Recently in pet costs Category

This recent MSN Money column by Donna Freedman has drawn a firestorm of comments.

From the piece:

How much is that doggy in the window?

At least $8,000 over his lifetime -- and that's just for basic expenses. Fido costs a lot more if he gets sick, chews up your work boots or ruins the rug. Cats are even pricier. It costs about $10,415 to be ignored until you run a can opener.

In short, if you can't find at least an extra $800 to $3,000 in your budget every year, don't get a pet. If you get laid off, start looking for foster care for your pets until times are better -- and if the job market is particularly bleak, you may have to give them away outright.

Check out the column at the link and tell us what you think.

And here's a link with the column on how to save "big" on pet care. Among the suggestions:

• Take care of some pet needs yourself -- brush your pet's teeth regularly, trim their claws, learn how to do basic grooming.
• Ask your vet whether annual vaccinations are necessary (my vet, I know, would still advise titers to check blood levels; cost is about the same).
• Shop around for medications
• Forgo pet "fashion." "Clothes and fancy bags are a completely unnecessary expense," says Jennifer Fearing, director of economic research at the Humane Society of the United States.
• Avoid emergency clinics when possible.
• Think twice before adding pets.
• But don't buy the cheapest food -- higher-quality food will keep your pet healthier.
• And, of course, spay or neuter your pet.

Previous South Bay Pets posts on pet costs. 

For real -- $20 veterinarian visit vouchers being offered online (click our link) by Bayer HealthCare. Available from Feb. 16-28.

Log in between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. eastern time for your chance at one, they're giving 80 vouchers per hour.

The site also features money-saving pet care tips.

If you're like me, the household budget is getting pretty tight these days. But you don't want to scrimp on your pet when it comes to their basic needs.

Some things are easy to cut out -- that extra holiday collar that's so cute (but clearly frivolous and unnecessary), a box of treats (that probably aren't that good for your dog anyhow).

But what about the high-quality food you want to make sure your dog or cat continues to have? My dogs both eat Innova, I use coupons and buy the 30-pound bag at a local chain pet store. But after years of hearing the buzz about Global Pet Food Outlet in Torrance, I decided to check out their prices to see if I could find a better price.

The store, at 20210 S. Normandie (at Jon Street, just south of 190th), touts the "lowest overall prices in the nation." They also deliver and say they carry "every major brand or natural dog and cat food, including organic and raw." The store advertises that it has a full stock of Eukanuba/Iams.

Besides food, they stock a large selection of toys (including Kong products), an array of nutritional supplements, treats, grooming tools and pet accessories. I didn't price check a lot of items (and wouldn't know if many of those things were cheaper without a direct comparison). But I did see a 6-foot long, heavy leather leash marked at around $20, which seemed like a pretty low price for leather.

So the bottom line is I can't vouch for their overall prices. But I can tell you this -- I saved about $10 on my bag of dog food. That's enough of a savings to send me back again. The store seems to have a very loyal clientele.

If you want to check on prices before taking a trip out there, you can call Global Pet Food Outlet at 310-327-3330. The owner was quite helpful and very willing to check prices for me in advance when I called ahead to make sure it would be worth the trip.

Hours are limited, however: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week, but extended hours (until 6:30 p.m.) are offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

I found these consumer reviews online.

If you're familiar with Gobal and have been shopping there, let me know what you think.

Ushampooch Self-Serve Pet Wash is hosting a low-cost microchip clinic with the procedure being performed by a certified specialist.

The cost is $25 and proceeds will go to Kitten Rescue. Cash or check only (includes registration). Call 310-798-7300 for more information.

Traveling with your pets can be a big pain in the rear.

It can be expensive too. Not that I would know because the cat has never been more than two miles from the house, while the dog can't sit in the car for more than 20 minutes without becoming bored and destructive.

But for those who travel long distances with their pets, this is pretty sweet. The airline JetBlue announced the new JetPaws program, which offers frequent-flier points for animals.

As part of the new JetPaws program, cat and dog owners get two bonus award points per flight through the carrier's customer loyalty program. The extra points can help pet owners earn free travel.

The New York-based discount airline's non-refundable pet fee is $100 each way. JetBlue allows up to four small cats or dogs in the cabin of the aircraft on domestic and international flights.

"With more than 80,000 pets traveling on JetBlue each year, the JetPaws program is designed to make traveling with pets smooth from start to finish, offering valuable TrueBlue points along the way," said Kim Ruvolo, brand manager.

The new in-cabin program also provides pet owners with "petiquette" travel guidelines for tips on smooth jetting with Max. For the style-conscious, the airline partnered with New York Post columnist and ASPCA board member Cindy Adams to offer custom-made pet carriers co-designed by Adams, also the founder of Jazzy Park Avenue Dog products.

Big dogs need not apply, a fact that is causing much consternation on the article's comment section.

The folks at Green Dog blog picked up on a clever way to save money by using what you have to provide a bed for your dog. It's called the Jet-Set Dog Bed.

Basically, it's a dog bed created from an old suitcase.

Ingredients:

• Suitcase with floppy opening side
• Heavy-duty double-sided tape
• Pillow (or two, depending on the suitcase size)
• Fuzzy bath mat (slightly larger than inside of suitcase)

  Not for everyone -- or every decor -- perhaps, but a unique idea, especially considering the high cost of dog beds.

You can also find instructions for making your own cat condo and "quilted dog jacket" at the ReadyMade web site.

