying off debt. It just seems like an unnecessary expense at this time.
January 28, 2010 at 10:56 am
Setting a limit for medical intervention is a very good idea. We lost both of our beloved pets in 2009 to different cancers. Our cat had a tumour in her belly and the vet took it out, did all the tests and found it was malignant…it was once and he did it all for $500 (which was very discounted). I decided after that, if they came back, and the vet said it was very likely they would, that I would say goodbye to her. The tumours came back with a vengeance and the vet agreed that I was making the right decision. Our dog, Daisy, developed lymphoma this past October. We looked at the treatment and looked at the cost and after finding out it would only prolong her life a few short months, we decided to have her put down as well. A friend spent $10,000 treating her dog with lymphoma and we just could not justify spending that money when there was no hope for cure or remission. We couldn’t justify having her suffer and put her through that.
We are thinking about another dog, in a few years when our youngest is around 3 or 4 years old (she’s just going to be 1 next month). By then we’ll have the time to dedicate to the dog and we will be debt free.
January 28, 2010 at 11:04 am
I have 3 bunnies and a dog. I couldn’t imagine life without them. I budget more a month for them then I do for groceries for me. But they are SO worth it. My emergency fund is larger because I need to have extra money for emergency vet visits. I have been caught without the extra money and some large vet bills. Having the extra money means I don’t have to think twice when the vet says well this test will cost “X” amount. I can just say yes. Having said that I have a GREAT vet who even preformed a very expensive surgery for free!!! I love my babies sooo much and would do anything for them.
January 28, 2010 at 11:29 am
There is one other expense that pets can cause – ruined furniture/possessions. I am the proud owner of a lovable kitty who has enriched my life immensely but she has behavioural issues – a bad, bad habit of spraying/marking objects. She has ruined two leather couches and one chair. Her temperment is amazing but she suffers from extreme anxiety (she was rescued from a kill shelter , passed from home to home until I came along). I’ve had her for 5 years now and have tried everything to “calm” her down. I resorted to medication but that didn’t work – she would spit the pill back out! I no longer have a couch in my living room and instead sit on dining room chairs and even two fold-up patio lounge chairs!! I’m concerned I’ll never be able to get a nice couch again but I can’t give her up for adoption or put her down. The vet has even told me that it’s behavioural – not a medical issue that causes her to spray.
I’m sure I sound like a crazy cat lady but you never know what kind of personality your pet will have. Be patient and be aware that pet costs may include ruined furniture and/or possessions!!
January 28, 2010 at 11:58 am
I am not against having pets, I have had some of my own over the years, but I will not let my husband get the cat he really wants. I think they take alot of work and I will not clean the litter box when it loses interest from my husband. We also work alot and go on vacations. I have seen how my fil’s cats have destroyed his house and sofa. I’m also allergic to cats and will not take meds just to make hubby happy. I’m glad it saves us money we don’t have. One day I would like a dog or some fish but hubby likes cats.
I remember in trade school a couple said they ate mac and cheese and ramen noodles for months because their cat jumped out of the window 3 stories. The surgery cost a fortune. I am that person Gail mentioned that would be horrified that people would spend the money vs. putting down a sick animal (the FIL is injecting his diabetic cat twice a day) and some would think that I’m wrong but I have never had huge attachments to animals.
January 28, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Another thing to be careful of is agreeing to look after a relatives pet.
I made this mistake once and came home to a chewed front room couch and matching chair,the stupid mutt ate the arms off each!!!
Timberline moccassins left as a form of beef jerky.
Runnning shoes,brand name reduced to unrecognizable shreds, plus numerous other pieces of household bric a brac reduced to shavings and tatters.
All the dog did was look up at me with that typical what me worry look when I came into the mess.
January 28, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Something else to consider is, if you are single, have you planned for your pets future if something happens to you unexpectedly?
I have had pets in my life for as long as I can recall. However, I’ve owned only cats the past 30 years. Cats can easily be indoor only pets. Also I’m sometimes at work for 10 or 11 hours straight so could never put a dog through that. But I doubt I will ever own a dog again anyways because I find dogs too needy and predictable (ie boring).
I can only see buying pet insurance if one has a purebred animal. My friend with purebred dogs always seems to have vet bills to deal with. When my 16 year old cat developed cancer I had her put to sleep. I could not justify the expense knowing the treatment was unlikely to save her. It was a very hard decision but I decided it was the most unselfish one considering her age. She went to sleep in my arms.
I budget for my cats but have had to increase their food allowance as I’ve recently switched them to better cat food (weight issues starting). So their food budget will go up and I will cut back on some of my own expenses.
January 28, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Boy can I relate to this post. I have two beautiful dogs and I love them dearly. Unfortunately, my girl is gluten intolerant, so her food is expensive! My solution is to put away $50 biweekly in a planned spending account for pets. This money is used for food, obedience school (I just got my boy a month ago and the home he was at before didn’t train him), vet visits etc. I spent $500 and learned how to groom my dogs at home (the course came with all the tools). Given that it costs $75 per dog, that paid off in less then a year. No dog walkers or doggy daycare. We do a lot of good old fashioned walks and trips to the dogpark and these don’t cost anything!!
January 28, 2010 at 12:28 pm
I have two small dogs which will both be 10 years old in Feb. They are non-shedding breeds which have no particular known breed-related defects (such as deafness in Dalmations). HOWEVER …
1. Our “lemon” has had arthritis at 2 years and subsequent arthoscopic (sp?) surgery on his leg.
2. The lemon was diagnosed with diabetes at 5 years old … which means monthly huge costs in high-fiber food to help him absorb his twice-daily insulin. Of course the other dog eats this food too so up goes the bill. I do cut it with a cheaper brand but it’s still expensive. Not to mention the insulin itself, needles, and blood glucose testing at the vet.
