The Cost of Pet Ownership
Posted by jefferson on Sep 5, 2012 in Parenting | 45 comments
There have been a number of studies that show that pet ownership is a great thing for children. Children can learn responsibility, respect, and a greater connection with nature. Well aware of this, Michelle and I have wanted to get a pet for our kids for the last few years, but the simple reality is that pet ownership can be expensive! Buying the pet in the first place can be pricey, but that is just the beginning:
The maintenance costs for various pets can vary wildly. Per the ASPCA, here are the yearly costs of ownership (food, medical, license, litter, toys, etc):
- Medium Size Dog : $695
- Cat : $670
- Rabbit : $730
- Guinea Pig : $635
- Small Mammal : $300
- Bird : $200
- Fish : $35
These numbers don’t include the costs of grooming, initial supplies/crates, training classes, etc. For a new puppy, these costs can add an additional $800-$900 in the first year alone. As a family who is working hard to get our finances in order, adding this amount of additional expenses is less than ideal. While we absolutely want our children to experience the joys of pet ownership, we don’t want to delay our debt repayment goals to make it happen.
The animal that Michelle and I really want to get is a dog. Our oldest son has wanted a dog for years, and has reached the age where he should be able to contribute to the required pet care. Our one year old daughter is also dog crazy, and she insists on stopping and petting (and kissing.. ew.) every single dog that we pass on our nightly walks. Michelle wrote a great article a few months ago about our desire to bring a dog into our family, but we both understand that it is a good idea to wait a little bit before making it happen. The cost of ownership is a bit too high for us to take on right now, and we’d like to let our daughter get a little bit older before bringing home a pooch. Jumping into pet ownership, especially with a dog, should be decision that is well thought out, and not made on the spur of the moment.
Looking at other options, many pets are just not a good fit for our family for one reason or another. Michelle and our oldest child are highly allergic to cats, for example. Reptiles can make for good pets, but the major downside is that you really can’t hold most of them. I had a snake as a pet when I was in college, but Michelle thinks they are creepy, and I really have always been a bit grossed out when it is time for them to eat. Rabbits, guinea pigs, and rodents are all cute, but they all can be a bit smelly unless you change their litter constantly (which is expensive, and not much fun).
Fish are certainly an option, but require an investment up front. Once you factor in all the supplies and maintenance costs, a little ten gallon tank can easily turn into a bit of a money pit (especially if you go salt water). We have a nice tank in the past, and will probably get another at some point in the future, but I just don’t want to go down that road again right now. Birds really have no appeal to me at all, as you really can’t interact with them at all, unless you get one of the very expensive social bird types.
After much consideration and research, we decided on the perfect pet for our kids, the Hermit Crab!
Hermit crabs are cool because they are very affordable. Our local pet store had them for $5/each. The maintenance costs are very low, as $5 worth of food can last an entire year! We picked up a cheap $15 tank, grabbed some extra shells for the crabs to “grow into”, picked up some organic mulch for them climb around in, and we were good to go! Hermit crabs are nocturnal, but they do move around a bit. They are certainly more entertaining to watch than snakes or lizards. You can also pick them up, and they will typically come out of their shells onto your hands if you hold them in your palm. Our new crabs were named “Hermes” and “Poseidon” by my two boys (both fans of Greek Mythology.. well, the Percy Jackson books anyways), and they are the newest members of the See Debt Run household.
Michelle is still trying to talk me into getting a labradoodle, as she believes they’re the perfect breed of dog for our family. Not now, I say! For now, we have a couple of crabs and one surviving carny fish that’s all of 3 years old miraculously. Perhaps we will reassess some time next year.
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Yeah for pet posts! I wrote one yesterday about Pet Insurance
I’m surprised the estimates put cats very close to dogs. I haven’t had a dog, though I plan on getting one soon and I just assumed they were a lot more expensive than cats. Perhaps my view is skewed as my wife’s twenty year-old cat has only had to go to the vet twice for care, and the second time it was only about $150 plus meds.
