Taking care of man’s best friend

"Blacky needs a home!  He is 7 yrs old; male; chow mix; 33 lbs Contact the Darlington County Humane Society if you are interested in this sweet boy! www.darlingtonhumane.org"

“Blacky needs a home! He is 7 yrs old; male; chow mix; 33 lbs Contact the Darlington County Humane Society if you are interested in this sweet boy! www.darlingtonhumane.org”

By Jana E. Pye, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net

There is no such thing as a free puppy.

The cost of owning a dog in the United States has gone up steadily each year. According to American Pet Products Association, the average cost per month in 2001 was $28.50; in 2015, the number jumped to $60.59.

A story posted on CNBC last fall by Michelle Castillo, The American Pet Products Association estimated $60.59 billion will be spent on pets in 2015, up about 25 percent from five years ago. More U.S. households own dogs than any other pet. They tend to be the most expensive domestic animal. Basic annual expenses per dog are expected to reach $1,641.

On WalletHub.com, John S. Kiernan shared the average dog owner spends roughly $180 each month on their dog.

And that number rises for some breeds, due to grooming requirements, and common medical problems associated with the breed.

Initial vet check ups for dogs range from $60 to $150; across the nation, the average spay/neuter surgery is roughly $180.

Most animal clinics and veterinarians recommend the following for preventative care to extend the health and well being of your dog, and avoid painful – and costly – medical problems:

Annual vaccinations and check ups
Teeth cleaning (especially as the dog ages)
Grooming and nail trimming
Heartworm prevention
Flea prevention

A Sylvain Labs report in the fall of 2014 suggested that there was a link between the fact that more city-dwelling couples were getting dogs and more partners waiting until they were older to have kids, as well as the decreased number of children per family. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2013, the latest year for which information was available, the average woman was 26 when she had her first child. In 1970, it was a little over 21.

How does that compare to owning a cat? According to reports by the ASPCA, the total first year cat costs are $1,035 vs. total first year dog costs are $1,843 (not including breeder fees.)

But it is all worth it to take good care of your best friend!

Author: Jana Pye

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