How to manage the rising costs of being a pet parent

kAmu:?2?4:2= A=2??6C #:49 pCK282 ?6G6C 6IA64E65 E@ DA6?5 D@ >F49 >@?6J @? 9:D ``\J62C\@=5[ {6@] tDA64:2==J D:?46 {6@ :D?VE 9:D D@?[ 3FE 2 7=2E\4@2E65 C6EC:6G6C]k^Am

kAmp C646?E >65:42= 32EE=6 7@C {6@ =65 E@ EH@ 5:776C6?E 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D[ 255:?8 FA E@ 2 E@E2= @7 Sa_[___] %92EVD 2 =@E @7 >@?6J 7@C 2 7FCCJ 7C:6?5 H6== :?E@ 9:D =:76DA2?] qFE E96 :?G6DE>6?E A2:5 @77] {6@ C646:G65 EC62E>6?E 7@C G2C:@FD 4@?5:E:@?D[ 2?5 :D C64@G6C:?8 H6==]k^Am

kAmQ%96 564:D:@? H2D?VE 2? 62DJ @?6[Q D2JD pCK282[ @7 |@?F>6?E[ r@=@][ 23@FE 4@G6C:?8 E96 3:8 AC:46 E28] QqFE H6 76=E 96 56D6CG65 E96 492?46]Qk^Am

k9bmw@H >F49 5@6D :E C62==J 4@DE E@ @H? 2 A6Enk^9bm

kAmr2C:?8 7@C 2 5@8 @G6C `d J62CD 42? ?@H 4@DE 2?JH96C6 7C@> Saa[`ad E@ Se_[e_a[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $J?49C@?JVD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DJ?49C@?J]4@>^4@?E6?E9F3^?6HDC@@>^?6H\DJ?49C@?J\DEF5J\7:?5D\?62C=J\g\@FE\@7\`_\A6E\@H?6CD]9E>=Qm!6E {:76E:>6 @7 r2C6 $EF5Jk^2m[ FA ``]edT 7C@> E96 D2>6 DEF5J E9C66 J62CD AC:@C] r2E @H?6CD 42? 6IA64E 2 C2?86 @7 Sa_[_fb E@ Scf[`_e[ FA `h]cT]k^Am

kAmu:CDE\E:>6 A6E A2C6?ED >:89E 6IA64E 2 76H 3:==D 36J@?5 52:=J 3@H=D @7 <:33=6] qFE E96 C62=:EJ :D 72C >@C6 6IE6?D:G6i EC2:?:?8[ 3@2C5:?8[ 8C@@>:?8[ 9:89\6?5 7@@5[ :?DFC2?46[ @FE\@7\A@4<6E >65:42= 6IA6?D6D[ 2?5 >F49 >@C6]k^Am

kAmpCK282 :D 6IA6C:6?4:?8 7:CDE\92?5 H92E >2?J A6E @H?6CD 5@] xEVD 2== A2CE @7 2 D@4:6EJ\H:56 EC6?5i @FC A6E 4@>A2?:@?D 766= =:<6 C62= 72>:=J >6>36CD[ 7@C H9@> H6 H@F=5 5@ 2?JE9:?8] qFE 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[ @FC 566A =@G6 7@C @FC A6ED D9@F=5?VE 5C:G6 FD :?E@ 563E]k^Am

kAmw6C6VD H92E E96 6IA6CED C64@>>6?5 7@C 92?5=:?8 A6E 4@DED E96 C:89E H2J[ C6A@CED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4FCC6?E]4@>^nFE>0D@FC46lDE24<6CU2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC:D:?8\4@DED\@7\36:?8\2\A6E\A2C6?EQmrFCC6?Ek^2m[ 2 4@?DF>6C 7:?E649 32?<:?8 A=2E7@C>]k^Am

k9bmw@H 5@ J@F DE2CE 2 A6E 6>6C86?4J 7F?5nk^9bm

kAm$E2CE 3J D6EE:?8 2D:56 2 D>2==[ 2FE@>2E:4 2>@F?E 6G6CJ >@?E9[ 6G6? Sd_[ :? 2? 244@F?E 565:42E65 E@ J@FC A6E] %92E H2J[ H96? DFCAC:D6 6IA6?D6D 4@>6 2=@?8[ J@F H:== 2=C625J 92G6 AC6A2C65 7@C E96>]k^Am

