The credit crunch has the unpleasant effect of causing more dog owners to give up their pets in the face of increasing financial pressures. Here we provide a short set of tips that can help reduce the costs of dog ownership.
Dogs do and always will cost money and yes, they do need a place to sleep, a bed, food and water. But ultimately there are measures owners can take to ensure this period of economic belt tightening does not cost dogs their homes.
Pet insurance, for instance, enables owners to have their veterinary expenses covered in the event of accident or illness. Some pet insurance policies start from as little as £10 per month which is just 32p per day.
Dog food bills can be reduced, dogs do not need to have the most expensive supermarket own brand pet food to be happy and healthy, they can actually be happier and even healthier if owners do a deal with their local butcher to get the day's unsold raw meat at reduced cost.
For those people for whom the real threat of eviction could cause them to make a decision about rehoming some weeks or months down the line, they should plan, plan and plan some more. If there is even the merest hint of losing a home, start talking with prospective landlords who will be happy to allow pets on their property.
Very often a compromise deal can be had, provided it is planned for. For instance, some dog owners offer their landlords what is known as a dog-bond, a simple contract drawn up that tells the landlord that the dog's owner is happy to pay for absolutely any damage or inconvenience caused by their pet. This peace of mind can persuade many landlords to be lenient on their no pets policy.
Resources:
Adopt a dog
Insure a dog for life
Free dog advice
Professional dog trainer
