Four-legged Friends Prove Priceless On Financial Front

[lappiemum]

Age article online - reference http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/lifemat...00504-u7a1.html

Four-legged friends prove priceless on financial front

DANIELLA MILETIC

May 5, 2010

MONEY can't buy friendship, but it seems $24,000 can get you a best friend of the four-legged variety.

According to a report, Victorian families are spending about that much on their pet dog over its lifetime, at an average of more than $2370 a year.

Research by BankWest has revealed that after an initial average purchase of $647, the cost of caring for a dog over an average 10-year lifespan - including food, veterinary bills, trainers and grooming - comes to about $24,000.

The ''pooch index'' found the bulk of the annual cost was spent on pet food and gourmet treats ($1280). The next big expense was, not surprisingly, veterinary costs, at an average of $380 a year. Additional dog care, including grooming, training and walking, added up to about $410 a year.

''I think if you said to most people that Pooch or Fido … sitting over there would cost you $25,000 over the life of the dog, most people would probably be taking it back,'' BankWest's Adrian Bradley said. ''I guess [the study] just confirmed that for a lot of people pets are part of the family and they are more than prepared to spend the money on them.''

The report, from a survey of 735 pet owners across the country, found that cats cost more than dogs overall because they have a longer lifespan (15 years on average). At about $1879.60 a year, cat owners on average spend a total of more than $28,000.

A pet bird, according to the study, costs about $15,160 over its lifetime (15 years on average) and a fish costs $642 (with an average two-year lifespan).

More than 96 per cent of respondents reported they felt their pets to be members of the family, and more than half said a pet was of similar importance to a child. About 5 per cent said their pets were beneficiaries in their will.

Leeann Joseph has a Maltese terrier, Mackie, and a miniature poodle, Bunny, and knows firsthand that dogs can be expensive.

The owner of Puppy Phat pet accessories and clothing store in St Kilda, Ms Joseph says she spends about $35 to $50 on pet food each week, in the form of fresh chicken and steak that she prepares, or premium-brand dog food.

Last year she forked out $2500 so 13-year-old Mackie could have a liver biopsy and blood test (he had hepatitis) and continues to spend $90 a month on his medication. Every three months she will spend $270 on a blood test and liver check-up.

Ms Joseph's other pet expenses also tend to add up, including teeth cleaning ($300 per pooch per year), flea treatment ($10 per dog per month), worming ($10 each per month), yearly vaccinations ($100 per dog) and grooming ($45 per dog every six weeks). There have also been some one-off expenses such as car pods for each dog (a car seat with seat belts) at $100 each and clothes (each dog has two hoodies and two T-shirts), and Mackie has booties too.

But no matter, says Ms Joseph. She, like 56.7 per cent of the respondents in the survey, likens her pets to her children in importance. ''They are part of the family,'' she says. ''You don't think twice.''

[Hetzer]

Otherwise $6.50 per day. I read an article where it calculates raising a child to adulthood in the technological era of today can cost about a Million dollars (article here). Compared to that the canine pet is astoundingly good value I think.

[Kelza]

I wouldn't like to do the sums I spend on my dogs... but what's money when you have love

Edited May 6, 2010 by Kelza

[sandra64]

Since paying 3 lots of school fees from kindy till grade 12,then the carnage after that , my dogs dont seem too bad. At least if they go on an excursion its not a 5 week trip to the northern hemisphere.

[Cockerlover]

regaurdless of costs .....in my opinion, worth every cent ,where else can u be rewarded with such unconditional love devotion & friendship !!

[Shakti]

Have to agree with Cockerlover on this one! My dogs love me unconditionally, don't care if i know who Justin Bieber is AND are delighted to be seen with me in public!

Go the Dogs, I say! (wish I had saved all my kids' pocket money over the years so I could have truly indulged my dogs!!!!)

[mita]

But just think what this money buys. It's proven that the love & company of a good companion dog give health & well-being benefits.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Aahhhh so this is why I can't pay off my mortgage more quickly ..... wouldn't change my dogs for anything, they are my very faithful friends and mean the world to me.

[furballs]

whatever, I love my dogs

[Snowball]

he he, :rolleyes:

my husbands kickname for our goldie is "expensive", after chewing up various bits of the garden, floorboard, furniture, digging holes in the back and having surgery for swallowing something she shouldnt, buying various pet accessories and building a doggy run, ,,...... it seems to ring true. lucky she is so cute

[W Sibs]

The boyfriend sent me this email:

There was a news story recently about who much money people spend on their dogs over the pet’s lifetime. It was designed to sound excessive. This rebuttal letter was written to The Age today!

Cheap at that price

SO IT costs $24,000 to have a dog for 10 years (''Four-legged friends prove priceless'', The Age, 5/5)? This is cheap, when you consider the alternative.

Try hiring the following, for 10 years: 1) a personal trainer to get you out walking even if it's cold and/or wet; 2) a therapist, to listen to all your troubles without judgment or criticism; 3) a security guard, to protect your home; 4) a physician, to lower your blood pressure and reduce your likelihood of suffering depression; 5) a spiritual guide, to help you find joy in simple pleasures like tossing a ball; and 6) a best friend, who is always there for you, giving you love and affection.

Mervyn Robbins, Coburg

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this is soooo true!!

My dogs are priceless...

Edited May 13, 2010 by CW EW

[lappiemum]

The boyfriend sent me this email:

There was a news story recently about who much money people spend on their dogs over the pet’s lifetime. It was designed to sound excessive. This rebuttal letter was written to The Age today!

Cheap at that price

SO IT costs $24,000 to have a dog for 10 years (''Four-legged friends prove priceless'', The Age, 5/5)? This is cheap, when you consider the alternative.

Try hiring the following, for 10 years: 1) a personal trainer to get you out walking even if it's cold and/or wet; 2) a therapist, to listen to all your troubles without judgment or criticism; 3) a security guard, to protect your home; 4) a physician, to lower your blood pressure and reduce your likelihood of suffering depression; 5) a spiritual guide, to help you find joy in simple pleasures like tossing a ball; and 6) a best friend, who is always there for you, giving you love and affection.

Mervyn Robbins, Coburg

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this is soooo true!!

My dogs are priceless...

[Sheridan]

Only $24,000? Hmmm, BankWest didn't ask me!