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..The Pros and Cons of Reusable Grocery Bags
I think the cost of litter is what drives up the costs of cat ownership.
Makes sense, my wife does the buying of kitty litter and food so I guess I didn’t think about it. Coupons help.
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..The Pros and Cons of Reusable Grocery Bags
We had hermit crabs when I was a kid! As I recall, they didn’t last all that long, so hopefully you guys have better luck keeping them alive than we did.
Shame about the cat allergies – even though I was not a cat fan growing up, I’ve come to realize they’re a great compromise pet when you love dogs but don’t really love the big costs that can come up with them. =)
Mrs. Pop @ Planting Our Pennies recently posted..The Tree
I had some hermit crabs in college, and they lived for more than a year. As long as you can keep them in the tank, they should stick around for a bit.
Those little guys are cute! I think they are too creepy crawly for me though.
I think you’re making a wise decision to not jump into dog ownership until you’re absolutely ready. I spent last night on the floor, coaxing my dog to stick her tongue out so I could pull a rogue porcupine quill out of it with a pair of pliers. They’re a lot of work and expense, so don’t rush yourself.
Labradoodles are pretty cute though, they were definitely on my potential dog breed list.
Jordann @ My Alternate Life recently posted..September 1st NETWORTH UPDATE!
We do want a dog.. Everyone in the family does.. But admittedly, I feel stretched a bit thin already, and need for my kids to take a lead role in getting the dog exercise, and providing for its care. Luckily, they (at least my two boys) are approaching the age where they can do just that.
Love this post! I have 2 dogs and I love them. Even though they are expensive, they are like my children. P.S. my boss has a labradoodle and his whole family loves it.
Michelle recently posted..Goals and Extra Monthly Income Update
Glad to hear that others love the labradoodle as well… They really seem to be a great boy.
We have two cats who are both old (16 and 12) and I could feed and clothe a small army with the money that they take nowadays! Definitely keep in mind that most pets will cost more as they get older.
Money Beagle recently posted..Watching The NFL In A Whole New Way
Great point about pets aging.. I do know some folks who have spent thousands of dollars on various surgeries for their pets. Once you make a dog or a cat part of your family, you have to take care of them.
I don’t think I could go with the crabs because you can’t really play with them or bond with them. I’d go with a dog but I will also say they’re expensive! The yearly costs seem about spot-on and that DOESN’T include if they get sick or injured. We budget $70/month for our LARGE dog and we spend it all (plus some).
The labradoodles are pretty awesome pets but they’re too hyper for my liking. However, I’ll just add that we have one of the laziest breeds of dog known to man and we like it that way.
Jason @ WorkSaveLive recently posted..Tragedy Strikes Close to Home: Why You Need to Have Life Insurance
You can play with the crabs a little bit.. As long as you can get past their creepy insect-like appendages. Sure, you don’t really form a bond.. But taking on an animal that you *can* bond with involves much more significant cost.
I had a full time job when I got my cat, but I do worry about the cost, especially now that he is older. When he was younger he had some medical problems and it cost several thousand dollars. Those are the expenses that really get you. I don’t plan on getting another pet anytime soon…and this is from someone who completely ADORES her cat. Another option as far as the dog may be to have you kids volunteer to be dog walkers or volunteer at a pet shelter? Not sure how old they are. Anyway, they may see what does into taking care of a dog that way. BTW, let me know if you wanted to do a guest post on my site!
Budget and the Beach recently posted..September Goals
We have thought about letting our oldest son volunteer at a shelter, but his cat allergies present a real challenge. We have been a few times to visit the local shelters, and his eyes swell up shortly after entering the door.
We will let you know about the guest posting.. I do appreciate the offer!
A dog need a lot of time and commitment from the family. We have cats and they are relatively inexpensive and low maintenance. A dog would be cool, but I don’t have time to take good care of it.
