Costs of a Pet: What to Consider Before Adoption
There’s nothing quite like the warm weight of a loyal dog’s head on your lap or the tickle of a soft cat’s fur when they rub against your leg. Pets are a true comfort who add joy to everyday life! However, they can come with financial burdens that some people may not consider before they bring them home. What are some of the costs of a pet you should consider before adopting your new family member?
INITIAL ADOPTION
Adoption costs are so much more than just the cost you pay to a shelter, shop, or breeder. Before you go to pick up your new bestie, you should already be prepared with the essentials for each animal: pet food, a collar and leash for dogs, a litter box and litter for a cat or rabbit, and so on. Click the following links for a shopping list from the Wisconsin Humane Society for dogs and cats.
Once you have purchased the basics, it’s time to pay the adoption fee. The fee can vary a lot depending on where you plan to adopt your pet. Local shelters usually have the most reasonable fees that can even be free depending on the animal. Stores and shops charge more because they aren’t subsidized by donations or grants. The most expensive route is a reputable breeder, but the high cost comes with knowing your pet was bred responsibly and with strong health of the animal in mind.
The next thing you need to do once you’ve adopted your new friend and have all the basics is register the animal with your county if required and take them for their first vet visit. The costs of these visits vary by pet, but if you look around online you can find discounted services at shelters and other animal welfare organizations.
EMERGENCY CARE
Oops, your dog ate a sock. Your cat chewed on a poisonous plant. Your ferret is lethargic, refusing to eat. Part of owning a pet is the most unexpected thing that can happen at the worst time. While you hope these situations never happen, you should plan for what you’ll do prior to adopting a pet.
Emergency visits for pets can easily soar to thousands of dollars depending on the situation. Luckily, if you plan ahead, you can avoid a huge veterinary bill by purchasing pet insurance for your fuzzy family. A pet insurance policy can lower a bill of thousands of dollars down to hundreds. It’s also relatively cheap as a monthly expense and can easily pay for itself if you have a particularly adventurous pet.
GROOMING & PARASITE TREATMENTS
Don’t sleep on grooming: it’s an essential expense for dogs and long-haired cats to keep them healthy and thriving. Some dog breeds—such as Labradors, beagles, boxers and other short-haired breeds—can easily be bathed and groomed at home to save money. However, breeds such as poodles, shih tzus, Siberian huskies and Pomeranians need to go to a professional groomer at least a few times a year to maintain a healthy coat and body.
Long-haired cats need to be taken to the groomer if you’re unable to keep a regular grooming schedule for their coats. Neglecting their coat can lead to painful mats, tangles, and worse… Hairballs!
Dogs and cats that spend time outdoors should be treated for ticks and other parasites every year to prevent illness, whether they get sick themselves or pass a parasite on to you.
The costs for regular grooming and parasite treatments can add up to anywhere between $250-500 per year! Factor that into your budget and consider the breed of the animal before adopting.
FOOD
When adopting a pet, you should examine what the yearly cost of their food will be. You can use this chart created by the ASPCA to help you figure out what the annual food cost might be for each type of pet. Keep in mind that there are shelters and other local animal welfare organizations that have community pet food bins if you ever find yourself struggling to afford pet food.
TOYS & ENRICHMENT
There’s one thing pet owners can agree upon: they go through toys and enrichment items fast! Dogs can chew through a bone in hours; energetic cats can rip a fabric toy to shreds in a day; and rabbits love to chew for hours. As you gain experience as a pet owner, you’ll learn when it’s ideal to spend extra money on a toy or treat, such as sturdy KONG® brand chews and toys. Other times, it’s best to go cheap—or even free. Cats will entertain themselves for hours with a twisty tie or plastic beverage seal ring. Most dogs can’t go wrong with something as simple as a stick. Every animal is a little different in what entertains them, and you’ll get to know their quirks in no time!
Listing the costs of a pet isn’t an attempt to dissuade you from owning a pet. It’s meant to make you think of a plan and a budget before you welcome that new family member. Maybe you need to save up money for six months to afford the adoption fee. Maybe you look at your budget and see that you’re ready to adopt right now. Whatever stage of the pet ownership journey you’re on, we wish you the best furry snuggles, purrs and nose boops that pets can offer!