Dog lover Lynda Moore says you need to be clear about what the cuddles and fun of pet ownership costs

I am unashamedly a dog person. Sorry cat people, I’m sure you will still relate to what I’m talking about.

One thing I was really looking forward to as part of my relocation to the South Island was having a dog again.

I had very good intentions of finding a rescue dog, and giving it a loving caring home, as I have done in the past. But, fortunately for the dog population when I arrived here there were none available. 

I was trawling through Trade-Me, looking for anyone who needed their dog rehomed, when an ad caught my eye. It was a gorgeous picture of a labrador puppy. My beautiful chocolate labrador had passed away at the grand old age of 12 a couple of years ago, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to have another one. But I kept looking at the photos, the puppies were local so I could just go and have a look and continue my search for a rescue dog, I told myself.

You know where this is going don’t you. One look at the puppy, a few cuddles later, and I had decided on a not so little boy. The whole litter were black labs, so I didn’t need to decide between colour.

Four weeks later, I visited the breeder again for more cuddles. This time Mum came too, as she was visiting, she fell in love with him as well. The decision was confirmed, and we named the puppy Jett. Four weeks later, my little bundle of joy came home. Next week, he’ll be six months old, he’s not so little anymore, he isn’t always a bundle of joy either, as he takes off with my favourite shoe…. Again!  But could I part with him? Of course not.

All of this is just setting the scene, because what comes along with all the cuddles, walks, play and cleaning up, is money.  We love our pets to bits, but they also come with a price tag, and ongoing financial costs and commitments.

It starts with the initial investment. Whether it’s a donation to the SPCA or paying the breeder, the first question is how much are you prepared to invest to find the right dog for you? Luckily for me, labradors seem to be entry level in the dog investment range. I met an elderly gentleman on one of our walks who had invested $6,000 in his little bundle of fluff.

Then of course there’s all the set-up costs. The bed, the food bowls, leads, collars, toys, not to mention the special dietary requirements of puppy food, vet visits for injections, worming and flea treatment.

I opted to have one to one puppy training at home, rather than group classes. One of the first things, my lovely trainer asked me, was what was my puppy budget? I looked at her with a slightly smug look on my face (I am the Money Mentalist after all), of course I had a puppy budget. After discussing Jett’s various needs with her, I decided to take a closer look at just what my puppy spend to date was and then reset my budget moving forward.

So, I crunched the numbers, I have one very spoilt pooch!  I have now reworked what his budget for the year is, after looking at what I have spent so far.  Allowing for his food, vet visits, toys etc, it was quite a bit more than my initial guestimate when I made the decision to get him.

If you are thinking about adding a pet to your household, talk to others who know what the long-term investment is.  Factor in changes in your lifestyle, that might occur further down the track. I may not be a cat lover, but I did have two of them for a number of years. They were both given to my daughter when she was younger and ended up staying with me when she left to go to university!

Unlike ‘stuff’ that breaks down and we throw away after a couple of years of use, pets are with us for a long time. Both my cats were 17 when they passed away. Many dogs live for more than 10 years. You are making a big commitment of both time and money. The joy you will get from the commitment is well worth the cost. Just be financially prepared for what is ahead.

This then led my thoughts down the track of, how many families who are struggling with mortgage increases and cost of living increases are also pet owners? How are they juggling their budgets so they can keep their pets, or are they having to make the tough decisions to rehome them?

Pets, whether dogs, cats, or budgies, are more than just pets; they help with our mental health, they give us companionship, our fitness (for us dog owners), social connection from meeting other pet owners, and so much more.  How can you put a price on this? I would hate to have to make that decision that some families are having to.

When I do my grocery shopping, I’ll pop some extra tins, or bits and pieces in the donation trolley at the supermarket, or I’ll stock up and drop a bag off at the local foodbank. Next time I do that, I’m going to include something that can also help feed a family pet. Maybe you could do the same. You will be doing a lot more than just feeding a pet, you will also be contributing to a family’s mental health in these very stressful times.

*Lynda Moore is a Money Mentalist coach and New Zealand’s only certified New Money Story® mentor. Lynda helps you understand why you do the things you do with your money, when we all know we should spend less than we earn. You can contact her here.