3. Then the lemon developed cataracts at about age 6 as a side effect of the diabetes. The only funny thing was that he ended up with the same cataracts as my dad did – checked the little cards!!
They are both groomed at a local big-box pet store (not very expensive) near my house twice/year, and they have annual vaccinations and bi-annual or annual dental work.
On top of all this they have toilet training issues and I’m getting REALLY tired of picking up hidden poops.
Obviously this is mostly my fault since I must not have trained them properly, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with.
Much as I love dogs in general and these dogs specifically, I am DONE. I am so ready to have them put down rather than spend any more money on them but my DH would be horrified. He definitely sees them as part of our family, and I agree with that but my perspective has changed somewhat since we have had children. He feels that with all the money we have so far spent on this dog, “where do you draw the line”? (his words not mine). Frankly, I draw the line at any more emergency care. WOW, those emerg vets are expensive. Or any more major emerging health issues and/or surgeries.
Overall, we have spent $10,000+ on our lemon for his surgeries and tests alone in the last 10 years. I now budget $250/mo for food + insulin + needles + grooming + vaccinations. If (and that’s a big IF) there is any money left over it goes toward dental work. This is still cheaper than insurance would be, which, incidentally, my vet has said that he would definitely buy if he weren’t a vet.
Whew. Thanks for letting me vent. Seeing the numbers in b&w is making me a bit queasy… .
January 28, 2010 at 12:31 pm
You ain’t seen nothing till your two daughters each have a pony!
I’m afraid that I’ll be working till I’m 85 to pay off my debts…a large mortgage to move to a farm…ponies live to be about 35…and now that daughters are in university, guess who foots the bill? (No, you can’t SELL family members).
Still, they give hours of joy just watching them and their soft nuzzles whenever I come near makes it all worthwhile. I’m lucky to have been able to take on this debt and after yesterday’s blog, I feel sure that the ponies will help me stay healthy as I keep working!
And I do save on garden fertilizer!
January 28, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Good blog today, lots to think about. We have two cats and a dog. We did have three cats but the two were old cats (18 years +). One died at home in March and the other I had to euthanize a month or so ago. I have since replaced with a kittten.
We cook for our dog and the nicest thing about it is not buying the dog food. She was chunky for awhile but it’s amazing what a difference measuring out the food and cutting down on the “guilt” cookies makes. Just like for myself, I have to watch what she eats. She loves apples and get a banana and yogurt with toast for breakfast. She gets walked 2 x a day with the exception of extreme windchills and any temps below -40C . For me the best attach was measuring her food. It makes me laugh when I look at her dinner (fish, brown rice and brocolli) and think “that looks good”. I haven’t sat down and figured out what they cost me. The cats cost about $56 a month (includes dog treats). Both have been healthy.
I don’t think that the cooking for them makes the fat or is bad for them. There is a good book out there called “The Heart of the Matter” which discusses the pros of feeding your animals. As it is for us, it’s the amount you eat, not what you eat.
Looking forward to the rest of the comments. Stay warm everyone.
D
January 28, 2010 at 1:43 pm
I agree with Geoff that pets are not people too.. Pets will give us a responsibly but will never turn into adults or change but will always be a pet..
I have a parreket for a first pet but bought cage though KIJJI website for a fraction of the price and even though the previous owner cleaned it. I gave it my extra cleaning… I spent alot in beginning for toys for cage but now it’s just food which it’s probaly around hundred bucks a yr. When I get sick the bird catches my cold too since it’s always sitting on my shoulder .. So I never brought too vet for another check up but give the bird tea too get over it..
Two weeks before last Christmas hubby ask what I wanted and I said a dog.. ( even though few months over I would mentioned other things & I willy didn’t think he would find one just in time for Christmas) He and his brother looked for a dog that would suite me. BANG!! I got a pure breed dog for Christmas which is cheaper from breeder than pet store.. (We’ve been talking about a dog off & on for a couple yrs.. But I wasn’t too inclined and taking responsible of pet at that time..) Four weeks into having her.. Her leg gets broken and off to Vet for that So far spent $250 for that but atlest it’s from a saved fund… She doing real good though! I except to spend on Vet bills over fifteen yrs before she dies is what I paid for her.. I can’t wait to have splint taken off to go on long walks again.. Bro. in law & I went halvers on a groomers set that I groom the dogs to save money over the years.. First few cuts will be challenging but improve with practice. No point of buying plastic toys if all animals may choke on them so look in other animal departments for wood toys to chew on..
Another thought when u buy toys at pet stores where ur allowed to bring pets in. Some toys other animals have pick it up or what ever on it while the owner is shopping for toys.. Yuk! U think ur buying a clean toy which only humans hands have touch it..
January 28, 2010 at 1:51 pm
We have two spoiled indoor cats, and this winter my boyfriend started feeding the neighbourhood stray cat by leaving a bowl of food on our balcony twice a day. Turns out at least three different outdoor cats are eating this food, so the boyfriend switched to a bigger bowl. We started buying the cheap foods for the outdoor cats, as we figure any food is better than no food.
If you’ve ever wandered over to Craigslist in the pets to give section, you’ll notice that a lot of people have animals to give because their children have allergies. Just something to think about if you want to get a pet and also are thinking of starting a family soon.
Lint brushes (the sticky kind) … you have to budget for them if you are planning on getting any kind of furry pet.
January 28, 2010 at 1:54 pm
To my husband & I our pets are very special and give us a lot of happiness. I do, however, respect that not everyone feels this way and can understand those who don’t. I don’t consider them our children, but I do consider them to be like best friends and love them with all my heart.
