Before you start thinking about what to name your next dog or what breed you’d like, you should first think about everything that goes into owning a dog or other pet.
The United States is home to around 70 million pet dogs and around 80 million pet cats.
That is a lot of pets, and it’s why it seems like everyone has one.
Actually, most RVers have some sort of pet too – dogs, cats, turtles, and even parrots.
But, according to the ASPCA, about 7.6 million animals enter animal shelters each year, and one-third of them are brought in by their owners.
Yes, that means that millions of pets are sent to a shelter by their owners.
Why do so many pet owners give up their animals?
Well, according to a survey done by Petfinder, people relinquish their pets because they are moving, they own too many pets, the cost of pet maintenance is too high, and more.
Another finding from this survey is that 47% of dogs and 40% of cats are between the ages of 5 months and 3 years. Most dogs and cats are only owned between seven months to one year. This means that people are getting rid of their pets pretty quickly.
Lastly, 33% of dogs and 46% of cats that were given up had never been brought to a veterinarian. This is because many people do not realize how much time and money pets require!
Now, I absolutely love pets.
I have two dogs of my own, and, while some may disagree, they are members of our family. We bring them everywhere we go, we love cuddling with them, we regularly (almost daily) go on long hikes with them, we take them to the vet annually, and we just had multiple tumors removed from one of our dogs (so we understand what high vet bills are like).
But, many people take up owning a dog without fully thinking about everything that goes into owning one.
This can lead to surrendering the pet to an animal shelter. And, sadly there are approximately 2,700,000 pets euthanized each year.
I know that owning a dog or cat can be very appealing (they can be great companions), but before you assume you should own one, you should be realistic about your ability to care for a pet.
Related: 12 Things You Need To Know About Traveling With A Dog
Before you think about owning a dog or cat, think about the below:
Do you have the time for a pet?
Owning a pet, whether it’s a dog or even a cat, requires you to spend at least some of your time with them. In general, owning a dog will take up more time than other types of pets. You can’t just crate your dog all day long and never take him or her out for walks or to run around outside.
Many people end up getting rid of their dogs because the dog has to be left alone for too much of the day. If you have to leave your dog inside for the majority of the day, it may use the bathroom inside of your home, destroy your couch, and so on.
Pets need to spend time with others, so before you get one, you need to make sure you can spend plenty of time with them.
Are you ready for the responsibility?
Owning a dog or other pet comes with a lot of responsibility.
You’ll have to find someone to watch yours pets when you go on vacation, you’ll have to think about what you’ll do with your pets if and when you’re gone for the day, the costs (discussed further below), and more.
A pet will require many hours of your day, and it’s not something that you can just shrug off.
Your pet’s livelihood depends on you, and they look forward to seeing you each day. You should look forward to spending time with them as well.
Do you realize that one day your pet will no longer be a baby?
One day, that puppy or kitten you brought home won’t be so tiny anymore. It may grow into a huge dog, even if the breeder told you otherwise.
I know many people who were told by a breeder that the dog they purchased would only be 15 or 20 pounds, yet they are 50+.
And, sadly many people give up their pets because they say they just aren’t as cute anymore.
Well, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?!
Animals do age, and so will your puppy or kitten.
Getting a pet just because it’s cute isn’t a good reason. Your pet will get bigger and maybe not as cute, and you need to think about the next 10 to 20 years with them, not just the super cute baby months.
Are you prepared for it to be more difficult to find a rental?
Owning a dog usually means that it will be more difficult to find a rental, as the average landlord usually does not allow pets, especially dogs. This means that you may have to search further away for a rental that suits your needs, pay a monthly pet fee, and more.
According to the statistics I cited earlier from Petfinder, each year over 100,000 pets are surrendered to animal shelters, many of them euthanized, because the owner did not realize how hard it could be to move with them.
While it’s not impossible, you will have to try harder and it may even require more money to find the best rental.
Can you afford owning a dog or cat?
Dogs and cats are expensive.
Many people don’t understand the total cost of owning a dog or cat and only think about the cost of pet food.
