This post is by our regular contributor, Erin.
Have you ever visited an animal shelter, a rescue organization, or a breeder when looking to adopt a pet? It’s really hard to say “no” when adorable puppies and kittens are vying for your attention in the most adorable way, isn’t it?
I get it. I worked at an animal shelter, and I always wished I could give all of the dogs and cats there a home.
While I appreciate people’s enthusiasm for wanting to adopt a pet, sometimes the enthusiasm leads to neglecting the financial aspects of adoption.
You fall in love with a dog or a cat and want to take it home immediately. Maybe the upfront adoption costs aren’t enough to make you think twice, but pets can be downright expensive to have, especially in the future when they’re older and experiencing health problems.
I could tell plenty of stories from my time working at the animal shelter of people who were financially irresponsible and couldn’t afford to take care of their pet anymore. That’s a situation no one wants to be in. Please take these financial considerations before adopting a pet to heart before taking one home.
1) Vet Bills
This is the first and most important. If your pet is having any problems, then they need to go to the vet. You could get a bill that’s less than $100, or your pet could need a series of ongoing treatments that total well over $1,000. Surgery could cost a few thousand dollars.
Thankfully, there’s pet insurance, but it’s not a magical solution by any means. More often than not, basic insurance doesn’t cover routine things like physicals, and it won’t cover the entire cost of a surgery or any pre-existing conditions your pet is determined to have. You’ll still have out of pocket expenses (and a deductible) that need to be planned for.
I highly recommend saving a separate emergency fund for your pet should anything happen to them. If you can’t afford to treat your pet, you probably shouldn’t have one. You might be able to provide a home, food, and love for a pet, but you also need to make sure you can provide the proper care for them.
“But my puppy/kitty is healthy!” Sure, but dogs and cats often don’t know any better when it comes to making good decisions. You know, curiosity killed the cat and all…
One of my former coworker’s dogs decided to eat a bunch of fast food wings that were left on a table one day. My aunt’s dog ate an entire loaf of bread that was left on the counter. DC’s friend’s dog ate a corn cob and the surgery cost $5,000. My dog used to love going through the garbage.
Pets are unpredictable, especially when they’re younger and enjoy getting into all sorts of mischief. It’s best to be prepared.
2) Food Costs
Processed food from the grocery store has been proven to be garbage for pets. It’s like the equivalent of eating ramen constantly. Unfortunately, grain-free, wet food, or raw food can be ridiculously expensive, depending on how many pets you have and how large they are.
It can be worse for pets that need prescription food. At one point, DC was paying $730 per year for cat food. Most of the “high-end” brands of cat food I’ve looked at and purchased are between $30-$40 for a larger bag (over 10 lbs), or $1.50 – $2 per can of wet food. It’s not impossible to pay $1,000 per year for pet food, especially when dogs are in the picture.
However, I think it’s worth splurging on food. Just as it’s better for us to eat well for our long-term health, it’s worth it for our pets.
3) Vaccinations and Spay/Neuter
The shelter I worked at provided all the “starter” shots and vaccinations pets needed when they were in the shelter, so upon adoption, most of them were good to go. The shelter also had a vet come in who took care of all the spaying and neutering.
If you adopt from a place that doesn’t provide these services, you might be looking at a hefty first vet bill. A lot of people don’t realize how much these procedures cost, or aren’t aware they need to do them.
I’m not going to debate the merits of getting your pet spayed or neutered, but pets do require ongoing vaccines for things like rabies, distemper, FeLV, and bordatella. How often is up to the discretion of your veterinarian (for example, indoor cats face less exposure to disease than indoor/outdoor cats), but it’s a good idea to go for an annual exam regardless.
Plus, if you board your dog, it needs to have the vaccinations required by the boarding facility. On the chance you want to adopt another pet, most shelters and rescue organizations will do a veterinary check to see how often you treat your pets and if they’re up to date on their shots. Preventative care is key with pets.
4) Miscellaneous Costs – Boarding, Grooming, Etc.
Do you travel frequently? It helps to have a friend or family member nearby who’s willing to check up on your pets, or take them in while you’re gone. Otherwise, petsitting and boarding costs can add up quickly. If you can, take turns watching your friends’ pets so you can all benefit anytime someone goes away on a trip.
Do you work long days at a place where dogs aren’t allowed? You might have to invest in a dog walker or someone to check up on your dog during the day when you’re not home. It helps if you can use your lunch break for this, but that’s not always possible.
You can choose to groom your dog, but certain breeds are more high-maintenance than others. My aunt gets her Bichon groomed at least once per month to keep him looking handsome.
What about hiring a trainer to work with your dog if it has behavioral issues? Or choosing to go to a class to socialize your dog?
These are just a few costs most people don’t think about when adopting a pet.
5) Research the Breed
Lastly, it’s important to research the breed of dog or cat you’re considering adopting beforehand, as each breed has different medical conditions they’re prone to. For example, many Labs need hip surgery due to hip dysplasia, and Pugs often have respiratory problems.
Lifespan also differs across breeds, which can help you determine how much you need to save. Beyond that, larger dogs typically cost more at the vet. When I worked at an animal shelter, most of our services were priced by weight tiers.
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Adopting a pet can be one of the best decisions you make, and they’re great additions to any family. Just don’t adopt blindly. Take these financial considerations seriously so you can be the best pet owner possible for your furry friend.
