Here is something for everyone to think about. The next time you see that cute little puppy or adorable little kitty that you just can't resist, HOW MUCH WILL IT REALLY COST???
Here are charts I found, courtesy of peteducation.com, that lists the true cost of owning a pet:
Cost of owning a DOG:
| Product/Service | Cost 1st Year | Yearly Cost | ||||
| Low Cost | My Cost | High Cost | Low Cost | My Cost | High Cost | |
| Purchase Price | 0 | 50 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Food | 125 | 300 | 500 | 125 | 300 | 500 |
| Vaccines | 20 | 75 | 150 | 10 | 60 | 100 |
| Vet Bills | 40 | 75 | 400 | 40 | 125 | 400 |
| Spay/Neuter | 35 | 120 | 200 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bed | 25 | 70 | 150 | 0 | 7 | 15 |
| Treats | 20 | 20 | 100 | 0 | 20 | 75 |
| Chew Bones | 20 | 90 | 150 | 0 | 20 | 50 |
| Bowls | 5 | 8 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Collars | 8 | 5 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Leash | 5 | 7 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Training | 15 | 40 | 450 | 0 | 10 | 100 |
| Fence | 0 | 750 | 1500 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| Vitamins | 15 | 20 | 75 | 2 | 15 | 8 |
| Flea Control | 20 | 20 | 200 | 20 | 20 | 200 |
| Heartworm | 50 | 52 | 100 | 50 | 52 | 100 |
| Shampoo | 6 | 6 | 25 | 6 | 6 | 25 |
| Grooming | 0 | 0 | 400 | 0 | 0 | 400 |
| Grooming Tools | 8 | 8 | 250 | 1 | 0 | 25 |
| Dental Care | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| Stain Cleaner | 8 | 30 | 75 | 5 | 5 | 75 |
| Waste Disposal | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Training Aids | 25 | 25 | 300 | 3 | 3 | 30 |
| Deworming | 6 | 6 | 30 | 6 | 6 | 30 |
| Boarding | 15 | 150 | 200 | 15 | 150 | 200 |
| Crate | 40 | 50 | 150 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
| Car Restraint | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
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| Totals | $511.00 | $1977.00 | $6600.00 | $287.00 | $807.00 | $2485.00 |
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| Total over the life of a 14 year old dog |
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| Low Cost | My Cost | High Cost |
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| $4,242.00 | $12,468.00 | $38,905.00 |
cost of owning a cat
| Product/Service | Cost 1st Year | Yearly Cost | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Cost | My Cost | High Cost | Low Cost | My Cost | High Cost | |
| Purchase Price | 0 | 50 | 750 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Food | 120 | 175 | 200 | 100 | 175 | 200 |
| Spay/Neuter | 50 | 95 | 200 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Litter Box | 8 | 10 | 50 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Cat Litter | 70 | 120 | 150 | 70 | 120 | 150 |
| Furniture | 0 | 0 | 200 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Window Perches | 0 | 25 | 60 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Cat Bed | 0 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Cat Door | 0 | 25 | 75 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Cat Carrier | 18 | 20 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scratching Post | 5 | 5 | 45 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Food Bowls | 7 | 8 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Grooming Tools | 5 | 7 | 40 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Hair Removing Tape | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Stain Removers | 8 | 25 | 75 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| Flea Control | 50 | 60 | 150 | 50 | 60 | 150 |
| Heartworm Prevention | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| Training Aids | 20 | 20 | 150 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Vet Bills | 50 | 50 | 300 | 50 | 50 | 200 |
| Vaccines | 45 | 55 | 85 | 10 | 10 | 35 |
| Ear/Dental Care | 0 | 0 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Vitamins/Fatty Acids | 0 | 10 | 50 | 0 | 10 | 50 |
| Treats | 0 | 5 | 40 | 0 | 5 | 40 |
| Toys | 10 | 15 | 75 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Boarding | 25 | 75 | 200 | 25 | 75 | 200 |
| Totals | $491.00 | $862.00 | $3125.00 | $310.00 | $527.00 | $1169.00 |
| Total over the life of a 14 year old cat | Low Cost | My Cost | High Cost | |||
| $4,521.00 | $7,713.00 | $18,322.00 | ||||
