Dogs Cost a Lot of Money!

Many people don't realize the true cost of owning a dog.  When I first though about the cost of a dog, I factored in the cost of purchasing or adopting a pet, plus the cost of food.  Did you also consider all the other accessories?  For example, every dog has to own a few nice toys which will run you around $10-20 a pop.  A fluffy dog bed will cost approximately $50.  Then there are food bowls, crates, leashes, and health care items.  Dog shampoo, nail clippers, wipes, etc.  There are many things you'll find yourself needing for you pet once you get them in your house, but it is worth every penny.  It is also important to remember that if you live in an apartment or rent a home, most places require you to put down a pet deposit.  While apartment pet deposits can vary, you should expect to spend at least $300 on this.  It's not clear to me why it is called a pet deposit, because this fee is usually non-refundable.  Apartment complexes will tell you that the fee is mainly for carpet cleaning after you move out.  When a puppy first comes home, you will need to take it to the vet for a check-up.  At this time, the vet will examine the dog to ensure it's healthy and administer any necessary vaccinations.  The first few months of dog ownership will find you back at the vet for routine exams/vaccinations and then will come the time to have them neutered or spayed.  The cost of surgery varies by where you live, but it cost me around $200 per dog.  Once they are neutered or spayed, you will need to register your dog with your county.  Yearly registration cost for a spayed or neutered dog in Hillsborough County costs $20.

The point of this entry is not to scare you into dog ownership, but rather to help you realize that there is a lot more that goes into the cost of a dog than just the purchase price and food.  Hopefully you'll be lucky enough to maintain a healthy dog as the vet bills can pile up when they have ongoing health problems.  In my next blog, I'll explore just that.  My female dog, Roxie, has had a series of "issues" over the past year and boy has she cost me a lot of money!