Unfortunately, that’s all most people think about, and I am always shocked by that.
You will need to think about veterinarian visits, obedience classes, housing, and more.
The average cost of owning a dog or cat can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000+ annually.
That is a lot of money!
If you cannot afford the costs of owning a pet, then you should wait to adopt one.
You need to make sure you and your family’s financial obligations are taken care of before taking on the cost of adopting a pet. Considering that the average person only saves around 5% or less of their salary each year, the cost of owning a pet ($500 to $2,000 a year) may severely impact your ability to save any money at all.
Plus, no pet deserves to be surrendered at an animal shelter. If you are upfront and realistic with your financial obligations, you can prevent another pet from being surrendered and losing their family.
Are you interested in owning a dog? Do you think that some people jump into pet ownership?
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YASSSSS!!!
Pets can and ARE expensive sometimes because just like people, they have emergencies! I adopted Harrison and he was rather frugal for a year and a half then I came home to an apartment covered in cat vomit. Over $1,000 and a cleaned out emergency fund, I had to put another $500 on a card because he had diagnosed FIV ( he was negative at the time of adoption) and was having an insane flare up.
Now, I have to make sure he takes meds everyday and pay for them as well. He also definitely can’t be left alone like most cats and needs a pet sitter even if I am gone just the weekend. I wouldn’t change it for the world because I love him so much and he has brought me so much joy. I just tell my story so others know this stuff can happen.
Great post! The true cost and time for a pet is always A LOT more than meets the eye. I had 3 cats and one just passed, I had him for 13 years. He changed my life and was the BEST companion ever. I moved from Japan after I found him malnourished and abandoned on the side of the road. (terrible what people do!).I decided to keep him and would never leave him behind as he is part of my family. Fast forward a few years, 3 and a half years ago, he started to get kidney issues, early pancreatitis, he went blind in one eye and my husband and I had to give him sub-q fluids up to 3 times a week to manage his dehydration, laxatives and a special kidney diet too. Over 13 years, he probably cost me at least $10,000 (regular vet care, teeth extraction and cleaning, and more!) and monthly for the last 3 and a half years, $80-$150 per month. Not to mention my other 2 cats too! So the actual TRUE cost of investing in a pet is A LOT more than you think! I had no idea what I was in for but he was worth every penny. We budgeted for all our animals as they are a priority and made sure we can take care of them. They need time, attention, love and care 100% of the time, they are a HUGE commitment. I love my pets like my kids, they are my family. Don’t invest in a pet unless you know you have the time, energy and know they grow out of being cute and cuddly puppies and kittens!
I fully believe in your insight about taking consideration when thinking about owning a pet. I agree with you completely because a lot of people don’t think of all of the expenses that come with the responsibility of having their own pet. I entirely agree with your statement that people get bored of their pets as soon as they began to grow up. That people mostly enjoy their little kittens or their cute puppies and then they don’t like them once they get older. For example I’ve personally seen my friend dislike her dog as it grew out of its puppy stage. I agree that people need to realize that their pets are not going to stay a puppy for the rest of their lives. I also agree that people need to think more about the money they will need to put towards their pet. Also I think people need to think about the time and attention that they will need to give their pet. I believe that these people need to think long and hard about the responsibilities of owning a pet…
You are so correct! People do lose interest when the baby pet turns into a grown pet! Many people don’t take into consideration the costs of owning a pet. I agree with everything you said!
This was a great article. I only have one dog right now, and like you said she is part of our family. Even though we at times wish to get another pet, we’ve restrained ourselves because we would not give the the attention it deserves. You brought up great points that I hope anyone who things of owning a pet would consider beforehand.
When I’ve been to the shelters it breaks my heart to see so many animals their… I wish I could take them all home with me, but I wouldn’t have the time or energy to give them all the love they deserve.
Thank you so much for writing this superb post!
Wow, this is a must-read for potential pet-owners! I was shocked by these stats about owners relinquishing their pets. But then, I’m the pet-owner that just paid $1,027 to move my dog abroad with me (http://www.savingsandsangria.com/how-much-cost-move-abroad/)!
