Pet Costs: A Reality Check
How much is that dog by the window? So goes an old song. It’s easy to fall in love with the dog at the pet store or shelter. But buying one, or even adopting one, isn’t the same as buying a nice pair of shoes or a cool shirt on a whim. Shoes and shirt can be simply put in the closet or disposed of after the initial whimsy or freshness is gone. The problem is how many dog lovers are we?
It’s easy to overlook the cost part when you think about the benefits. Or when you are simply in love with the dog or the idea of having one. How cool is it to wear a live toy dog like Tinkerbell of Paris Hilton fame. Or have an energetic bloodhound or lovely labrador for a walk or a run. Or a hunting dog to hunt. Or bring home a playmate for the dogs and a nice distraction for the kids. Psychologists tell us that pets and dogs teach young children such positive traits as kindness, care, love, and loyalty.
Several studies on the health benefits of pet ownership also show that pets make owners healthier by helping to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, prevent heart disease, and help fight depression. The positive effects of owning a pet even lower health care costs for people who, as a result, make fewer doctor visits for non-serious medical conditions.
The initial price of acquiring a dog as a pet may or may not be easy on the pocket depending on how much the household budget is. At the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) of San Francisco, for example, the cost of adopting a dog ranges from $80 to $300 depending on the age of the dog, plus a $20 license fee Of the dog. It recently adopted a policy of variable adoption fees, priced based on whether a certain dog or breed is in high demand, as a means of raising funds for the other animals in need at the shelter.
The American Pet Products Association (APPA) puts the average cost of buying a dog at $364, based on a 2011-2012 national survey of pet owners in which pet owners were asked about the amount spent on pets in the last 12 months. The higher cost is attributed to the ever-increasing cost of purebred dogs.
This is just the beginning. In the same survey, basic expenses for dog owners were estimated at $1,542 per year, which consisted of surgical visits to the vet, $407; veterinary routine, $248; food, $254; kennel, $274; vitamins, $95; travel expenses, $78; grooming/grooming aids, $73; food treats, $70; and toys, $43. If surgical visits and kennel accommodation were not factored in, given that the dog is healthy for most of its life and the owner has a family to leave the dog with when traveling, a safe bet for expenses is more than $800 a year.
In rare cases, you may be able to escape the initial cost of buying or adopting the dog you want. If you find a stray dog and decide to keep it unclaimed, after informing the local animal control agency or shelter of your choice. Some examples are the stories of two adopted dogs I met along the way. A rescue cleverly named Ruscoe after the human who found him, he is a chestnut tabby with an uncertain mongrel who was found sick and abandoned near a creek. Another is Winnie, a chihuahua, who was found barking and wandering confused on a busy street. When they were found, they could easily have been turned into poster dogs for owner irresponsibility and animal cruelty. There’s no escaping the ongoing expenses for these new parents: $12-$21 dog license and vet costs for immunization and treatment, cost undisclosed.
This is not to discourage dog ownership. This is opening our eyes to the reality of owning a dog. Expensive perhaps, but the rewards are priceless. For many of us, cost may be even the least of the factors involved. The commitment is. If you decide you’re up to the task and commit to taking good care of one dog for the long haul, another dog may have found a new human friend and a new home to stay.
And we need more committed humans and dog lovers.