kAmtG6CJ 7:?2?4:2= A=2??6C 5C:G6D 9@>6 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 6DE23=:D9:?8 2? 6>6C86?4J 7F?5 7@C J@FCD6=7 2?5 J@FC 72>:=J[ EJA:42==J :? E96 C2?86 @7 E9C66 E@ D:I >@?E9DV H@CE9 @7 6IA6?D6D] p A6E 6>6C86?4J 7F?5 H@C<D E96 D2>6 H2J[ ;FDE @? 2 D>2==6C D42=6]k^Am

kAmQp A6E 6>6C86?4J 7F?5[ 6G6? Sd_ 2 >@?E9 @? 2FE@A2J[ 3FJD E96 23:=:EJ E@ D2J J6D @? E96 H@CDE 52J H:E9@FE E@F49:?8 2 4C65:E 42C5[Q D2JD 7:?2?4:2= A=2??6C |2EE r92?46J @7 (:?E6C !2C<[ u=2] QuF?5 E96D6 7:CDE[ 2?5 H:E9@FE 8F:=E]Qk^Am

kAmpD 72C 2D H96C6 E@ <66A E9@D6 7F?5D[ :EVD 2=H2JD D>2CE E@ 4@?D:56C 9:896C\J:6=5:?8 244@F?ED E92E 62C? J@F :?E6C6DE :? E96 >62?E:>6]k^Am

k9bm(9:49 A6E 6IA6?D6D 2C6 H@CE9 4FEE:?8nk^9bm

kAmrFE E96 DA=FC86D J@FC A6E H:== ?6G6C ?@E:46[ 2?5 AFE E92E >@?6J E@H2C5 AC6G6?E2E:G6 G6E 42C6 :?DE625] p =@E @7 A6E DA6?5:?8 8@6D E@ E96 HC@?8 E9:?8D[ D2JD r92?46J]k^Am

kAmQ%96 Sg_ =62D9[ E96 3@FE:BF6 EC62ED[ E96 564@C\8C256 365 J@FC 5@8 H:== 5C28 :?E@ E96 J2C5[Q 96 D2JD] Q*@FC 5@8 5@6D?VE <?@H H92E E96 =62D9 4@DE] rFE E9:D 42E68@CJ E@ K6C@ 2?5 J@FC A6E H:== ?6G6C ?@E:46]Qk^Am

kAmx?DE625[ J@F H2?E E@ >2I:>:K6 H92EVD ECF=J AC:46=6DDi E96 ?F>36C @7 J62CD J@F 92G6 H:E9 J@FC A6E] %92E >62?D C68F=2C[ AC6G6?E2E:G6 G6E 42C6[ H9:49 H:== DA@E 2?5 255C6DD 2?J 962=E9 :DDF6D 62C=J @?]k^Am

kAm%96C6VD 2 C62D@? G6E 42C6 :D E96 3:886DE 3F586E 42E68@CJ 7@C 5@8 @H?6CD[ 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A6E7@@5AC@46DD:?8]?6E^2CE:4=6D^a_b`e\FD\A6E\@H?6CD\DA6?5\ah\>@C6\@?\A6E\AC@5F4ED\:?\a_adQmb`Tk^2m @7 DA6?5:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 p>6C:42? !6E !C@5F4ED pDD@4:2E:@?] }2E:@?H:56[ E92E >2<6D 7@C 2 AC@;64E65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2>6C:42?A6EAC@5F4ED]@C8^:?5FDECJ\EC6?5D\2?5\DE2EDQmSca]c 3:==:@?k^2m E9:D J62C @? G6E 42C6 2?5 AC@5F4E D2=6D]k^Am

k9bmxD A6E :?DFC2?46 H@CE9 :Enk^9bm

kAm!6E :?DFC2?46 AC@E64ED J@F 7C@> E96 962CE\HC6?49:?8 D46?2C:@ @7 92G:?8 E@ >2<6 2 =:76\@C\562E9 564:D:@? 32D65 @? 4@DE] }@ @?6 H2?ED E@ 36 AFE :? E92E :>A@DD:3=6 A@D:E:@?[ 2?5 4@G6C286 >62?D J@F H@?VE 92G6 E@ 36]k^Am

kAmv:G6? 9@H 2EE24965 H6 2C6 E@ @FC A6ED[ :EVD DFCAC:D:?8 9@H 76H @H?6CD 92G6 :?DFC2?46] ~?=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@C36D]4@>^25G:D@C^A6E\:?DFC2?46^c\A6C46?E\A6ED\:?DFC65\9@H\4@F=5\4@DE\J@F\E9@FD2?5D\=>2?5Ad^Qmc]afTk^2m @7 A6ED 2C6 4@G6C65[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }@CE9 p>6C:42? !6E w62=E9 x?DFC2?46 pDD@4:2E:@?[ >62?:?8 >@C6 E92? hdT @7 A6ED 2C6 8@:?8 H:E9@FE]k^Am

