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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