Joe @ Retire By 40 recently posted..Avoid Lifestyle Inflation
didn’t you just retire, joe?…
we are a busy family, but there are five of us. we should have enough energy and time to go around.
I love how this is categorized under “Parenting”
Right now I have a cat who is about 8 years old. No health problems yet, so the bills are pretty low, but it’s only a matter of time. Both Brian and I have mild cat allergies actually, so we end up doing a lot of vacuuming in our house to keep things clean.
I think the hermit crab pet is a great idea – also gets them interested in our oceans and sea life in a positive way.
CF recently posted..Should I, or should I not?
funny.. we talked fora bit last night about how to categorize this post, and i liked putting it under parenting.. certainly when we do decide to get a dog, we will consider it as one of our “kids”
greaet point about getting our kids interested in oceans and sea life..
We had two crabs for my son. We saw that they liked to climb the side of the cage, which was pretty cool. They’d hang upside down. About two years ago, we realized that Nick left the lid off after feeding and there was only one crab in there.
We still have never found the other crab (and our house is very clean!).
AverageJoe recently posted..So You Want to Manage Your Own Money?
hilarious, joe!.. we actually didn’t get a lid for our crab tank, and this has turned out to be a mistake. there was a “thatch” background that we added to the tank, and both of the little crabs have already attempted an escape!
for now, i just removed the backing, but i want to put it back in and add a lid. i would love to see them hanging upside down!
Medical expenses are also something to add to the list of costs when it comes to pets. We spent several thousand dollars on our last pet when he got sick. Vet bills add up, so it’s something to keep in mind.
Mackenzie recently posted..Holding On To Things
we are certainly not in a position to take on thousands of dollars worth of expenses at this point.. we will certainly have to budget an allotment for pet expenses when we do decide to take the leap to get a dog…
I honestly think the $695 for a medium sized dog is grossly underestimated. I spend $45 a month on food alone. That’s $540 right there. An annual exam at the vet is typically around $100, assuming there’s nothing wrong. Throw in a dozen tennis balls throughout the year, a few toys, biscuits, bones, nail trims, etc. I easily spend over $1,000 per year. With that being said, the unconditional love a dog gives to his/her family is worth every freakin’ penny.
i believe you, DK… i think the number is a rough average, and it probably escalates well beyond that for many folks. it also depends on your breed how often the dog will need grooming and nail trimming, and how quickly they will go through bones!
If you get a dog don’t get one you have to groom unless you learn to do it yourself and get them used to it at a young age.
That said my dog has severe allergies that is probably going to cost us hundreds to test and treat in the next few months if things don’t get better soon. They are expensive but dogs are awesome if you are already tied down with kids.
Lance@MoneyLife&More recently posted..September 2012 Monthly Goal Update
Dogs are awesome *WITH* kids… and I think our kids would benefit tremendously from having one around the house. Nothing wrong with having a built-in “best friend” in the house..
I did a post similar to this on my site-I think I spent close to 1400.00 on the first three months I had Murray alone. I know i’ve spent at least 300 more since then. I love him and wouldn’t trade him for anything but everyone should know what they are getting into!
L Bee and the Money Tree recently posted..Be Aggressive with your budget.
Wow LB.. $1400 is an astounding amount.. We may have to save up even more than I expected.. I am sure that we will do a follow up post when we do make the leap.
We drop about $500 a year just on food for our dog. We haven’t had any major issue since she was a pup, and we do the grooming ourselves. She really isn’t much of a financial burden, and she pays dividends back in love and fun
Jacob @ iHeartBudgets recently posted..Get Out of Your Hole Without Living In a Cave
Even $500 a year isn’t a small amount… But you are right, Jacob, what you get back in love and fun is really priceless…
My fiance and I have been desperately wanting a French bulldog (to the point where we’ll watch countless hours of them on YouTube – not the best use of the little free time we have). He’s even gone to describe me as “dog crazy”. Even though they’re known to be perfect apartment dogs (since they’re kind of lazy and don’t bark loudly), they also have health issues due to their pushed in noses. So even though we want one so bad, we figure it doesn’t make sense until we reach certain financial goals and pay for our wedding. Plus, they rarely are available through the SPCA and I’d much rather adopt a dog than purchase one.