kAmxEVD ECF6 E92E E96 4@DED @7 DF49 :?DFC2?46 2C6 9:896C E92? 6G6C] %96 2G6C286 2??F2= AC6>:F> 7@C 5@8D :D ?@H Sgbe[ 244@C5:?8 E@ }p!wxpVD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@C36D]4@>^25G:D@C^A6E\:?DFC2?46^2??F2=\A6C\:?DFC2?46\AC6>:F>D\5@8D\;F>A65\A2DE\7@FC\J62CD\A@=:4J\DE:==\H@CE9\:E\=>2?5Ad^Qm$E2E6 @7 E96 x?5FDECJ C6A@CEk^2m] p?5 AC6>:F>D EJA:42==J 86E 9:<65 6G6CJ J62C[ D:?46 @=56C A6ED @3G:@FD=J 6?4@F?E6C >@C6 962=E9 AC@3=6>D]k^Am

kAm%@ 7:?5 2?5 4@>A2C6 H92EVD 2G2:=23=6 :? J@FC 2C62[ 4964< @FE }p!wxpVD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?2A9:2]@C8^7:?5\A6E\:?DFC2?46^QmA6E :?DFC2?46 7:?56Ck^2m]k^Am

k9bmkDEC@?8ms@6D J@FC 4C65:E D4@C6 27764E A6E :?DFC2?46 4@DEDnk^DEC@?8mk^9bm

kAmxE 42?] s6A6?5:?8 @? J@FC =@42E:@?[ D:?46 6249 DE2E6 92D :ED @H? C68F=2E:@?D[ :?DFC6CD >2J E2<6 4C65:E D4@C:?8 :?E@ 244@F?E H96? @776C:?8 4@G6C286 @C D6EE:?8 AC:4:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4C65:E 286?4J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6IA6C:2?]4@>^3=@8D^2D<\6IA6C:2?^H92E\4C65:E\D4@C6\5@\:\?665\E@\86E\A6E\:?DFC2?46^QmtIA6C:2?k^2m]k^Am

kAm*@F >:89E ?@E E9:?< J@FC 4C65:E D4@C6 92D 2?JE9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 86EE:?8 :?DFC2?46 7@C =:EE=6 u:5@ @C u:7:] qFE :E 4@F=5 36 4@DE:?8 J@F[ H9:49 >62?D :>AC@G:?8 J@FC D4@C6 42? @?=J 96=A :? J@FC A6E :?DFC2?46 D62C49]k^Am

kAmx7 J@FC D4@C6 4@F=5 FD6 D@>6 :>AC@G:?8[ 4@?D:56C 2 D64FC65 42C5[ H9:49 4@F=5 96=A >:?:>:K6 C:D<D @7 563E 3642FD6 J@F 42? @?=J DA6?5 E96 2>@F?E @7 >@?6J 2G2:=23=6 :? J@FC 244@F?E] |2<6 DFC6 E96 42C5 J@F 49@@D6 C6A@CED J@FC >@?E9=J A2J>6?ED E@ E96 E9C66 >2;@C 4C65:E 3FC62FD WtBF:72I[ tIA6C:2? 2?5 %C2?D&?:@?X]k^Am

k9bm%96 A2J@77 @7 A=2??:?8 29625k^9bm

kAmpD 7@C E96 25@C23=6 C6EC:6G6C {6@[ 96VD @? E96 >6?5 2?5 =@G:?8 =:76] pCK282 H2D 92AAJ E@ A2J 2?J 3:== E@ <66A {6@ 2C@F?5]k^Am

kAmQu@C FD[ :E 766=D =:<6 2 8@@5 :?G6DE>6?E :? @FC 72>:=J—2?5 :? @FC D@F=[Q D2JD pCK282] Qx 5@?VE <?@H :7 x H@F=5 6G6C 36 23=6 E@ 7@C86E ?@E 8:G:?8 {6@ 2?5 @FC 72>:=J E9:D 492?46]Qk^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4FCC6?E]4@>^3=@8^9@H\E@\>2?286\E96\C:D:?8\4@DED\@7\36:?8\2\A6E\A2C6?E^nFE>0D@FC46lDE24<6CU2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC:D:?8\4@DED\@7\36:?8\2\A6E\A2C6?EQmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4FCC6?E]4@>^nFE>0D@FC46lDE24<6CU2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC:D:?8\4@DED\@7\36:?8\2\A6E\A2C6?EQmk6>mrFCC6?Ek^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am