A buddy of mine recently shared a FB post where he found a dead German Shepherd in a garbage bag and thrown away like garbage in a dumpster. It didn’t look old and still seemed to have plenty of good years left in it. The image was sad and disheartening.
My wife and I are dog owners and love our pooch like a family member because he is. We did our research when we adopted him from an Aussie rescue group. We took into the consideration of all the expenses and time that we would have to invest and then pulled the trigger.
This write up goes out to all those that have dogs or plans to get a dog/puppy. People underestimate how much this furry addition to our lives is going to cost us. Please do your research and the math and make sure it’s feasible to. I see too often the countless amount of dogs, and this is true for cats too, that end up at the shelters, abandoned, or left for dead somewhere and it pisses me off to no end. This would never happen if everyone is responsible.
According to CNBC Money, the likely lifetime cost of owning a dog is $27K-43K and owning a cat is $22K-31K, depending on the breed.
So here’s a breakdown of the expenses based on moneyunder30.com:
One-time pet expenses
Spaying or Neutering: Dog: $200 / Cat: $145
Initial Medical Exam: Dog: $70 / Cat: $130
Collar or Leash: Dog: $30 / Cat: $10
Litter Box: Cat: $25
Scratching Post: Cat: $30
Crate: Dog: $95 depending on size
Carrying Crate: Dog: $60 / Cat: $40
Training: Dog: $110
Total One-time Costs: Dog: $565 / Cat: $365
Annual pet expenses
Food: Dog: $120/ Cat: $145
Annual Medical Exams: Dog: $235 / Cat: $130
Litter: Cat: $200
Toys and Treats: Dog: $55 / Cat: $25
License: Dog: $15
Pet Health Insurance: Dog: $225 / Cat: $175
Miscellaneous: Dog: $45 / Cat: $30
Total Annual Costs: Dog: $695 / Cat: $705
So the total first-year cost of owning a dog is $1,270 and for a cat it’s $1,070.
I hope this helps people see how much a pet will cost. Please pass this info to others who are considering getting a pet so that they can make the right decision.
