The More You Know

Exactly How Much Would A Pet Cost You? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Post-graduate life can feel a little lonely, and some people cope with the transition by adopting animals. Furry friends are great company and rewarding additions to one’s life, but don’t come cheap. Many of them cost more than $1,000 per year, according to a new infographic, which also reveals that the U.S. dropped more than $50 billion on pets last year.

Seems like a lot of money for a little voiceless entity, eh? The numbers make sense though, as every little thing adds up. A doggie leash here, a vaccination there, an impromptu microchip implantation after the little rascal runs away, and food all make for a scary end-of-the-year tab.

As to be expected, dogs are more expensive than any other traditional household pet, averaging $1,580 to attend to annually. Rabbits come in second at $1,055 and cats take third place by costing $1,035. If you’re on a tight budget but want the comfort of a living presence in your place, you can get a fish, but even that racks up to a little more than $200 a year. In my opinion, the benefits outweigh the financial burden, as I think animals can be more decent than people, but that doesn’t mean it would be easy for me to drop tons of money on a puppy right now. Even though I really want to.

[MNN]

TAGS: dogs | pets

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