We have 4 dogs and 5 cats and the costs of caring for them responsibly are considerable. Fortunately my husband and I each earn a very good living, and with no children have the income to support our of love of pets.
That being said, we have been faced with the need to make decisions on very costly vet care a few times over the years and always make those decisions based on what’s best for the pet, regardless of how much we love them and will miss them when they are gone.
We have had two dogs diagnosed with cancer; one was given 2 months to live without treatment (other than the initial surgery), or 4 months with (very expensive) treatment. Even though he was only 8 years old we opted not to pursue treatment; not because of the cost but because living 2 months or 4 months made no difference to the dog, just to us. We agreed to let him go before any suffering started, which ended up being almost exactly the predicted 2 months, and made the best of the time we had with him.
The other dog had a much better prognosis post-surgery but still we decided not to pursue treatment and let nature take its course. That was 2 years ago and she’s still going strong, with no reoccurence.
This same dog tore the ACL’s in both her knees, the first 2 years ago which we opted not to do surgery but instead do rehab, and the second last summer. She was 13 at the time but otherwise very healthy and happy, so we opted for surgery but not the “Caddilac” variety that we would have done if she was a much younger dog. Still, that surgery was about $3K, was a complete success and was worth every penny to us.
And thanks to Gail, we have a pet savings account and did not have to go into debt to pay for it!
January 28, 2010 at 1:56 pm
I’ve had a Gerbil, Mice, a Rabbit, Fish, Cats, Dogs, a Chinchilla and Stick Insects as pets since leaving home on my own…. not all at once!
The Gerbil and Chinchilla were more pesky than loving… the mice were loving but short-lived and just as stinky as all the nocturnal rodents.
The fish were a HUGE amount of work and surprisingly expensive to keep healthy… (but I did get a lot of enjoyment out of them when I was forced into bedrest for a month with my second pregnancy).
Dogs are needy, high maintenance, expensive, extremely dirty by nature (oh so dirty!) and completely LOVABLE when all the hard work of training them is kept up. Harder than the kids in some ways…. (LOL) And adopting an adult dog comes with whatever baggage they are already carrying with behaviour A LOT OF WORK to get them balanced/trained sometimes. Then again puppies take massive amounts of time too. But arguably the best rewards come from a good dog too.
The cats are pretty easy in comparison to the dogs. And cheaper (if kept inside). Litter box is gross, but no grosser than picking up dog-doo. They are high on the affection scale but can be vendictive. They also have a great independence that gives you a break from the neediness a dog has. You can leave a cat overnight with good supplies and not worry about it too much (for an emotionally stable cat). All my cats were adult rescue cats and very happy, loving critters. I won’t get a kitten, my kitten experiences have always been unpredictable and destructive.
Strangely the EASIEST pet in my history of pets has to be the stick insects! They are completely silent, clean, they eat blackberry leaves and english ivy (pest plants anyways) and entertaining too. I covered my old aqaurium with a tight, mosquito net frame (the babies are TINY) and lightly mist them every couple days and feed them about once a week or so. They dance, quietly sit on my hand and don’t bite…. easy easy pets.
January 28, 2010 at 2:26 pm
I know a lady who loves cats. Her husband has a decent job and she had a so-so job that was actually pretty boring. They decided to take a risk and built a cat boarding place in the shed in their backyard. For a minimal investment, they created a unique boarding facility where the cats get to roam free in the enclosed area (indoors and out) while their folks go on vacation or whatever. In our area, crazy people pay ~$500 per week for their cat and her facility is always full (something like 10-12 cats). This lady is raking in the dough and all she does is pet cats when she wants. She hired her basement suite renter to sit with the cats while she’s away. Smart lady, and doing very well. I have friends who look after our cat.
January 28, 2010 at 2:34 pm
With all due respect to those people that say that pets aren’t people… who are you to say how much someone should love a pet? Those that love their pets to pieces shouldn’t possibly love their animal as much as a child. I don’t believe that, and it’s not cool to say that. I don’t tell you how much to love the people in your lives.
Our dog is a member of our family. Period. When we got our dog we made a commitment to him that was for the rest of his life, regardless of cost. (After all, I wouldn’t put a limit on how much I’d spend on my children’s medical bills, would I? To me it’s the same thing. And, if you don’t get it, I can’t explain it to you, but again, don’t say that a pet isn’t as equal in value as a person – that’s not for you to decide.) The only way we wouldn’t keep paying is if it wasn’t going to do him any good and he was in pain. His quality of life is paramount.
A previous poster mentioned that there are tons of people on Craigslist who give up their pets when they have children – those are people who shouldn’t have had pets in the first place as it’s completely irresponsible.
January 28, 2010 at 2:54 pm
@Benny; saying that people are irresponsible when having to give up their pet is not fair. We have had our lovable mutt for almost 10 years. My children will be 8 this summer. He was first in the door and I love him – he is better behaved than my children – but since my children came when he was about 2 years old – should they had developed allergies to the dog or shown aggression towards my children – I would have had to find a loving home for him – how is that irresponsible?
Our dog is at home with my self employed husband and is spoiled rotten and he believes that everyone that comes to the business/our home comes to see him. He is well behaved because we took the time to take him to dog obedience classes and train him. The dog goes “just” about everywhere with my husband and if the twins are going, he figures that he should be able to go to. He is a member of our family and is treated as such. However, my children are my first priority. Period. If he was aggressive, caused allergies, etc we would have to find him a loving home. I believe that to be a responsible pet owner.
