Am I a “Dry-Cleaner for Fur Coats”?

This weekend, a veterinarian friend (Dr. Bob), asked me; Pete, are we nothing but dry-cleaners for fur coats?

According to a 2017 article titled The Annual Cost Of Pet Ownership: Can You Afford A Furry Friend?, the total first-year cost of owning a dog is $1,270. For a cat, it’s $1,070. So a pet can cost you over $1,000 in the first year, and well over $500 each additional year.  

• Say your dog lives for 13 years? That Fur Baby will have cost you $7,270 dollars.
• Say your cat lives for 17 years? That Fur Baby will have cost you $9,070 dollars.

The above dollar amounts are, of course, estimates. Depending on the food you buy and any & all unscheduled medical expenses, the costs could be much higher. Furthermore, the items included in these estimates are not inclusive. For example, if you travel, you’ll have to tack on the expense of pet sitting or kennel services. If you rent an apartment, you can expect to pay a sometimes non-refundable pet deposit or cleaning fee (if your landlord allows animals at all). If you own a pit bull, you may have to pay more for homeowner’s insurance.

I, for one, don’t think it is fair that only people of means are able to reap the (proven) animal-human-bond health benefits.

Dr. Bob and I agreed; as human societies unravel, as disposable income decreases, as social isolation and loneliness increases, pets will be an important glue for holding some (many?) people’s lives together.