How much is is costing us to have Jessie?

Initial Adoption Fee: $90

Covered: rabies shot and spaying

First Check-up:

Rabies Shot-paid for
Antibiotics for kennel cough-$10
Frontline-$10
Wormer-$8

Second Check-up
Frontline-$10
Spayed-covered
Overnight stay at vet
Suture removal one week later
Check-up 2 weeks later with antibiotics for infection-
she was allergic to the internal sutures when they started breaking down

Large Dog Crate $80

ID tag $4.00

First trip for 'stuff'-toys and food: $41.87

Second trip for treats, toys and harness: $43.21

New bowl, shorter leash, toys: $31.86

Toys and treats: $11.06

Toys and treats: $14.31

Food: $9.18

Puzzle ball, backpack, treats: $47.37

Treats: $9.50

Treats: $19.05

$311.41

In the first 6 weeks.

Her second 6 weeks, we spent $30 on dog food.

By the time we had her 4 months, she only cost around $20 a month in food, $10 for treats like hard bones.

Camping kennel $12

Monthly flea treatment $16 a dog $384/year-it's gone up because they weigh 80 pounds each
The one time we decided it was not worth the money, we spent $310 in a single month to get rid of the flea infestation in the house and had to treat all the cats, which had never been a problem before at $12 a cat times 4 cats for 3 months -another $144

Ear infection in Dec 2007 $75

Second more sturdy backpack after first one fell apart $55

Goodies run $27.89

Ear infection in February 2008 $75

More treats $43.17

Check-up and rabies vax June 2008 $125

Box of cookie bones every 2 weeks, $7/mnth/$84/year

March 2007, we added Kuma to the family:

Kuma:
Initial Cost:
$90 adoption fee

He had been kenneled at the vet's house for 3 months, waiting to be adopted, so he had all his shots and was neutered when we got him.

In June, he was shaved:
$65

Additional food costs per month:
$15/$180 per year

We fenced in the rest of back yard with field fencing, one 330 foot roll and fence posts we needed (10) and post driver and clips cost
$250

His harness was $15

ID tag $4

Second camping kennel: $30
Kuma is not a digger, he did not need such a sturdy kennel

2 tie lines and chains: $12 (for camping only and only when we are right with them)

Second food bowl: $3.50

Skunk incident Jan 2008 $60 per dog

Annual check-up and rabies vax June 2008-$125

2 camping dog bowls for water, 2 for food $22

Pet sitter while on vacation (for both dogs)
$150

DECEMBER 2008 total: just under $3,000 for both dogs

I read that a dog will cost you between $8,000-$12,000 in a 12-year life span.