January 28, 2010 at 3:09 pm
@ Benny – echoing Joanne – Pets are pets, children are children. I’m not saying that you can’t love a pet as much a child, just that if there conflict between the child and the pet, the pet goes. I don’t know any parent that would choose keeping a pet over a child, maybe you’re the first? I think most rational pet owners believe that a child is more of a family member than a pet. It is possible to love x-men #1 as much as you love a child as much as you love a pet, but I know which 1 of the 3 I’m saving first in a fire.
From the simpsons: Lisa, upset over losing her cat because they can’t afford the vet bill: “Is that what we do in this family? Just lockup a family member and wait for them to die?” And then they show Grandpaw sitting alone in the Old Age Nursing Home.
January 28, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Yay Benny. Your pet is your family. Often a pet gives much more than a human. So you are responsible for giving the pet good food, shelter, love and medical care.
January 28, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Laura: for cats who won’t take pills, compounding pharmacies can make up a transdermal gel to rub in her ears, or a liquid with flavour to add to her food, or even make up flavoured treats.
January 28, 2010 at 3:49 pm
I love dogs. I miss having one ever since I moved out of my parents place. The “right time” just has not come yet. Either I wwas working two jobs and couldn’t leave the dog alone for that long or my place was too small (390sq ft) and the area I lived in was unsafe for dog walks. Now that I am in my first house the money is just not there to provide comfortably for a dog plus I do not get home from the gym till 7 or 8 which means the dog would be alone for 12 hours on most week days. I really look forward to the day I can have a dog. We thought that when we moved into the house we would get one when the renovations were done which was back in September but now we are spending all of our extra money on the wedding. We hop that after the wedding we can re-evaluate our situation and find something that we can make work. I get to doggysit my parents dog that I grew up with for two weeks usually every 6 months or so while they go travelling so that helps keep me content in the mean time.
January 28, 2010 at 4:00 pm
@ Geoff – I disagree. If there’s conflict between your child and your pet, the pet doesn’t automatically go. Neither does the child – that’s ridiculous. What I’m saying, is that if you get a pet, it’s a lifetime commitment and you have to learn how to deal with these things. If an older child started showing aggression to a younger one, do you give him away? No. You teach the child that it’s wrong…same with a pet.
Also, as a pet owner I don’t think I’m irrational to think that my dog is as equally as important as my child and deserves the same commitment as my child does. When my kid gets difficult, I don’t just give it away…that’s ridiculous.
@ joanne – Fair enough if that’s what works for you. However, in my house, if my pet started showing aggression, I’d retrain the pet and if it was allergies? Well, we’d put the child on medication.
I don’t believe that it’s fair to a pet to take them into your home and then give them up if your life goes in a different direction. Pets get attached to their owners…it’s not fair to change their whole lives as a consequence of a life choice YOU have made. If a person feels that way, then they probably shouldn’t get a pet…maybe then, shelters wouldn’t be so overrun and so many animals wouldn’t have to be euthanized unneccesarily. It’s not a “well, my life is okay now, but who knows in a few years” decision.
January 28, 2010 at 4:02 pm
@ dlm – Thanks for the suggestion, I will locate a compounding pharmacy! I’ve tried everything else, so will certainly try this!
January 28, 2010 at 4:05 pm
To people caught with a big vet bill, shop around, especially if you live in the city but near the country. I have found “farm” vets will treat household pets for cheaper and they often have more equipment on site so it is cheaper for diagnosis as they don’t need to send stuff away and pay for someone else to do it.
If you are just in the city still shop around, my mother has 6 cats and switched vets to and saves every time she has to visit over the place she used to go to.
Another thing is talk to your vet about what vaccines your animal really needs, with my 2 cats being indoor only they don’t need a much as if they went outside.
I agree that pet insurance seems like a bit of a rip off given that they limit what they cover and reduce it as the animal get older, what I have always done is set aside a small portion of my savings amount every month into a pet account.
Finally for people worried about travel research your options, I have a pet sitter service and I factor the cost into the trip budget. When I used family/friends I found it became harder to coordinate during specific holidays (Christmas was a big one) so the service is nice as they have back-up people so I never have to stress.