** Dogs will naturally take to something like this, I'm convinced, but maybe smaller dogs more than bigger canines. Last time I moved, I frequently found my scruffy terrier Fritz curled up in one of the boxes waiting to be unpacked. The laundry basket was another favorite hangout.

My dogs now are quite content to use the well-worn dog beds I've had on the floor for a few years. Cowboy plunked down in one almost immediately after I brought him home nearly a year ago and it remains his favorite special spot.

So where do your dogs like to hang out? Your furniture? Fancy dog beds? The laundry hamper?  

As we reported Sunday, an elderly woman suffered serious injuries when the home in the 2900 block of Dalmead was destroyed by fire.

But this e-mail was forwarded from a block captain, asking people to not only help the family, but also the family pet, which was also seriously injured.

This is the e-mail:

Thankfully, the family survived the horrific fire, but their home was destroyed and they LOST EVERYTHING!.  The family dog, Gemini,  barely survived.  The fire department carried Gemini out of the home and neighbors came together to resuscitate the dog. The fire department then stepped in and gave Gemini oxygen.   A neighbor volunteered to take the dog to the vet.   Gemini was taken to Animal Emergency, 3511 PCH, 310-325-3000.  The medical care for Gemini will be expensive, but necessary.  The family loves this dog.

Gemini's lungs were filled with smoke, he was wet and dirty and had a gash on his nose.  The vet, Dr. Brown, said the next 48 hours are crucial.  He  is not eating, but is doing well considering what he's been through.  He had high levels of carbon (I'm sorry, I forget the long word the Vet used) in his blood and received 6 hours of oxygen treatments. He has already had one x-ray and will need another in 48 hours to determine if there is permanent damage to his lungs.  The low end of Gemini's medical expenses will be $1,976.69.  The bill can get up to $2,474.66.
 If you would like to contribute to Gemini's medical fund, you may go directly to Animal Emergency at 3511 PCH.  Please tell them that you are there to give a donation to Gemini Cummings.  Or, you may leave a check at the home of Susan Burns 25215 Weston Rd. Please make checks out to Animal Emergency.  If you donate, please let us know so that we can properly thank you.

The family is well, from what I understand.  Everyone is alive.  Mrs. Cumming's sister is stable but is 85 years-old.  Doctors are concerned about her lungs and the threat of pneomena.  Keep the family in your prayers.



This is a list of donations that the family needs, put together by Valerie and Patrick Carnaham, who live two doors down from the Cummings.  Both children have special needs.  Josh is Autisic and Laurie has Down Sydrome.  If you can help with any of the items listed below, please leave them on the Carnaham's door step with your name and address.  They live at 2822 Dalemead  THANK YOU!!!

RICK, YOKO, LAURIE AND JOSH CUMMINGS

CLOTHING AND SHOE SIZE

YOKO - TENNIS SHOES 7.5 TO 8 WOMENS

PANTS - 12 WOMENS

TOPS - LARGE

 

RICK - SHOES 11 WIDE/FLIP FLOPS

T SHIRTS - XXL

 

LAURIE - SHIRTS 16

YOUNG MISS MEDIUM TO LARGE PANTS OR SHORTS

TENNIS SHOES - 4 WIDE /FLIP FLOPS (SLIP ON ONLY)

TOYS - DISNEY MOVIES VHS OR DVD/BARBIES/ETCH A SKETCH

 

JOSH - PANTS AND UNDERWARE - BOYS 32

TENNIS SHOES - 6-7 /FLIP FLOPS (SLIP ON ONLY)

MEDIUM SHIRTS

 

NOTE: JOSH IS AN EXTREMELY BRIGHT AUTISTIC YOUNG BOY AND LIKES TO SPEND TIME ON THE INTERNET, THE MOTHER (YOKO) IS ASKING IF ANYONE HAS A LAPTOP W/WIRELESS CAPABILITY FOR TEMPORARY USE.

This news will probably come to no surprise to our readers, but the folks at petplace.com tell us that the costs of owning a dog continue to go up along with everything else.

From advances in pet care to the development of premium foods, caring for a pet dog costs a lot more than it did just 10 years ago. The article advises anyone considering a pet to count the costs:

While it is certainly not necessary that a dog have a diamond collar or a Wedgwood china food bowl, all owners need to provide the basics of professional medical care, quality food and adequate shelter. The only other necessity for a responsible owner to provide is love -- and that's free.

Writer Vicki Constantine Croke writes a moving piece in the Boston Globe that weaves in the story of opting for cancer treatments for her 2-year-old goose Boswell against the backdrop of how veterinary medicine has changed, forcing the question: How Far Should We Go?

From kidney transplants to brain surgery, from chemotherapy to pacemakers, the best medical care is available today for our pets.

.... how do we approach these life-and-death decisions? Is it as far as our credit cards will stretch? Is it the pet's quality of life? Or our own quality of life? With the super-sophisticated, super-expensive medical diagnostics and treatments now available ... the answers are not always so clear.

This almost seems more like a "Josh" kinda post, but there is a connection to my previous Pennies and More item about the rise in the cost of pet food.

So here's the story: An animal lover on welfare in Japan decides to don a dog mask, brandish a knife and rob some convenience stores so he can keep feeding his two dogs, five cats, five turtles, two snakes and an aquarium of tropical fish.

Takaharu Kawata appeared on store videos and was  arrested in March. He is awaiting a court appearance and his animals were handed over to a pet shop, according to Tokyo police.

The mask? That was never recovered by authorities. His beagle, he told police, chewed it up.

And for good cause, I'd say.