Thrifty Pets Part 1 - Think Before You Buy

One day my husband went out to buy a new pair of pants and came home with a Golden Retriever instead. And that, my friends, is not the thrifty path to pet-owning.

In our case, we were already devoted dog owners, and had already done some planning for this purchase. We knew what type of dog we wanted, and since we had already raised a couple of dogs we knew what to expect from a puppy. But even with all that, I have to admit that the timing could have been a little (a lot!) better.

In that first year, we had to replace two remote controls and a sofa. And while otherwise healthy, Woody the dog has recently developed a thyroid deficiency that requires daily medication and regular blood tests.

The costs of owning a particular pet can vary, but there's one thing you can count on for sure: it will cost you something. And the initial outlay of cash spent in acquiring your pet -- the animal itself, food supply, cage or aquarium, etc. -- may come to seem like a pittance compared to the amount of money the animal will end up costing in upkeep.

The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a sample cost chart you can use to get an idea of just how much a pet could cost you. Their sample chart uses a rabbit for an example, but by using their chart headings you can work out a pretty good idea of initial costs, as well as estimates for upkeep. Elsewhere on the net, you can also get some idea of the costs of owning a chinchilla or a dog.

Caring for a pet also requires some effort on your part, in addition to whatever money you may be spending. And so it stands to reason that the initial decision to become a pet-owner should be made with considerable care and research.

Start by asking yourself why you want a pet. This question is crucial, and can help you later when you’re trying to choose a specific animal. Someone looking for companionship, for example, will choose a different species than the person who doesn’t want much interaction with their pet. And beware of pet fads. A pet fad that springs to mind is Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, the yuppie puppies of the 1980's. When the novelty wore off, lots of these hapless creatures were quickly abandoned by their owners.

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