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People are giving up pets due to costs: How to keep those expenses down

People love their pets, but not necessarily the costs of caring for them. A recent survey finds many people are getting priced out of owning a furry friend and can no longer afford them.

Bob Slusher struggles with the cost of feeding his four dogs.

“It’s about $60 a week, and that’s in wet food,” he said. “It’s kind of like raising a child. I mean they don’t need clothes or shoes, but the food and the vet bills.”

In the latest Consumer Price Index, the cost of purchasing an animal, pet supplies and accessories were all up a little more than 3%. Fortunately, food costs were up less than one percent compared to last year. But that comes after three years of hefty increases.

How to save on pet food

Noah Freed manages a pet store that specializes in food and accessories, the Delhi Pet Center, so he has seen the dramatic rise in costs the past four years. He says to keep food costs down, skip the smaller bags at the grocery store, which are the easiest thing to purchase.

“Just because it’s more convenient, doesn’t mean it’s cheaper,” he said.

Freed says buy the biggest bag you can carry and store. Pet supply stores will typically stock 40-pound bags, which he says are the best deal of all.

“The best value is going to be your bigger bags,” he said. “Because you are going to get the most amount of food for the dollar.”

MORE: Save 35% on pet food with autoship from Chewy

He’s a proponent of local pet stores, which often have rewards.

“Those have rewards programs where if you buy a certain number of bags, you get one free,” he said

The site LendingTree, meantime, came up with some unpleasant findings in a recent survey. It found that:

  • 12% of Americans have surrendered a pet in recent years because they could no longer afford it.
  • 37% of people have gone into debt over a pet.

How to save on veterinary costs

LendingTree’s Matt Schulz says a pet hospital visit can break the band.

“Medical emergencies are the primary cause of it,” he said.

He suggests setting money aside for a pet emergency fund.

“They can be an amazing thing and they can help our health and our well-being, and just our overall feeling, but they’re expensive,” Schulz said.

The other option: Pet insurance, especially policies designed to cover high-expense emergency visits.

How to save on pet boarding

And don’t forget about the cost of caring for pets while you’re away.

Since kennels can be expensive, Checkbook.org suggests hiring a pet-sitter to save money, or bringing your pet on trips with you, especially since many hotels are now dog-friendly.

“For a lot of families, taking the pet along is more convenient,” Checkbook’s Kevin Brasler said. “It’s less costly and also it doesn’t, you know, might not traumatize the pet so much.”

MORE: Check out FREE petsitting from Trusted Housesitters (save 25% off annual membership with promo code: RAF749447)

Bob Slusher has one last tip: Know what you are getting into before you buy or adopt.

“I would not tell anybody to get a dog if you’re not going to put money into it,” he said.

That way you don’t waste your money.


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This article originally appeared on WCPO, Scripps News Cincinnati.

About the Author
John Matarese

John's goal is to help as many TV viewers as possible save money, avoid bad deals, know a rip-off when one comes their way, and be educated consumers. His informative weekly consumer segment "Don't Waste Your Money" now airs on 45 TV stations from San Diego to Tampa to Houston and Cincinnati. More.


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