What unanticipated costs have you run into with your pet? Do you include pet-related expenses in your budget? Do you have a separate savings account for your pets? What’s the best thing about having or not having a pet?
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I couldn’t agree more with absolutely all of this! As a still somewhat-new dog owner (our adorable black lab mix has been with us for about a year now) these are all so important to consider. I currently have both pet insurance and an emergency fund going for the dog’s vet care, and making sure we get the good food is a big priority. When we went to the shelter, I loved that the form they walked us through included a question about how much we expected to spend in a year on pet care. I think it’s an important reality-check moment where they can have a realistic conversation about what a dog will *really* cost in a year.
Thanks for sharing this information – it’s a conversation more people need to have!
Pepe had some issues early on when I adopted him which was incredibly costly. Luckily I had a good full time job at the time but if I didn’t… cost is a huge thing to consider and now that Im freelance, when Pepe (chokes back a tear) passes on, I probably won’t get another pet until I feel more stable. He is older and starting to have some medical issues so it’s a concern. I don’t think pet insurance is helpful, but like you said, having a separate account for vet emergencies is a great idea.
half_banked Ah, so jealous, labs are so cute! That’s awesome the shelter included that question, it definitely makes for a good “reality check.” None of us like to think of the negatives when adopting, but health issues are sadly inevitable.
Beachbudget Aw :(. I know how you feel. One of my cats is 8 and I remember adopting her like it was just yesterday. The other cats we’ve had passed away quite suddenly and it’s one of the toughest things pet owners have to deal with. I don’t blame you for wanting to be in a more stable situation before adopting again – my cats and car are the only “liabilities” I have to worry about and it can be stressful!
This, together with having to get up early to take a dog out, are the reasons why I don’t have a dog. They’re so cute but SO much work/money!
I’ve been wanting to adopt a cat for months now. I even went to a carnival over the summer where a local animal shelter had pets that were available to adopt that day. I wanted to walk over there so bad but I stayed away so I wouldn’t do anything in haste. I need to prepare financially for a pet before making that decision. All the expenses you mention here are valid and I hadn’t even though of some of these so thanks for offering a more realistic expectation about the expenses and responsibilities pet owners have.
Chonce Cats are definitely the way to go from a financial standpoint, which is why my wife and I adopted two of them (my cat that Erin mentioned in this post unfortunately passed away about a year and a half ago…granted she was in her 20s!). There are always vet costs and I think it’s important to be ready for a $1k+ bill if something goes drastically wrong. We did have an ER bill of about $400 for our cat (it was a Sunday morning and her eye filled with blood). We could have done about $600 of additional tests, and if she was younger would have taken her to a vet that specializes in pet eye care, and removing the tumor behind her eye would have been insanely expensive.
More likely than not you won’t have those huge bills, but they definitely can happen to anyone.
Ali_AnythingYouWant We came close to getting a dog, but quickly realized our lifestyles don’t align with having one. We live far from my work and I’m typically gone for 10-13 hours, and my wife is in grad school and can have long days away as well. I think we’ll get a dog one of these days but for now I am more than happy with our two cats.
DC @ Young Adult Money Ali_AnythingYouWant We had decided against getting a dog when we were both working for these reasons. It’s hard to be away from them for so long, but cats are pretty self-sufficient.
Chonce Way to be responsible! So many people came into our shelter looking to adopt right away, or worse, give a pet as a gift (that rarely turned out well). I agree with DC that cats tend to be less expensive overall. It’s good to have realistic expectations, but I’ve also known people who have had little to no issues with their pets until they (sadly) passed away. Keeping up with preventative care makes things a bit easier.
We’ve had two dogs who had to have orthopedic surgery. Luckily it wasn’t at the same time! Dogs or cats will also destroy things like shoes, furniture and library books. Muddy paws, hair, and tangling with skunks means extra cleaning and time. They don’t tell you those things at the shelter and I think the cost is worth it, but you should have adequate savings to cover the extra expenses that come with pets.
Eyesonthedollar They totally do destroy things you never thought they would. You just reminded me of a point I forgot to make – if you’re renting, you’ll more than likely have to put down an extra deposit for your pets. When we moved in here, it was $250 per cat! If they damage anything, you’re still responsible. It’s also why we don’t bother having fancy furniture. =)
Fostering is great because they cover all these costs, of course you don’t get to keep the animal and have a long term relationship which I know is a major reason for getting one in the first place.
I remember when my friend in college adopted a kitten. It ended up needing surgery to remove a fluffy ball that was stuck in his intestines. The costs added up quick.
One way that we keep costs down with our dog is to take advantage of free rabies clinics. Sure, you have to wait in line for a while, but it’s one less vaccination on your vet bill.
brokeandbeau True! I wouldn’t mind fostering actually. It’s heartbreaking to not be able to keep a pet, but it’s a good solution for some people that aren’t ready for a full commitment.
Harmony@CreatingMyKaleidoscope Yes! Free rabies clinics are great. Our shelter actually sponsored one once a year in conjunction with a little fair (so there was entertainment while you waited).
We’ve had boarding fees when we travel. We totally didn’t think about that before getting our dog. Plus the cost of replacing all the stuff he chewed up when he was a puppy!
houseoftre I don’t think it’s something a lot of people take into account (especially if they don’t travel often). Ahh, puppies and kittens can be so destructive!