January 28, 2010 at 4:07 pm
I am a transplanted farm ‘girl’, who found an ad on a local website looking for a loving home for a 3 yr old Arabian cross mare, ‘price not an issue’. Out of curiosity, I called and asked what they were asking for her and was told “NOTHING”. They just wanted her to be loved and cared for. Coming from a long line of horse people, regardless of presently living in a city, I made the trip to meet Silk. Out of four responders to that ad, I was granted ownership of the horse. I have posted many times about Silk, and the unbelievable joy and structure she has brought to my life. She had been malnourished by the original owners during a divorce dispute, rescued by the ppl who gave her to me (they already had two dogs, three horses and a baby, and were advised to find her a new home this way). I was fortunate that where she was being boarded was willing to allow me to keep her there, a small farm within 10 km of my city, on a good highway. Boarding costs me $100/month in the summer, and $130/month in the winter. I know that she always has food, water and shelter. I top up her feed with supplements, and if I can’t get out to the farm, I know that the farm owner or his FIL are out there daily doing their own chores. The Farrier costs $30, four to five times a year. The big expense for Silk came from not having owned a horse for over 20 years, and not owning any tack/grooming tools whatsoever. I have since accumulated brushes, halter/lead rope, bridle, and a saddle. I also found a second part time job to pay to have Silk broke to ride, which involved moving her to another barn, and higher costs. Many ppl have asked me “what are you going to do with her?”, and the simple answer is ‘ride her’. I have been forced to do a lot of soul searching recently, considering that the only time I did ride her (she’s not done training yet) another horse spooked, bumped into her, she spooked, and I came off her back – landing flat on my back, and causing considerable pain (I am over 50!). Five days later, after returning her to her original home for a break from training, I slipped and fell leading her into the barn, and broke a rib!! Will I ever ride Silk? Darn right I will. Luckily, I have good people to ensure that Silk is cared for while I am laid up. I went out to visit her a week ago, even tho I could not even lift my arms to halter her, fed her some of her supplements, and she licked me, much like a dog would! I know she knows that I am her ‘mother’, and will not abandon her. While in training, she developed a ‘one in a million’ problem of a prolapsed rectum. Two emergency vet trips, and she is now ok, but that cost me $450. If she would have had to have further treatment, she would have been shipped to the vet college 2 1/2 hours away and would have cost in the thousands. Has my ‘free’ horse cost me a lot of money? Oh yeah. BUT, I don’t smoke, drink, go out to fancy restaurants, buy a lot of clothes, or take expensive vacations. Silk, and my ‘free’ purebred Golden Retriever Bailey, ensure that when I am not working, that I am outside getting exercise, and focusing on another living creature outside of myself. I can’t imagine my life without either of my girls, and will do whatever it takes to keep them healthy and happy. On a side note, not being a home owner, having a large breed dog meant that it took me about four months to find a suitable rental that would even allow me to keep my dog. If I were ever to leave this rental, I know that I would have trouble again finding someplace to live. For those who complain about pets ruining furniture, or leaving hidden poop surprises, consider this: would you leave a toddler home alone, unattended all day? Dogs are still puppies up to about two years of age. Kennel your dog while you are gone to eliminate the surprises or carnage, just make sure to provide adequate exercise and attention when you get home. My son and I take Bailey with us camping, she loves it. She also loves going to the store, even if she does have to stay in the van for a few minutes, she gets to get out and see different scenery. I guess in a way, my horse and dog are replacements for my grown sons – I need something to look after!!
January 28, 2010 at 4:19 pm
I wish I could have a pet. We always had cats growing up, and dogs when I was a teenager. But fish are a hassle (tank cleaning) and I don’t want to get a furry beast before having children and finding out their allergy status (a lot of hayfever in the family, no animal allergies, but you never know). And of course, new dogs and babies don’t really mix (too much training!!). Those stick insects sound like a good bet for the next few years …
January 28, 2010 at 4:27 pm
For those wanting to try raw feeding, it doesn’t have to be costly and I would argue is the best diet for most dogs as it is as close to the diet their wolf ancestors would have eaten, but without the messy carcass clean up.
I feed my 50 lb dog for about $1.50 a day. That’s just over 1 lb of raw meat daily and the odd bone every couple of days for cleaning her teeth.
In Vancouver, Surrey Meat Packers packages up raw chicken/bone/veg in approx 20 lb bags (1 lb precut bricks) and sells it out of their plant in Cloverdale, or you can get it through their butcher in North Van (Jolly Meats).
Optionally, Mountain Dog Food (MDF) is also reasonably priced quality food that I fed my previous dog before finding Surrey Meat Packers. MDF comes out of Alberta I believe and they distribute to a load of places in Canada.
Anyone wanting a simple and easy to read book introducing raw feeding can look for Carina Macdonald’s book Raw Dog Food.
January 28, 2010 at 4:31 pm
As the owner of two young and energetic cats, I would add: Know what you can afford to lose, what you can afford to replace, and what you need to protect some way or the other.
dlm: With home-made pet food, the old equation of time vs money comes in. We did it for an old and ill dachshound, and it was half an hour extra in the kitchen every day — and *more* expensive than canned food, as we did not have the time to buy “pet food grade” meat in bulk. With twice as much time we might have got off cheaper. When the cats (the previous ones) became old and ill, I bought them diet food instead of cooking it myself.
The previous cats cost me about 30 Euro a month (for two), then 50 when I switched to dry food, and 110 in the last year of their lives.
I’d get liability insurance for a dog, but not for a cat. I didn’t even know there was pet health insurance until right now, but I wouldn’t get it. Those 720 Euro over normal costs paid for a four-day hospital stay, three sets of blood tests and two x-rays, three months of diet food, one tumor removed, four months of meds, and finally putting them both to sleep.
Making cats take pills: Little Cat had to take anti-epilepsy drugs which came in too large doses. I mashed every pill in a mortar, mixed the powder with a spoonful of liver sausage (Little Cat loved liver sausage) and made six cat treats from the drugged liver sausage. Never a problem getting him to eat them…
January 28, 2010 at 4:50 pm
I married Dr. Doolittle – did not know this because he spells his name differently. I love animals (always have) but I am sensible – mostly. He isn’t. Instead of replacing our defunct lawn mower with a lawn mower he came home with a goat. Stupid thing didn’t know to eat the weeds and leave the flowers. He found a horse wandering down the highway so abandoned our car in order to walk it home. “Can we keep him?” NO. We live in a mobile home park. He rescued 5 Canada Geese goslings who were separated from their mother by a flash flood and you haven’t lived until you have tried to get green goose poop off of a white German Shepherd. She just had to roll and scoooootch around on her back.
We have always had a lot of dogs and cats because they seem to find us. I think there is a neon sign in the forest behind our house that points here. We have spent a lot of time, energy and money on our animals. We went into debt for vet bills – some lived, some died. You pays your money and you takes your chances and no matter what decisions you make having a pet sets you up for heartache. But they are worth the pain. We regret nothing. No one in our family ever went without because of our animals. We just went into debt to expand the budget. But then again we were such idiots with our money that our budget was a joke and we went into debt for everything anyways. Now we live differently (cash and debt free) and our pets have their own part of the monthly budget, emergency fund and planned spending. We will always save our peeps first (even on those days when sister washes my white hand knit sweater with a red towel and teenage moron snowboards off the roof right into the side of the neighbour’s RV and we really, really don’t want to be around them let alone save them) but we will go back for the pets.
