How much does owning a pet cost in a year?

By Liz F. Kay 

A cute face can mean high costs

Prospective pet owners should ask more than "How much is that doggie in the window?" before deciding whether they can afford to welcome an animal into their home.
"Often the cute face and wagging tail and warm body is what forms the initial bond," says Katherine Miller, director of applied science and research for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. But "pets are completely depending on us for their care. You do need to make considerations for the financial side."
Nearly two-thirds of all U.S. households own a pet, according to the American Pet Products Association, so many families should budget for their needs.
Save money for emergency vet trips, says Adam Goldfarb, director of pet care issues for the Humane Society of the United States.
"Healthy animals are fairly cheap," he says. "When they become ill or injured, the costs can go up quite a bit."
And don't forget to multiply recurring expenses by the pet's expected life span, which varies even among different dog or cat breeds and also based on their lifestyles, says Miller, who analyzed initial and annual costs of different pets in 2008.
Cats can live 15 to 20 years, and dogs 10 to 15 years, she says.Kibble doesn't come cheap. Dog lovers spent an average of $254 on dog food and $70 on treats within 12 months, according to respondents of the American Pet Products Association's 2011-2012 National Pet Owners Survey.Keeping Fido healthy is another investment. Routine vet visits cost dog owners $248 on average, but let's not forget the costs to keep your pooch healthy and flea-free for the rest of the year. These preventive medicines ran owners another $161.While you are keeping his insides healthy, of course you need to make sure the outsides look cuddly as well. That'll cost you, as grooming ran $73 on average. All those dollar signs, and that's not taking into consideration each time you walked into the pet store and picked up a treat or toy because your dog was such a "good boy." These bits and pieces add up to another $43 each year. As with getting a new pet, one-time costs may vary. Some jurisdictions may also require licensing fees. Deworming and microchip identification will also drive up early costs, Miller says. She found these costs can range from $470 to $565 for dogs.

Average yearly cost for a dog: $580 to $875.