Pet costs 2022: New report breaks down our spending habits
Owning a pet can cost thousands of dollars each year, says Rover, an online pet service provider
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These days, it can be expensive having a furry best friend. (Call it shock and paw!)
Throughout the pandemic, America saw a massive increase in the number of pet owners.
Even as life returns to normal now, many people are still working from home — and are deciding it's time to get a pet.
Yet pet ownership isn't cheap, according to a new report.
Pet ownership has risen over the past several years — and a new report shows exactly where and why. (iStock)
Rover released a report detailing the various factors that come with pet ownership in 2022.
The company surveyed 1,000 pet owners and analyzed their spending habits.
Read on for a breakdown of some of the estimated costs of owning a furry critter. These estimated annual costs are from Rover, an online marketplace for pet service providers.
APARTMENT PET DEPOSIT - $100 to $500
EMERGENCY VET BILLS - $150 to $1,200
FLEA AND TICK PREVENTION - $50 to $200
PET FOOD - $210 to $2,340
PET INSURANCE - $360 to $720
While most pet owners believed that they were spending about $50 a month on their pets, it turns out that the costs could be anywhere from $40 to $290 a month.
Surprise vet bills can be costly for pet owners. (iStock)
Dog owners were found to be spending between $480 to $3,470 a year.
Dr. Rebecca Greenstein told Rover, "[The] breed [of the dog] factors [into the cost of dog parenthood] on a number of levels. At its very simplest, it could be about size, and size is a huge governing factor in costs. Medicines are dosed based on body weight, for example."
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For example, dogs can eat about $2,340 worth of food each year, and can also go through about $230 worth of poop bags during that same time period.
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Other essentials, like annual vet visits and flea and tick prevention, could also cost hundreds of dollars.
Some pets owners may choose to give their pets optional medicines, which can be costly over the long run. (iStock)
Obviously, food costs can vary wildly depending on the brand and on how much the animal eats.
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While many pet owners feed their animals canned or dry food, there are home delivery services that provide fresh dog food instead.
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Other surprise costs could also pop up — including emergency vet bills or boarding costs.