To Have A Pet, or Not To Have A Pet

Recently, I have had several opportunities to adopt a puppy. And while I am always eager to play with puppies, watch cute puppy videos and even see pictures of puppies, I was very hesitant when actually having to decide if I wanted to commit to becoming a dog mom.
 
Whether you are considering adopting a dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, or fish, caring for a pet is a life time commitment. While there are many benefits of adding a pet to the family, there are many things to consider when deciding to make the commitment.

Pets can be so exciting and frustrating all at the same time. And while an animal will provide joy and fulfillment, companionship, and even help boost your social life and health, they require a lot of time, and tangible items such as food, shelter, medical care, and other supplies.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Americans spend a substantial amount of money on the care and feeding of their animals.  In 2015, households spent an average of $528 on pets.” It is only practical to weigh out the monetary costs that accompany pet ownership, before making the leap into becoming a crazy pet parent.

When considering adding a fury, or maybe not so fury, family member, ultimately it is best to see if your budget will allow for you to give the animal the time, love, and home it deserves.
Here are a few things to include when budgeting for your new pet.

Adoption Costs
There are so many options for pet adoptions. There are shelters and rescues that have different animals available for adoption. Most of these pets are a little older and are up to date on their shots and medical care. Also, because we live in a world that revolves around social media, there are always people looking to find homes for puppies, or even rehome their pets for all types of circumstances.  Depending on which situation you go with, in my experience, the adoption costs can vary and it is important to factor it in when budgeting.  The benefit is it is a one-time cost, not a monthly expense.
 
Home Preparation
Let’s not be naïve, puppies chew. EVERYTHING. Kittens claw and climb. Hamsters are escape artists and nocturnal. Before bringing your new friend home, you might want to make sure your home has been pet-proofed. Not only does this mean putting up anything you don’t want becoming an impromptu chew toy or scratching post, but also locking away hazardous chemicals that your pets may accidentally ingest. This may mean investing in containers that can be sealed to protect the animals.
 
Day-to-Day Expenses
Just like humans, our pets need food to be healthy and energetic. Go ahead and add pet food to your grocery shopping list as an added expense. If you have a cat or kitten you will need to budget for kitty litter. Hamsters need proper shavings in their habitats to keep them healthy as well.
 
Pet Supplies
Some pets are extremely low maintenance when it comes to supplies, and others are extremely high maintenance. Puppies especially. The early years are probably the hardest when training your new pup where they are allowed and not allowed if they are kept inside. Here are just a few supplies you would need to account for in your budget.

• Leash and/or collar
• ID tags or microchip
• Bed
• Treats
• Toys
• Crate
• Food dishes

 
Veterinary Care
Every pet needs general health care in order to live a long, happy and healthy life style. Yearly vaccinations help with flea and parasite control. Depending on if you will breed your pet, there are also spaying and neutering costs. There are also the unforeseen veterinary emergencies that you will need to be prepared for as well.
 
Training
Training isn’t essential to every pet but should also be factored in. Especially for dogs, there is obedience, protection, and potty training should you wish to inquire someone else’s help. Training can become pretty expensive depending on the extent of training you are wanting for your pet. There is also a free option of training your pet yourself. There are plenty of tips, tricks, blogs, and video tutorials readily available on the internet!
 
Owning a pet brings so much joy to a family. It helps foster a sense of responsibility for younger children; it reduces stress, provides companionship, and helps create lasting memories. Being financially responsible enough to budget out all of the costs associated with becoming a pet parent helps determine if you are emotionally ready for all the time animals need to thrive. Budgeting out pet costs help ensure that you are ready to provide a long, happy, healthy life for your new family members.

As for me, I have decided becoming a dog mom is exactly the journey I want to take for 2019! 
The free budgeting tool provided by the ēCO Educational Center HERE helped me budget out the costs for whenever I do find the perfect pet for me. You should check it out too!