By Dolores Proubasta

When applying to adopt a dog from a shelter, a woman estimated that she would spend $40 annually to feed and care for her new pet. Her application was turned down because $40 will not pay even the average monthly bill for keeping a mid-size dog – properly.

In reality, it costs approximately $700 annually (about $60 monthly) to cover minimum humane care for a medium size dog and the same for a cat, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

The organization also estimates that a newly arrived medium-size dog costs approximately $1,500 for the first year and $1,000 for a new cat’s first year, factoring in spay/neuter surgery, essential vet care, housing equipment and supplies. Don’t forget to factor in the costs of unexpected vet care, and other subjective decisions such as travel and boarding, pet sitters, training. Costs can vary, too, based on geography, climate and cost of living. Not all 93.6 million cats, 77.5 million dogs, and other pets such as horses, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish get an equitable share of the $47 plus billion the American Pet Products Association says was spent on them in 2010.
Pets’ quality of life has little to do with the ability of the owners to afford them. Household income is an indicator of quality of care an animal could receive. The attitude of the pet owner who treats the pet as a “partner,” entitled to comparable food, shelter, medication, and more is what mainly drives pet care costs.

This seems a simple rule of thumb, but it isn’t. In economic downturns, companion animals are turned over to shelters or denied medical care by some owners who state that they cannot afford the pet, but, for example, may deem the expense of a weekly manicure more important.

The basic laws of Pet Economics are: (1) Every dollar saved at the expense of quality and best practices will require a larger outlay later, and (2) Expect unexpected expenses.

Here is a listing of “penny wise, pound foolish” pet care practices
• Not spaying or neutering pets. Caring properly for a pregnant or nursing dog and her pups, even without medical complications, is as expensive as having her spayed at the swankiest veterinary clinic.
Ditto for patching the wounds of intact males.
• Skipping routine checkups, vaccines, and parasite prevention.
Undetected or preventable ailments will result in higher vet bills.
A veterinarian can give valuable pet care information to owners.
• Feeding cheap food. Many of the ingredients in low quality kibble lack nutritional value, most of it is lost to bowel movements, and the pet’s health is compromised by a poor diet.
• Buying products from countries with little or no quality controls.
Cheap, imported leashes, bedding, toys, and other items need frequent replacement; some may even harm the animal.
• Not providing exercise and obedience training. The costs associated with destructive, unruly, or aggressive behavior can be substantial.
Plenty of exercise (time = $) and obedience class fees are a small price to pay to avoid fines, replacement of property, medical bills, and legal fees resulting from a dog running amok.
• Poor or no grooming. All animals, and long haired breeds in particular, require regular bathing and/ or brushing, trimming, or other care to help prevent parasites, skin diseases, ear and eye infections, and more. You can choose between a professional groomer or do it yourself at home, after buying the equipment and products.

Additionally, all animals confined to cages, terrariums, etc.
need meticulously clean environments to groom themselves and stay healthy.

• Asking neighbors, children/teens to look after the pets. If they fail on their duties, the owner has no recourse, because a “favor” is not a contract. Boarding at a reputable kennel or clinic, or hiring a bonded, experienced pet sitter (with references) are contractual guarantees of safety and care for the pet. Professional services are less expensive than the potential consequences of negligence.

Prepare for the unexpected and maintain a fund for eventualities such as: • Major veterinary expenses. Also, accidents and health emergencies often occur on weekends or evenings when only emergency clinics are open. This is the costliest care.
• Repairs and installations (such as fencing), replacements (tile instead of carpet), and other onetime outlays making home and yard more pet-friendly.
• Moving next door may require only a pet deposit; moving abroad can add up with consular pet processing fees, veterinary certificates, animal cargo fees, and more.
• Legal actions due to alleged injury or property damage caused by the pet.
• Naming a trustee in your estate planning with access to funds sufficient to cover needs of the pet in the event of illness or death of the owner. This could include temporary boarding while a home is found, or pay shipment to a predetermined owner, or make a donation to a no-kill shelter to take in the pet and care for it while awaiting adoption.

It takes money to keep pets and the commitment to provide what is best for them. The third law of Pet Economics: Time and care given an animal is repaid a thousandfold.

Additional Source:  www.aspca.org/adoption/petcare costs.aspx