Summarized by Mary Bushnell, St. Louis Pets Examiner
Every year millions of animals end up in shelters, many of them relinquished by their owner due to the expense of taking care of the pet. This unfortunate fact is even truer in today’s economy. A number of owners go into the pet relationship with an unrealistic expectation of the cost involved.
Just like children, young pets need routine care to thrive or even just to survive. You might get the pet for “free” from a neighbor but that is just the beginning. There is the essential first check-up and series of shots that are needed. For those professionals in the veterinary field there is nothing more heart wrenching than having to euthanize an animal due to the owner’s inability or unwillingness to pay for the preventative well pet care. By the time the pet is brought into their office it is often too late to save them from one illness or another.
Any trip to the veterinarian can be costly, even for routine care. Just like human clinics, if something goes wrong the cost goes up at an alarming rate. All of a sudden the pet owner is beginning to wonder what he or she has gotten into.
There are ways to manage the cost of pet care, but it takes initiative on the owner’s part. Most veterinary clinics give a discount for multiple animal appointments. That means if you have two or three cats or dogs take them to the vet at the same time. Even if not the same age, the required shots can sometime be tweaked to eventually get them on the same schedule for routine care. Many clinics will have payment plans if you meet certain criteria, especially for unexpected large expenses; such as accidents, surgeries or tests that need to be done. Explain your situation to the clinic owner or manager even if you have to set up an appointment to do so. Most receptionists don’t have the authority to offer discounts or special payment plans.
If you have a lot of pets, as my family does, it just isn’t feasible to drag them all into the vet’s office. That would be a full time job in itself! Yes, most vets will make house calls to do a brief examination, draw blood for heart worm testing and give vaccinations. It will still cost a bundle but you won’t have the individual office call costs for each animal. The cost here in the midwest is approximately $70-$150 for the vet to come to you. When you consider that an appointment at a clinic is usually $45 per animal and up it is not a bad deal.
There are also numerous animal groups that you can contact for reduced costs for certain types of pet care. Most cities offer a reduced spay and neuter program through a shelter or humane group. Most vets can recommend local agencies that provide these low cost care programs. The Animal Protective League is an example in central
Never shy away from a “free” cat or shelter animal because you feel that their health may be inferior to that of a purebred. Often the very opposite is true. “Mutts” are survivors as are strays. Be open, make an informed and realistic decision on cost and you and your pet will be happy for years to come.
