May 28, 2019
Financially Speaking
Dogs and cats are easy to fall in love with, and if you have kids, they might have begged for a puppy or kitten once or twice. The on-going costs of adding furry babies to your family are usually not considered in the household budget. The average yearly cost is $500. If you are considering getting a puppy, kitten, fish, bird, lizard, snake, hamster, etc., read the K-State Research and Extension Dogs, Cats, and Birds Oh My! Factoring Pet Costs into a Family Budget (MF3368) publication, https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3368.pdf. This publication has details on monthly, periodic, and other costs such as pet insurance and end-of-life considerations to factor into a household budget. It also has a very detailed ‘Pet Budget Worksheet’ and tips on pet disaster preparedness.