Adopting a pet is a big responsibility. You will need to provide shelter, food, medical attention, exercise, and love. While you don’t have to be wealthy to be a good pet parent, there are some financial factors you should consider before adopting. Here are some ways you should prepare financially before finalizing a pet adoption.
Do Your Research
The most important thing to do is research the costs associated with pet ownership. Some examples are:
- Adoption fees
- Licensing fees
- Training
- Food
- Vaccinations and preventive care
- Veterinary care
- Toys and other supplies
- Pet daycare or pet sitting expenses
Create a Budget
Next, create a budget. Consider your overall monthly income, and subtract rent or mortgage payment, utilities, phone and internet service, groceries, health insurance, household costs, auto insurance, gas or transportation costs, and other incidental or emergency costs that may come up. Then look at the average costs associated with the examples above. Does your income allow for your expenses and pet-related expenses and give you something left over for savings or emergencies?
Purchase Pet Insurance
Pet insurance is one of the best ways to prepare financially for pet ownership. Like human health insurance, pet insurance requires you to pay a monthly premium, whether your pet needs care or not. Some pet insurance companies offer free or discounted preventive care, vaccinations, check-ups, and routine diagnostic testing. Others only reimburse you for emergency costs, like wound care and surgery.
Start a Pet Savings Account
You should also start a pet savings account. This can help you prepare for larger expenses, like emergency veterinary care, pet illnesses or injuries, unexpected pet sitting or boarding needs, and more. Keep in mind that most pet emergency care hospitals require payment at the time service is rendered, and do not offer payment plans. If your pet needs care, you will need to have the money upfront, and a savings account can protect you from using a credit card or other expensive financing options.
Find a Reputable Veterinarian and Animal Hospital in Your Area
Finally, you should find a reputable veterinarian or animal hospital in your area. You can ask them to give you their price ranges for certain services, like check-ups, vaccinations, nail trims, and more. This will help you better understand the cost of pet ownership so that you can start preparing.
At All Pets Katy, we specialize in routine veterinary services and pet wellness care in Katy, TX. We are open Monday to Friday 7 AM to 7 PM. We do everything possible to keep our prices reasonable and will always provide you with a quote for the cost of services so that you can prepare.
We accept CareCredit and Scratchpay to make it easier for clients to afford our services. We have also partnered with Pawlicy Advisor to help our clients find the best pet insurance for their budget. Call us now for pet wellness care. You can also book an appointment online.
