All across America people are cutting back on spending wherever they can. Leading financial advisor Suze Orman recently challenged Oprah’s viewers to begin living on half of their income in an attempt to prepare for the worst. As the current economic climate worsens, many families begin looking at their animals as an added expense. As a result, more and more people are bringing their animals to shelters because they simply cannot afford to keep them. In fact, People Magazine recently reported on the rising influx of animals in shelters across America (April 13, 2009). The magazine cited statistics from the Sacramento SPCA Shelter, which saw almost 1000 more pets given up in 2008 than in 2007. So many shelters face overcrowding that the Humane Society of the U.S. has even created the Foreclosure Pets Grant program in an effort to assist such shelters. If you and your family are looking for ways to decrease your monthly expenses while keeping your family dog as part of the household, read the steps below for a few ideas.
Step 1: Switch to a less expensive food. Dog food is an expense that occurs over and over, month after month. While most books, articles and veterinarians will tell you that a high quality dog food is the most important factor in a dog’s health, it’s not a luxury all families can afford right now. If you feel any guilt about it, consider it a temporary situation and know that in the long run, it won’t have that large an impact on your dog’s overall health. Use a measuring cup when feeding your dog to ensure that you are not overfeeding him, which will help keep his weight (and the grocery bill) down. Also, investigate the bulk dog food prices at your local club membership stores. The annual membership fee will cost you, but most likely you’ll get your money’s worth in savings.
Step 2: Cancel all grooming appointments. This is an expense that can really add up, even for families who only use grooming services intermittently. For most breeds, it’s not considered a necessity to visit the groomer. If your dog needs a trim or a shave, purchase a kit and do it at home yourself.
Step 3: Do not enlist the service of a pet sitter. While most families have cut down on vacations in this economy, there are some situations that necessitate your family leaving your pet at home. Offer to trade pet sitting services with family, friends and neighbors who also have pets.
Step 4: Trade toys or go back to basics. If your dog is getting bored of his toys, ask your neighbor to trade toy baskets for a week or two. If you don’t have the money to buy toys for your kids, now is not the time to spend money on dog toys. Go out back and find a good old fashioned stick to toss to your pooch.
Step 5: It can’t hurt to ask. If you need to visit the vet, ask for discounts based on your loyalty or willingness to refer their services. Ask your veterinarian for discounts on medication if it’s paid in full or purchased in bulk for months at a time. Look online for cheaper medication options if necessary. Also, talk to your vet about the frequency of flea medicine administration. Some pets who live in high altitudes or places that experience freezing temperatures can get away with skipping a few flea treatments.
Step 6: Check out community resources. Many communities offer lower priced immunizations in conjunction with pet adoption days, fairs or school district fundraisers. Call around and look online for services such as these within your community.
If you’ve tried all of the above steps and you’ve exhausted all of your options but are still unable to afford the cost of pet ownership, make every attempt to find a home for your dog before you bring him to a shelter. Perhaps you can even find a temporary living situation for your dog until you’re in a financial situation to take over his care once again. Even though times are tough for American families, it’s times like these that we need the loyalty and companionship of our family dog; do what you can for him and you’ll be rewarded with love and affection for his lifetime.
This article was posted by an author from Discount Pet Mall. A site carrying dog car seats, orthopedic dog beds, and pet crates.