People have always felt the need and taken the right to make judgmental comments on our ownership of pets. “You spend what on your dawg? Seriously?” Yep. And more on the cats. When I was young I used to be polite but now it is straight to the MYOB pick a fight. And you spend what on your beer? Shoes? Manicures? Hockey tickets? Car? etc. etc. Shut up.
We each get to choose what we think is important in life and pay for it so I will never be without a dog and a cat and they are provided for in my will. Guardian chosen and money for expenses set aside. Our animals do bring additional expenses but they give us great joy and I would just like to point out that my neighbour has 3 ski-doos as well as the damaged RV and they bring additional expenses but give him great joy as well. He talks to them and I have even seen him stroking the seat of the Ski-Doo MXZ TNT 550F. His wife not so much.
January 28, 2010 at 5:12 pm
I think what Gail was trying to get across in this post is more about the responsibility of pet ownership. It is not a debate about whether pets are human or not. We all feel differently about our pets and have different comfort levels as to how much money, time, effort etc we would or could spend on them.
If you choose to own an animal then you are responsible to take proper care of that animal and should be prepared financially to take care of it should it get ill. Is there a limit to the amount, of course but I have seen too many animals be put to down simply because the cost to cure them is a bit of money. If the animal can be cured and live a decent life afterward how is it fair to “kill” them because you were not responsible enough to save some money. If you are going to put your family in dire straights then that is a different story but not wanting to “waste” money is very selfish.
If a person does have a problem with the pet once children appear on the scene then no it is not irresponsible to have the pet moved to another home if necessary as long as you do your due diligence and make sure it is going to a good home and not just placing it in a shelter making it someone else’s issue.
While pets are not human, they are living creatures who deserve respect and are not just some toy that you tire of and throw away! If you are going to bring one into your life prepare yourself for all of the expenses and obligations they bring with them.
January 28, 2010 at 5:44 pm
I love my 2 dogs and 2 cats, and treat them just as I would my own children. They are part of my family and I base my decisions about their care on what is best for them. I have an extra emergency fund for vet bills, and I home-cook for them because it is healthier (I put a lot of time into researching a healthy diet). I do my own grooming and have an arrangement with several local friends to swap pet-sitting services. Thank you for posting this article and discussing what it means to be a responsible pet owner! It’s really an important topic.
January 28, 2010 at 6:06 pm
@Maureen- hahahahahahahahahahHAHAHAHAHA I can’t breathe..
January 28, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Maureen; I so missed your posts! Welcome back!
January 28, 2010 at 6:16 pm
@ Lisa – well put and couldn’t agree more.
January 28, 2010 at 6:45 pm
@Maureen – you’re a great storyteller, what fun to read your post today!
I’ve had many animals over my lifetime: 3 dogs, 4 cats, an uncountable number of hamsters, guinea pigs, budgies… They have all brought immesurable joy, frustration and sadness into my life but I wouldn’t change any of it.
Long ago, before I knew how to budget PROPERLY I always made do, even after we had to put down the $2100 cat. I was away and my bf at the time couldn’t bear to let the poor thing die, yikes! The cat was never the same mentally and we ended up having to put it down because he was so unstable.
I can honestly say I don’t understand how people can dress up their ittle oggie woggies in those soooo cute outfits and then carry them around in their handbags all day, but to each his own, right?
The ultimate question is this: is the pet enriching your life and are you enriching its? If so then more power to you!
January 28, 2010 at 6:47 pm
I am an animal person for sure. Especially cats. I cannot wait to move and be able to adopt a little cat from the shelter. I visit about once a month to see the cats and new kittens. SO CUTE!
Maureen, I loved your post. I agree completely that it’s up to us to determine what is important to us. Some of us may want to spend $1000s more on a huge house and vacation and fancy cars. Some of us would choose to spend that money on our pets instead. Is either of us right or wrong, no. It’s up to us to determine what is important.
Pets are a huge responsibility though, and I do not think one should get a pet unless they can care for it fully. It’s just not fair to the pet.
January 28, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Maureen – you always know how to make us smile : ) Thank you.
Lisa – well said.
January 28, 2010 at 8:15 pm
We have 2 small dogs that are a big part of our family, we also have a son in university whom I think would run from the fire with one under each arm, I just hope he would let us know before he bolts.
January 28, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Interesting blog and replies. Hubby and I grew up with dogs and waited 8 years (to have a child and a house with a yard) before getting the dog of our dreams (crazy busy chocolate lab). I am glad we waited and were prepared for this adventure because it is a lot busier than we had ever dreamed…interesting how things are different as an adult pet owner than a child with a family dog. HaHa.
I talk about how I couldn’t imagine spending a fortune for medical care (don’t worry we do all the recommended annual stuff and taken care of a few minor infections) but if push came to shove I’m sure we would do as much as possible…since he is my husband’s “buddy” and our “second child”. It works for us!
January 28, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Well said Benny – I couln’t agree more!!!
January 28, 2010 at 8:34 pm
I will NOT keep a pet in a situation where it will cause the animal hardship. When I commit to an animal, it is because I believe I am the best thing for it and will give it a full and rewarding existance. Sometimes life has other plans, and a decision has to be made. Only the pet’s well being should be a factor, not my ego. I am passionate about that stand on it.