Shannon-ReadyForZero recently posted..Why You Should NOT Use Coupons for Grocery Shopping
Shannon– I just googled some pics and I must say.. Those french bulldogs are adorable, especially as puppies!!!
My cousin has two dogs — sorry, Jeff!
Kathleen @ Frugal Portland recently posted..Heading to #fincon12!
That is okay, Kathleen.. Michelle loves dogs! (I do too)
WOW rabbits & guinea pigs are just as expensive as dogs (and WAY less fun!). I grew up with a golden reriever and adored it. We did have hermit crabs as well but one disappeared for a few weeks and we found it in my sister’s dresser drawer, alive and well!
Jessica @ Budget for Health recently posted..5 tips to give your budget a good workout
We have two dogs and one cat. And let me just say they are not frugal! But we couldn’t imagine life without them – they’re a part of the family. There are some ways to keep the cost down that I wrote about a while ago on my blog: http://www.doggonethrifty.com/2012/05/30/5-ways-to-save-money-on-your-pets/
Rebecca recently posted..Cheap-o Art
Congrats on your new additions.
I rushed into buying a dog, I love our dog, but it’s so expensive and inconvenient.
I didn’t look into to actual costs, research breeds or anything. We’ve spent SO much money and if we ever want to go on vacation, we either need to get a dog sitter or pay boarding fees for each day we’re gone.
Still, we have the sweetest dog, even though she’s a bit ‘special’.
Jen @ Master the Art of Saving recently posted..Buying Our First House: Other Costs
I think you guys made a good choice for right now. Getting a dog can be incentive for getting out of debt faster!
Emily @ evolvingPF recently posted..Can You Change Your Tightwad/Spendthrift Personality?
Pets are certainly not cheap to own, but well worth it. We thought our dog had swallowed a fish hook last summer and it cost us $400 just to find out nothing had happened.
Sean @ One Smart Dollar recently posted..True Cost of a Speeding Ticket
I agree pet costs are not for the faint of heart. It can be hard when you are trying to cut costs but it is worth it in the end. I even want to get another doggie-a yorkie. I just can’t justify the costs right now.
As someone who has never (GASP) owned a pet, I rarely even think about this topic until a friend or acquaintance mentions an outrageous bill from the vet or surgeon. I realize this article is more about routine costs associated with ownership, but you’re right pet ownership is a financial decision as well.
BTW, I don’t know that I ever even considered having a hermit crab as a pet
Roshawn @ Watson Inc recently posted..Does Wealth Reduce Compassion?
I had a couple of hermit crabs as pets when I was a kid! Although obviously not as exciting as a dog, they are surprisingly fun to keep as pets, and you’re right- don’t cost too much in maintenance. We actually took ours home from the beach rather than getting them from a pet store (Dont know why my parents let us do this). Labredoodles are amazing dogs, but any dog you get (especially one that size) is an incredible amount of money as well as work/maintenance. I think you’re decision to wait a little bit longer is a good idea- although very hard to keep saying ‘no’ to the kiddies.
Kelly@Financial-Lessons recently posted..iPhone and Droid Apps for Your Small Business
We have a turtle…the upkeep on that thing is dang expensive. So much food. So many filters. Never enough UV bulbs. And the initial investment was huge.
femmefrugality recently posted..How to be RADical in 2012
When I was in college my roomate had some sort of a red crab that lived in the fish tank. She spent lots to get this tank running and get colorful fish. We named the crab Sebastian, and he was great for a few weeks, then he ate all the expensive fish! I have also had an iguana who was truly the devil incarnate. We’ve had dogs now for years and they are wonderful but do cost some money. That’s smart to wait until you are ready. Enjoy your hermit crabs and keep them away from fish!
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