Tips For Reducing Pet-Care Costs

One of the Top 10 reasons pets end up in animal shelters is financial crisis for families.

In today’s economy, people are looking for ways to cut back on their expenses, including pets.

There are good and bad ways to minimize pet expenses, and careful planning will help avoid costly consequences later. Here are some cost-savings tips:

--Skipping your pet’s yearly exam to save money in the short term can backfire in the long run. Your pet needs regular veterinary care to stave off costly health problems. It costs less to keep a healthy pet well than it does to manage a serious illness that has progressed further along due to neglect. 

--Research local veterinary offices, pet stores and animal shelters for low-cost vaccination and spay/neuter clinics. Vaccinations help prevent the spread of deadly disease. Low-cost vaccination clinics are sponsored by on the third Saturday of each month, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The clinics are held at (near the gazebo), located on the corner of Main Street and Limited Avenue. As for spay and neuter, keep in mind that irresponsible pet owners who don’t alter their animals are contributing to pet overpopulation. Not only is it inhumane to let animals breed with no thought to where the resulting puppies and kittens will end up, the cost to your neighbors takes its toll. Animal control is not a free service, and neither is euthanasia of unwanted pets! Taxpayers foot the bill for irresponsible owners.

--Feed pets a nutritious diet as recommended by a veterinarian. Do not buy lesser quality food to save pennies. In the end, your animal’s health will suffer and you will be spending more for his medical needs. For those who decide to make their own pet food, speak to a veterinarian about nutritious recipe options.

--Keep your pet trim and healthy with exercise. Overweight companion animals have a lesser quality of life than their fit and trim counterparts. Overweight animals suffer from obesity-related disease that can be costly to resolve. 

--If you keep your pet’s coat in good condition, you can save money by preventing health problems such as parasites, skin afflictions, and other issues. For dogs, regular bathing, brushing, nail trimming and simple dental hygiene can be done at home starting as a puppy. For cats, brushing and dental hygiene are important too. And don't forget to talk to your vet about the best flea and tick control product for your animal. Parasites lead to unhealthy pets. Spend on parasite control and save lots of dough down the road!

Looking for a new companion? Check out the attached photo gallery of just some of the pets awaiting new homes at S