Pets on a Budget
By Jonni McCoy

Getting a family pet can be one of the most rewarding things for a child. The pet provides companionship, entertainment and exercise. But sometimes the wrong pet for the family style and needs can be disastrous.

Many pets require a certain type of care. Some dogs, for example, require more money as well as physical interaction and attention. Without proper attention, they can start to act strangely, chewing up things and sometimes even biting or growling.

Some other mammals, especially the small ones, don't demand as much and may be better suited for certain people. The smaller mammals, such as rats, rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs, are not only less demanding, but also less expensive.

How does one decide if they can afford a pet? When deciding if you can launch into this addition to the family, don't forget to factor in the pet's love it will provide in return. This is something no one can put a price tag on.

After deciding what the initial purchase fee will be, the prospective owner must look at food, vet bills, cage (if required), and any accessories that may be needed. Another consideration is if your family is away from home much. Will pet sitting be a regular expense?

A dog can cost $13,000 or more over it's lifetime. A third of that goes to food, and another third for the vet bills. The other third is spent on training, collars leashes, toys, etc. A cat will cost significantly less, with small mammals, reptiles and fish trailing behind.

Food can be an overwhelming expense if you have a large and active animal, such as a dog. There are ways to get around this expense if you are creative. These have helped us in the past:

* Buy in bulk quantities at discount pet superstores

* Avoid buying food from the vet, unless your pet has a specific health problem

* Don't over feed the animal

* Learn to make some of their food – it's easy, healthier and cheaper

That last one may surprise you. When we lived overseas, we didn't have the luxury of a supermarket, or canned pet food. Instead, we made all of our pet's feed.

For dog food, we boiled some meat with some rice and herbs. We would add some oils to the mix for its coat.

For cat food, we chopped a few teaspoons of fish, chicken, or egg yolk and mixed it with a tablespoon of cooked rice or oats, a teaspoon of milk or sour cream and a little oil for its coat.

There are several recipe books in the library with various meals to make for pets. You can even make your own dry pet food and biscuits.

Vet bills can be an expense we forget to plan for. The average family spends between $100 and $350 per year on their pet's vet visits. Those unexpected expenses like broken legs, etc. are just things we have to plan for. There are ways to cut some of the routine vet expenses. Here are a few:

*Ask around at pet stores if they host a mobile vaccine clinic in the area. These are usually 75% cheaper than a vet office visit.

* Practice good health and hygiene. This preventative measure can save hundreds of dollars.

* Ask around what vet prices are. They vary greatly.

* Practice good health and hygiene. This preventative measure can save hundreds of dollars.

* Check the ingredients in the pet food you buy from pet stores. Avoid the ones with the main ingredient of corn or meat by products (you want plain meats). These additives can cause skin allergies and joint problems in pets, and don't support the pet's nutritional needs, causing long term health problems.

* Keep the pet's weight appropriate for his size. Excess weight can cause diabetes, joint problems, and other health problems.

* Get videos from the library on dental cleaning grooming, and clipping at home.

* Get books at the library on simple home remedies for common ailments.

When our children were young, we enjoyed pet rats. They are inexpensive to purchase ($4.00), easy for the children to care for on a daily basis, don't require vaccinations or vet visits, and don't require a great deal of exercise. Surprisingly, they are very social and well tempered. Aside from having a low purchase price, they are also inexpensive to feed. We occasionally bought pre-made food for them, but they did very well on leftover lettuce, carrot tops, carrot peelings, oats, sunflower seeds, and other things we had around the house. We found them a good choice for our rambunctious 4 year old, and have had them as a family addition ever since.

This article copyrighted by Jonni McCoy 2006, www.miserlymoms.com

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