I had a heartbreaking experience with a dog that was a terrible fit. He started off fine but got really agressive when the baby came. He was fine to my husband but very protective of me, and downright scary to the baby and other children. Maybe I could have trained it out of him, but he was miserable with all the restrictions we had on him for our children’s safety! We lived with him for a year this way trying to make it work. I started to really resent him and even be afraid of him myself. What kind of a life is that for a dog?
A decision had to be made rationally… so I CAREFULLY selected a new home for him, someone who really wanted a companion animal to even bring to work, liked my dog and had no kids (or even any prospects of kids). They got along great, and I followed up on them for a whole year, this dog was HAPPIER with the new household, and our household was saner without him.
Keeping a pet just because you made a commitment is cruel. The commitment should be for the animals’ wellbeing.
January 28, 2010 at 10:14 pm
well said *pol
January 29, 2010 at 12:00 am
Like some other posters, I am also skeptical of pet insurance. When my now 13-year old dog was a puppy, I looked into it and decided it was not a good deal due because of the rates, deductibles, maximum payouts, limitations, etc. Pet insurance might be a good idea for certain pure-bred pets, but is probably an expensive gamble for most mutts.
With regard to pet food… I joined Costco a couple of years ago and have saved tons of money on my dog food ever since then.
January 29, 2010 at 1:23 am
We have two pugs – one is 9 years old and the other is 7 years old. They are not just pets, they are family members and we did not want to find ourselves in a position where they develop a medical condition and we could not afford the medical bills to treat the condition. So we got pet insurance for both of our pugs and we had it since they were puppies. It came in handy when our first pug was a year old and was diagnosed with Lymphoma. He was very young and we wanted to help him fight the illness so we started the chemotherapy treatments. The vet said that he would probably only live 4 to 6 weeks without treatment and approximately 6 months to a year with treatment, although there was a chance that he could live longer. That was 8 years ago and he is still with us today. He has been in remission for nearly 8 years and the cancer has not returned. Today, he is a normal healthy dog and enjoys life. If it were not for our pet insurance, he would not be here today. Chemotherapy treatments are extremely expensive but they were covered through insurance. So for those of you who doubt the value of pet insurance, I believe it is completely worth it. Yes there is a monthly cost associated with the insurance but if your pet develops such a serious illness that is very costly to treat, you will deplete your vet savings pretty quickly. That is why pet insurance is so beneficial.
January 29, 2010 at 7:17 am
Another thing to is vets like to keep you coming
Generates money for them
The more you are led by emotion the more they make.
January 29, 2010 at 9:26 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ann-Marie Fleming, Gordon Milton, Charly, The 3rd Cat, RSS and others. RSS said: Pets are People Too « gailvazoxlade.com http://bit.ly/blClw3 [...]
January 29, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Maureen,
thank goodness you’re back! I can just imagine trying to get goose s*** of anything would be very difficult.
I love the chaos when we babysit our friend’s lab. Our Golden and the lab and the kids, and it is always in March when the mud comes too.
January 29, 2010 at 12:28 pm
a pet does take time but it doesn’t have 2 b costly. i have 4 dogs & am signed up 4 PET ASSURE http://www.petassure.com the way this program works is that @ every visit 2 the vet, no matter what my pets get done(surgery, shots, wuteva!,) i get an automatic 25% taken off my pet:) this makes having my 4 dogs fun & cheap;) i really recommend P.A!
January 29, 2010 at 12:40 pm
We love being DILDOS (Double Income Little Dog Owners) and are probably laughed at behind our backs by friends who think we think they are our children. For many, it is a choice between pets or children, not just because of money but mostly for time and training reasons. While I recognize the distinction between people and pets, there lots of pros to being a pet owner vs. a parent. Vet bills are much more economical than education funds, and we’re able to go out once in a while without having to pay a babysitter. I’m sure dog food is much cheaper than keeping teenagers fed as well and they have never once asked us for a cell phone or Ipod!
Our furkids are worth every penny
January 29, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Yes! Most people just go out and get pets without thinking about the costs! I am so glad you touched on this issue. As the daughter of a vet, I have seen some very sad cases where people did not have the money to pay bills or simply didn’t bring in their ill pet until the last minute and nothing could be done to save them. It is a huge responsibility that should be taken seriuously!
January 30, 2010 at 4:34 am
Interesting angle on pet ownership here. I’d say probably my biggest expense for my dogs in the long run is treats. They seem to do their best training with the expense treats, funnily enough.
Then of course there’s the vet bills. That’s a whole other kettle of fish.
It really is a big problem them, especially in the current economic climate. More people are giving up their JRTs to Jack Russell rescue organizations because they can’t afford to keep them. Then you have backyard breeders contributing to the problem just to make a buck.
January 30, 2010 at 6:51 am
Hi my name is Buddy the Beagle and my Mom has given me a majic jar of my own and I get an allownace every week, Out of that I have to put money away for Vet Visits, Medication and pay for my own food. mom even has a page for me in the handy tandy budget binder. Mom phoned around to find where she can get the best price for my food as I am on a special diet as I have been sick at times with pancreatitis. I sometimes hear Mom say to Dad “since Buddy has his own Jar he seems to have more food ahead than when we were buying for him”. I hope other furry kids get their own majic jar it really works. Right now I have 1 case of food ahead and a bag of the dry, and I have the money to pay for my license, my heart worm medications for summer and batteries for my collar for the invisable fence, and I still have savings. You might say I’m one lucky pup. I watch Till Debt Do Us Part with Mom Every Day. Mom and Dad have 2 Human Children and 5 grandchildren. But I am the only one home helping Mom and Dad so they don’t get lonely.
Well gota go I hear Mom calling it is breafast
Love Buddy the Beagle
January 31, 2010 at 2:40 pm
There are cat lovers and dog lovers.
