How Much Does It Cost To Adopt a Pet?
<div class="user-question">Hi Frich! I’ve been thinking about adopting a dog recently & I’m curious to know how I can plan for it financially. Any tips?</div>
In Feb 2024, I made the decision to adopt my soul dog, Mr. Bear! I’ve always loved Pomeranians, but I knew my busy schedule would make it hard to raise a newborn puppy - especially when they can cost up to $6,000 from those little pet shops in NYC! However, I knew I wanted to give an older dog a better life, and I also knew that their sedentary habits would align with my tough WFH schedule. So one day, I literally googled “Elderly black Pomeranian for adoption,” and the universe hit me by surprise, giving me my perfect pup!
While adopting my little emotional support animal was cheaper than going to therapy, there were a lot of fees and payments I didn’t even think about like vet fees, vaccines, and even medicine. Take it from me - this is one of the BEST decisions I’ve made in my life, but I wish I had been more prepared for all the upfront costs.
Bringing a dog into your life is such an exciting decision, and I’m glad you’re thinking about it! But let’s be real - it’s also a financial commitment. As someone who loves my adopted 10-year-old Pomeranian, I just wish I had planned ahead better so I could have budgeted my year more effectively.
I totally get why you’re thinking about this in advance, and I’m so proud of you for doing that. Since I made the mistake of NOT planning ahead, here are all the costs I wish I had known about earlier.
🐶 Upfront Costs
When I got Mr.Bear, I was so so excited I didn't even think about the initial upfront costs, other than his $500 adoption fee. So when I got to the vet, I was hit with a lot of unexpected check-up and vaccination fees. Make sure that before you even bring your dog home, you’ve prepared a budget for:
🐶 Adoption or breeder fees: Shelters can charge anywhere from $50– $500, while breeders can go into the thousands. I encourage you to adopt when you can. I found my soul pet by literally googling “Elderly black Pomeranian” and found him at Waldo’s rescue pen. You can also try sites like:
🐶 Initial vet visits & vaccinations: Expect to pay around $100–$300 upfront. This can be even higher if you don’t know the dog's history. For example, what was supposed to be an initial $300 checkup for Bear, ended up costing $1000 upfront because of his age and unknown history.
🐶 Spaying/neutering: Typically costs $200–$500 if not already done. Some adoption centers will do this for you so you might not have to worry about this if you go down that route.
🐶 Essential supplies: Bed, food/water bowls, leash, collar, toys, and a crate can add up to $200–$500. I told myself to only buy Bear a few outfits (one for winter, one for rain, and one for Halloween) so we don’t go over the budget of $500 for his essentials.
🐶 Monthly Expenses
In addition to the upfront costs, owning a dog is an ongoing financial responsibility. For example, Mr. Bear is on medication every day to help with his old age and unfortunately, that is not covered by insurance. Here’s what to expect each month:
🐶 Food: Depending on the breed and size, expect $30–$100 per month. I’ve actually been able to save some money by cooking Bear one-pot meals when I do my own meal prep. Steal our recipe below:
🐶 Routine vet care: Annual checkups and preventative meds (flea/tick/heartworm) can average $300–$700 per year. Mr. Bears' visits range from the $500-$1000 range due to his preexisting conditions. While this isn't the case for all adopted pets, older dogs can have some complications and will require more care.
🐶 Grooming: If you have a high-maintenance breed, grooming can run $50–$100 per visit. I know that the groomer near us in the Upper East Side charges $150 dollars per wash and he's only 7 lbs! Mr. Bear gets baths at home so we save on this.
🐶 Pet insurance: Helps with unexpected vet bills, typically $20–$50 per month. I didn’t opt for pet insurance because we don’t qualify until after a year of owning him. However, If you want to have better protection for accidents or emergencies, you can compare pet insurance providers and costs with Insurify. They can help you compare the best rates for your pup based on age and coverage needed!
🐶 Dog walking/daycare: If you work long hours, these services can cost $10–$30 per walk or $20–$50 per day. I WFH and have a dog-friendly office so I don’t really need this. I also have a senior dog so he doesn’t need to be walked as often, saving me the daycare/ dog walking expense.
🐶 Emergency Fund
In the case your pup needs immediate care, emergency pet centers can totally help you. However, those unexpected vet bills can be a financial nightmare. A single emergency visit can cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000+. For example, each emergency visit for Bear cost me $1000 + and insurance companies typically don't cover that especially if you have an older dog. So keep that in mind! Also consider setting up a pet emergency fund or getting a pet insurance plan that covers major medical expenses to make sure you aren't throwing money out the door!
<div class="frich-tip">Open your pup's emergency fund! When you start saving for your pet's emergency fund, remember to put that money into a HYSA (high yield savings account). This means that while (hopefully) your money is sitting there, not being spent, it will grow over time with much higher interest rates. Check out our current favorite HYSA here!</div>
🐶Long-Term Planning
Dogs live 10–15+ years, so factor them into your long-term financial plans. As they age, medical expenses may increase (just like Mr. Bear’s). Make sure your budget can accommodate these costs over time because it is a commitment.
Bringing a dog into your life is 100% worth it, as long as you’re prepared for the financial responsibility. As mentioned before, adopting Mr.Bear was one of the best decisions that I had made, and although I didn't budget to the best of my ability, I am so so happy I made the decision that I did!
Btw - here's how others are doing👀
Do you have an emergency fund?
✅53% Yes
❌47% No
Are you thinking of adopting or buying? Let me know what kind of pup you’re considering!
xx, Kristina