Our dog is very much a part of our family. I couldn’t imagine ever giving her up. And I know how expensive pet ownership can be.
Sometimes my kids start asking for a second dog – but at this point in my life, that is a commitment I cannot make.
Maybe someday we will get a second. But for now we are happy with our “only” doggie.
I have a rescue dog. We just paid $226 to have her teeth cleaned. Vet bills seem to be going up! Anyway, I have a major pet peeve with people that give up their pets when they have a baby. I had a baby and kept my dog. If the dog is attacking the child or biting – that’s going to take some professional training and intervention – but in most of the cases I have heard of it’s just that the dog started chewing on furniture or barking out of boredom or something, and the owners are very quick to boot the dog. It’s really upsetting and you are right there are so many pets in shelters.
Thank you so much for this post and the title says it all. NOT EVERY HOME DESERVES A PET. I was a police officer for years and in one area that I worked there was an adorable black lab mix dog that was tied to a stake in a yard on a short chain and I never saw him get love or attention. Now I was there 24/7, however. The worst thing is, by law, he wasn’t “neglected.” He had water and food and a little dog house, but no love. So, I always stopped by during my shift and talked to him, petted him, and gave him love. I’ve seen too many pets neglected and abused. If you can’t take care of a pet or spend time with one, please don’t get one. It’s not fair to you or them.
Let me start off, I agree with everything you have written in your article. I agree that the cost of life-long care (time, finances, housing) should be thoroughly considered before adopting pets. I’ve also volunteered at my local shelter for years, owned a pet-sitting & dog-walking business for 5 years & am a crazy animal lover.
But I do have a question. I adopted my dog & two cats about 3 & 4 years ago, respectively. All 3 were adults when I adopted them & came from previous owner-surrenders. At the time, I owned my own business & made enough money to care for my animals. I lied to my rental unit about how many pets I owned, since they had a 2 pet limit. But in the last few years, rental prices have sky-rocketed, I had to close my business & have a less stable income. And during all this, my dog had various medical issues (including bi-lateral TPLO surgeries) that accumulated to $15,000 in vet bills … thank god I got pet insurance when I adopted her, but it has still been a huge expense! I’m almost 30 and have moved back in with my parents in order to keep all 3 pets. I research housing options every day & am either faced with rates I can’t afford or places that don’t allow pets (let alone 3 of them). I have been living at home for almost a year now and am in a constant debate with myself about re-homing my cats, with the thought that having 1 pet instead of 3, will make the housing & financial situation more feasible. I want to stick to my commitment to life-long care, but at the same time, I feel like I took on more responsibility than I should have. And now I am stuck.
Anyway, my question is: Granted the animals are in a loving & caring home, wouldn’t it be better that the animals are adopted & cared for (for any amount of time) than not adopted at all? When considering the option of re-homing my cats, I feel a little better knowing that at least I have given them a loving & safe home for the last 4 years. I could almost consider myself a long-term foster?
I don’t know what I will do. I love all 3 of my pets dearly & the guilt of re-homing any of them is absolutely gut-wrenching.
I do know that I will be a lot more cautious when adopting pets in the future. If my living & financial situations are not stable, I would love to foster temporarily or volunteer my time at a rescue. Regardless, I wish I had read your article before adopting any of my pets. Though to be honest, I’m not sure any of it would have sunk in. I think when you have a big heart & a love for animals, you can easily be blinded by those cute, twinkly dog/cat eyes at the shelter and believe (sometimes unrealistically) that you’ll be able to love & care for them no matter what.
Rehoming can be done a correct way and the wrong way, and you sound like someone who really cares about their pets. I think that if you are able to find a good home for a pet, then that can be a good option. However, I do not recommend dropping them off at a shelter as a home is not always found and they are usually quite full and stressed in that area.
Hi MICHELLE, As a pet owner myself, I understand the love and companionship that comes with having a dog or cat. However, it’s important to realize that owning a pet is a huge responsibility. Many pets end up in shelters because their owners didn’t consider the time, money, and commitment required. Let’s ensure that every pet finds a loving home that truly deserves them.