The cost of loving Tucker

By LAURIE C. WILLIAMS
For the Stafford County Sun
Published: October 8, 2008

Let me start out by saying there is a huge difference between owning a pet and loving a pet. When you merely own your pet, you likely consider him to be an obligation, a piece of property (shudder), disposable and maybe even a nuisance. While you do provide the necessities for that pet’s wellbeing, you put forth the bare minimum and sometimes do so begrudgingly. But even the minimum financial costs are not minimal, especially in a struggling economy.

Feeding a pet can vary widely depending on the type of pet, the size and the quality of the food, but even still it is an expense that could range from $10 to $100 or more a month.

Basic health care is a little easier to pre-determine. For instance, every dog and cat requires annual exams ($40 to $50), immunizations ($50-plus a year), flea preventative ($100 per year) and since we are discussing responsible pet ownership, the one-time cost of spaying and neutering ($100 to $400) must be factored in. 

If your pet becomes ill, that can bump prices up considerably. And again, since we are discussing being responsible, surely that means getting your pet the medical attention he needs in order to save his life.

Then there could be grooming costs as well, unless you’ve chosen a breed of dog or cat that doesn’t require anything other than routine bathing. Otherwise, professional grooming for pets that are a little higher maintenance and require haircuts, periodic trims and styling from an expert could run you $50 to $100 every six to eight weeks.

Lastly, there are the extras such as collars, leashes, toys, treats, crates, bedding, at-home grooming supplies and occasional boarding fees. This could run anywhere from $200 to $1,000 per year.

So a ballpark estimate could be $1,000 to $5,000 or more per year just for owning a pet.

But what about loving a pet? How much does that cost?

I can tell you firsthand, the costs are much, much higher. That pet is not merely an obligation or a nuisance, but rather a family member. That pet is not just there taking up your space and time, but rather is a part of your daily life and everything you do.

When you love a pet, it’s not about providing the bare minimum, but rather providing the absolute best for him or her, and if that pet needs something — anything, particularly unexpected or emergency veterinary care — you will provide it, no questions asked and without hesitation. And you do so even if it means you having to go without.

So we could safely double, triple or even quadruple the above estimate easily for a loved pet.

While that covers finances, there are emotional costs as well. I can tell you firsthand that there is no estimate that would accurately portray this. I recently lost my heart dog.

For those of you unfamiliar with that term, your heart dog (or cat) is the animal love of your life.

Our Dalmatian, Tucker, was that rare, once-in-a-lifetime dog that ends up being everything you could ever possibly want in an animal companion. He came along at just the right time in my family’s life and was there for the most important, life-altering experiences in our lives, good and bad. He saw us through critical illnesses, the empty nest, job changes, financial crises, starting a business and running a business. Frankly, he was the inspiration for our business.

And he wasn’t just present during those times, he was as much a part of it as each of us were. He celebrated the triumphs with us and provided a constant source of therapy during the tribulations.

He was truly loved in every sense of the word, and losing him has been one of the most painful experiences I’ve gone through. Even as I write this it is unbelievable to imagine how we will live out the rest of our lives without him. That’s the definition of a heart dog and the emotional cost of loving a pet this deeply is incredibly high.

I wouldn’t change a thing, however.

Firstly, from a practical standpoint, merely owning a pet is just an unwise decision because you get absolutely nothing back on your investment. You miss out on everything a pet is supposed to be, and in a dog and cat’s case, was bred to be – your loyal companion.

We spent an exorbitant amount in veterinary bills this last year of Tucker’s life. I wouldn’t dare write the exact figure in black and white for all to see. But I will say this: now that we no longer have him, I know we certainly made a smart decision.

Every one of his licks, every wag of his tail, the softness of his head laying against me, the sight of him standing at the edge of my bed waiting to be invited up, and those big, dark, expressive eyes that drew me in and let me know that all was right with the world was all priceless.

I would pay anything to have any of that back again. Our investment in Tucker, both financially and emotionally, was well worth it. I am honored to have loved him. At any price, he was a bargain.

Laurie Williams is the owner of Pup ‘N Iron Canine Fitness & Learning Center in Stafford. The facility offers activities, training, daycare and fitness for dogs. Readers with questions for Laurie may send them to . You may see them published in a future column. Please consult your pet’s veterinarian for medical pet-related questions.