Considering Adopting a Dog? Here's How Much Dog Owners Spend on a Lifetime of Pet Care – The Motley Fool

If you’re on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
Credit Cards
Banks
Brokers
Crypto
Mortgages
Insurances
Loans
Small Business
Knowledge
by Natasha Gabrielle | Published on Sept. 24, 2022
Image source: Getty Images
Dogs are loyal and loving creatures — but they require a lot of money for lifetime care.
Becoming a pet owner involves taking on a huge responsibility. Pets can be loving, silly, and loyal companions — but they are hard work and have many expenses associated with their care. Are you thinking of adopting a dog? You want to ensure you’re fully ready for the financial commitment. It may surprise you how much the average owner spends on dog care. 
Of course, there are initial costs, such as adoption fees, initial vet visits, and costs associated with preparing your home so it’s comfortable and welcoming for your new furry pal. But there are also lifelong care costs that can add up quickly. 
A recent Synchrony study examined how much money pet owners spend on care costs throughout their pet’s lifetime. They also researched how lifetime care costs differed for dogs and cats. 
Are you curious how much the average person spends caring for their dog throughout their lifetime? It’s a lot of money — and this may not surprise you, but it can cost a lot more to care for a dog than it does for a cat. 
They used a 15-year timeframe to estimate lifetime costs. A healthy dog can live many years, but the exact age depends on the breed and the dog’s health.
The study found that the average owner spends anywhere from $19,893 to $55,132 on lifetime dog expenses. With those figures in mind, that’s a monthly cost between $111 and $306. 

function triggerEvent(type, obj, data){
var ev;
if (document.createEvent) {
ev = document.createEvent(“HTMLEvents”);
ev.initEvent(type, true, true);
} else {
ev = document.createEventObject();
ev.eventType = type;
}
ev.eventName = type;
if(data){
for(var key in data){
if(data.hasOwnProperty(key)){
ev[key] = data[key];
}
}
}
if (document.createEvent) {
obj.dispatchEvent(ev);
} else {
obj.fireEvent(“on” + ev.eventType, ev);//for < IE8
}
}
function defineVisitCookie(count){
let new_count = count + 1;
let tries = 4;
let delay = 1000;

let visitCookieValue = document.cookie.replace(/(?:(?:^|.*;s*)Visits*=s*([^;]*).*$)|^.*$/, "$1");
let attributionValue = visitCookieValue.replace(/.*visit=([w-]*).*/, "$1");

if (attributionValue) {
window.attributionValue = attributionValue;
triggerEvent('VisitCookieDefined', window, {visitCookieName: "attributionValue"});
} else if (new_count {
defineVisitCookie(new_count);
}, delay);
} else {
window.attributionValue = ‘unset-cookie’;
triggerEvent(‘VisitCookieDefined’, window, {visitCookieName: “attributionValue”});
}
}

setTimeout(() => {
defineVisitCookie(0);
}, 1000)

window.addEventListener(“VisitCookieDefined”, (event) => {
let ni_var1 = window[event.visitCookieName];

let matchingConfiguration = {
“src”: “669671”,
“var1”: ni_var1,
“trn_id”: “”,
};

//the widget will be loaded into a div with id=”qsWidgetContainer”.
sh.initialize(matchingConfiguration, “qsWidgetContainer”);
});

Thinking about these figures before agreeing to commit to caring for a dog is essential. While it takes a good home and a loving environment to raise a dog — they’re well worth the cost.
The same study found that many pet owners weren’t prepared for unexpected pet expenses. 
Take a look at some of the most notable findings: 
If you’re ready to get your finances in order, this is what you can do to prepare for these costs: 
You’ll make a difference by bringing a dog into your home and giving it all the love, care, and attention you can offer. But don’t forget to consider the true cost of owning a pet. Getting your personal finance affairs in order before becoming a dog parent can be a smart move to make. 
Natasha specializes in credit card and rewards content. Her goal is to encourage more people to experience the world around them while making smart financial choices.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
Related Articles
Best Pet Insurance Companies
What is Pet Insurance?
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
Best Pet Insurance Companies
What is Pet Insurance?
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters.
Copyright © 2018 – 2022 The Ascent. All rights reserved.

source