Costs of Adopting a Dog

Talk it Out

Adopting a dog is a lifetime commitment. Not necessarily your life, but certainly theirs. It isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly. Whether you are a single person looking for a companion or a family looking to add a new addition to the home, you need to take careful consideration of what adding this new life into the house will mean.

Money

I have had Petey for less than a year, and can say from personal experience I wish I had planned and budgeted a little better than I had. Here are the things that I wish people and gotten me to consider when I was preparing to adopt Petey.

·        Adoption Fees – to adopt any dog from the Emporia Animal Shelter there is an adoption fee that helps to cover the costs that go into caring for the animal while at the shelter.

o   $100 for a Purebred or a puppy

o   $75 for any other dog that has been there less than 2 weeks

o   $25 for all dogs that have been there 2 weeks or more

·        Spay/Neuter Deposit

o   $130 deposit that will be refunded to you with proof that you have gotten your dog spayed or neutered.

·        Food

o   This is can be a big expense depending on what type of dog food you feed them, and how big of a dog you have.

·        Vet Expenses

o   You have to take into consideration that once a year your dog will need all of his/her vaccinations, heart worm checks, fecal check, and a general physical.

o   Also you need to consider the fact that your dog could get sick and need to visit the Vet more than just the once for his/her normal visit.

·        Collars

o   For an adult dog, this probably won’t be a big deal. Collars are relatively inexpensive. But if you adopt a puppy, those little guys out grow collars like crazy! Either be prepared to buy multiple collars or by an adjustable collar that will hopefully last until they stop growing.

·        Leashes

o   Be aware that some leashes work better for certain dogs than others. If you are getting a big dog and aren’t sure how they are going to walk on a leash, buying them a retractable leash probably isn’t the best idea. Big dogs tend to do best on stationary leashes, until you can work with them enough to really know how they are going to do on walks.

·        Medication

o   Heartworm Medication

§  I usually only have to buy this once a year! Heartworms are nasty parasites that take up residence in your dog’s heart. The treatment for Heartworms is extremely expensive compared to the amount you will spend once a year to prevent them.

o   Flea and Tick Medication

§  This I have to buy a couple times a year. There are topical flea and tick medicines, pills your dog can take, or even flea collars. You will just need to weigh the pros and cons of each and see which best fits yours and your dogs lifestyle!

·        Toys

o   Now I’m not saying that your dog needs 100 different toys, but finding one or two that they like can help keep them entertained and prevent them from being destructive. Petey likes his chew bones (nylabones or rawhide), Kong’s, and balls. These keep him distracted, entertained, and when he is chewing on a bone, his teeth clean.

·        Crate

o   For a newly adopted dog, crates can be a good tool to have. For small dogs travel crates can make car rides to the vet easier and safer. The Humane Society of the United States recommends that all dogs when being transported by car, be transported in a crate. By doing this, they say is reduces injury to the dog and passengers in a car, should an accident occur. I mainly use a crate at home when I’m leaving the house. I love my dog and think he is the biggest sweetheart in the world, but he has separation anxiety and can get destructive when left alone. His crate keeps him safe and has the added bonus of not allowing him to destroy the furniture in my house.

·        Grooming

o   This can mean buying dog shampoo and nail clippers and doing it all at home or it could mean you take your dog to the groomer. This one is totally up to you and your budget.

·        Pet sitting/boarding

o   If you go out of town overnight or on vacation, leaving your dog alone for that length of time probably isn’t a good idea. So if you leave on vacation and can’t take your dog with you. You will have to consider where you will be able to board your dog and how much that will cost. The other option is to find someone you trust enough to give a spare key to, so that they can take care of your dog.

I am not in any way trying to discourage anyone from adopting a dog. But you really need to be ready to fully commit to owning one for the rest of their life. Petey has been my perfect companion, and I don’t regret getting him one bit. But I also have to budget carefully to provide for Petey and myself.