Thursday, November 9, 2017

So how much is that new dog going cost me?

Adopting a homeless animal is a rewarding act of kindness. There is no such thing as a "free pet". Many expenses go into pet ownership. Some people with heartfelt, good intentions, fail to consider the second half: providing a good home with a good quality life, which comes from how well you love and treat them. A dedicated, financial commitment plays an important role in providing this high quality life for your new pal. Unfortunately many animals in shelters and rescues today were surrendered not because of behavior issues, a common misconception, but more often because their owners could not afford them. Before bringing that new friend home it is wise to consider the financial cost of owning a pet. 
No, I'm not really free if you consider
how much $$$$ it will really take to
provide me with a quality life!
The moment a pet arrives in your home it will want food! Choosing a premium dog food should be high on your list of priorities. A great resource to determine the quality of food you choose to give is Dog Food Advisor  a good non-biased website to get dog food reviews. Then there is the toys to keep them entertained, crates or baby gates to keep them safe, leashes, training tools, collars, bowls, beds, blankets, dog tags and jackets to name some of the immediate needs to give your new pet a quality life. 
BRRR!!! Cold winters require warm
 jackets ( cost $50 bucks)
for short haired dogs like Izzy!


High Quality Grandma Lucy's Artisan dehydrated
 dogfood ($70 bucks a 10 pound bag) gets 4.5 stars from Dogfood advisor!

Will love for good quality food!

You gonna eat that?


Medical expenses are by far the highest financial cost in owning a pet. Your pet will need yearly vet check ups, vaccines, medications such as heart worm and flea preventatives, dental cleaning among a few of the routine reasons to visit your vet. Then there are the unexpected illness's and injuries that can affect the pocket book. Planning for these events is mandatory as a pet owner. Your pet will get sick at some time and it is your commitment as a responsible pet owner to make sure you are able to provide the right kind of care when this occurs. We recommended that you invest in a pet insurance, or ensure you have a savings account set aside to pay for these unexpected vet bills which could run into the thousands if your vet visit means going to an emergency vet or needing a surgeon to repair something on your pet. 
Willows double knee surgery cost thousands.
Her owners had not planned on this expense.


Another financial area people over look is time and training. To providing a wonderful quality of life for both your pet and you, training and your time should be mandatory! Having an unruly, obnoxious, anxiety ridden, destructive pet in the home is stressful for the entire house, including the pet, plus reflects on the amount time you have invested in your pet. Formal obedience classes, along with doggy daycare if you work full-time, should be a mandatory consideration for every new pet owner. Some dogs who end up in shelters and rescues are there because they were not given the time or training, learned bad behaviors plus had no willing leader to learn from. These pet owners failed their pets then decide they no longer want them, surrendering them to shelters or rescues to fix and in many cases, fix they do! Puppies need to be started in a social class or doggy daycare to be well adjusted, anxiety free, adult dogs. Teens and adult dogs need a fair and trusting leader to guide them on proper dog behavior and manners. You must have the time and money to invest in training and 
socializing.
Good sit!

Your home and yard may need to be dog proofed or updated to keep your pet happy and healthy. Fencing a yard is the best way to keep your pet safe from getting hurt, lost or stolen when outdoors doing their business, and cost options vary widely depending on the type of fencing you go with. Every pet owner knows indoor potty accidents can happen with the most well trained dog. Should your pet have an accident on, or even chew up your new carpet or sofa, there will be cost to clean or repair these items. If you are a renter you may not be able to rent with some breeds of dogs due to breed restrictions or insurance reasons. As a renter you may be able to find suitable pet housing but the rent may be increased with a pet in tow!
I am safe inside the fence
says adoptable boy Cole!
A-HA captors, I see an escape route!

Check out this calculator on the lifetime expenses of owning a FREE pet! 

Result of my Free pet:$3545.00

This is the total first-year cost of owning this pet.

Medical: $320
Grooming: $0
Food: $480
Equipment: $1,445
Logistics: $1,300

YIKES!

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