I used to love them both till I got bit by a dog as an adult. Now they sense my fear.
I grew up with cats. We waited to get a cat until our children were here. Our first cat in our married life was put down at 18 as she was in so much pain. No chance of getting better. Took me 5 years before I could get another. Did lots of reading on the subject in those 5 years and learned you should get two of the same sex but from different litters.
We have two spoiled indoor female cats They will be 13 in July. They are always there after a rough day. Always glad to see us. No, they have not been declawed – a horrible practice. They are not allowed outside either.
Getting a pet is for their life time. It is a huge responsibility. A good way to teach responsibility to your children.
My Mom, an animal lover (cats, dogs, horses) always said she liked animals better than most people.
February 1, 2010 at 7:11 pm
I have a friend whose pets are impoverishing her. She has farm animals she never sees and refuses to sell them in case the new owners turn them into food. She has a sick cat who has been dying for over a year and her entire social calender is worked around pill times. I know I sound disgruntled, but it’s hard to be considered much less important than a cat. I also don’t want to hear her complain anymore about how she doesn’t have enough money to retire — Kitty will NOT be taking care of HER…
February 1, 2010 at 8:24 pm
I really liked to read this post.
I have 4 cats that I really love and cherish. Given them good food, and good vets treatments if needed are important to me.
Previously, someone wrote that it would be good to put 25-50$ per animal per month in savings to vets treatments if needed. I found this idea very useful and I will be doing this soon because I dont have emergency money for my pets if something happens. Thanks for all your comments!
February 3, 2010 at 12:25 pm
@dlm We have a kong ball (very bouncy) and two kong toys for our german shephards and they are indestructable. I would highly recommend these for training and fun toys for your new dog.
February 3, 2010 at 1:51 pm
@Sunshine:
I am proud to say that I love all my dogs and cats too and I would have dozens more plus horses if I could afford the vet bills. We have never found that the day to day expenses of our animals (food, toys, leashes, new shoes and couches etc) was unmanageable. When young they eat like …pigs ?… but as they age and require 22 hours and 49 minutes of sleep every day you can and must cut down their food. This is solid advice from a woman who has never had a cat that weighed under 20 pounds.
We actually have two vet funds. One in our monthly budget for regular vet expenses like vaccines and nail clips ($50 per month for all 4) and we have an emergency fund for the big expenses ($100 per month). We used to just go into debt for the serious stuff but since we reformed our evil ways we have been building this fund. If we had a do over we would start when they are young and healthy and the chances of a big expense is less. Lots of time for the fund to grow. This safety net is important to us and as my husband says it is very comforting to be prepared because if we need the money it is there and knowing what we have will also help us to make the right choices at the right time.
@ AnnieA
We put ourselves into debt for our animal’s vet bills. We actually don’t have any regrets except for those times when the temptation of hope led us to make choices that were for us and not in the best interest of the dog or cat. Anything to delay the pain of loss. We used credit for everything and never gave a thought to our debts so these vet bills were just another part of the problem. I spent as much on shoes. We do things differently now – pay cash and save for future vet bills – but I honestly cannot say that we would never go beyond our savings.
Your friend is putting herself in financial jeopardy but that is her choice and it is very hard to get people to change when their hearts or passions are involved. It would be great if a solution could be found for the farm animals (retirement to a hobby farm or petting zoo) and maybe friends and family could help to get this done. Living her life around the nursing schedule of her cat is also her choice and what obviously fulfils her. I personally find it very difficult coming second to a stupid car and it can be very frustrating when one sees a friend or family doing a lemming dash but sometimes all you can do is be there and accept the different strokes. Interrupt and change the subject when they start moaning about retirement or the cost and time delay for a special headlight or steering wheel.
In the end we all have our quirks and preferrences that make us who we are – no matter how silly, odd or stupid they seem to outsiders. My neice collects anything with roosters on it. Has about a thousand salt and pepper shakers and mugs. And I know that if it came down to a choice between going to the Oscars and walking the red carpet with famous movie stars or going to Gerald Durrell’ zoo on Jersey Island and shoveling out the penguin pool I would be going to the zoo. But I would wear my diamond earrings.
February 4, 2010 at 3:40 pm
@Suzanne:
NO such thing as a free lunch, horse or dog! But who cares. Nearly all of our cats and dogs have been freebees. Hmmmm. Come to think if it a couple were foisted on me when I was invited out to lunch. The Foisters must have known I would say yes because both the dog and cat were waiting in their cars with suitcases packed.
My Lovies came without a price tag and ended up costing us but I can honestly say that the joy and companionship that was given in exchange for a few pieces of silver was well worth it. We never made a dime on them so putting our money in dogs and cats was a bad financial investment – just like the mutual funds that tanked October 2008! And all I got for them was a banker who turned and ran when he saw me and then a phone call telling me too bad, so sad. At least the dogs and cats get hysterically happy to see me when I walk in the door. And I actually save money. A purring cat in my lap and a snoring dog lying on my feet gives me the same happy buzz and health benefits as a half bottle of red wine – and since we left the Okanagan valley and moved to the Yukon good wine ain’t cheap. About the same as a trip to the vet. I have to agree with whoever it was who said that if you have not loved a child or an animal a part of your soul lies asleep.
I was very sorry to read about your accidents. I hope that you are on the mend. Just wondering if the broken rib was something that could be expected with the impact. I know that you can break a bone in the oddest ways with hardly any traumatic force but I also know that it is important to make sure that you have good bone density – especially once you are past 40. Have you been tested? I used to love to ride as a child and had many spills but was fearless – except when I got manure on my face and in my hair! But then again children have soft bones and they bounce.
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