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by Mary Johnston Okay, stop laughing now. “Budgeting” is perceived as an exercise in futility in the present economic environment by many. Still, even on a shoestring, we care about taking care of our pets, often putting their needs ahead of our own. We'll tough out an illness or injury, but when our best four-footed or winged friend in the world whimpers or acts “off” we scrape and scrimp and use our imaginations to come up with a way to pay the vet to make them better. One of the places some of us mistakenly cut corners first is on quality food. That's false economy, since good, wholesome nutrition that's not laced with toxins and nutritionally empty ingredients can be the cornerstone to keeping your pet healthy and the vet bills to a minimum. Learn to read labels and compare to get the best nutritional bang for your buck -- and your pet. It will save you money in the long run. Some vet care is non-negotiable. Depending on where you live, certain vaccines are necessary and rabies vaccines are absolutely required throughout the North American continent. You can often catch a break on your dog's rabies vaccine, though, since many communities offer rabies clinics offering discounted vaccinations. Spay and neuter clinics are also offered by different organizations and you can run a search on the internet to find out if it is something offered near you. Some vets work with animal welfare organizations to offer reduced rate veterinary care or services on a sliding scale as well. Don't abuse it if you don't need it, but if you do, take advantage of getting good care for your pet that you can afford. A vet who is willing to offer services at a reduced rate to enable people to take better care of their pets is likely to be one who truly cares about his patients, so don't fear that you won't get good care for your best buddy. Daily expenses other than food, if your pet is basically healthy and doesn't need a special diet or medications, don't have to be extravagant. You don't have to spend a lot of money on toys. Something as simple as an old sock with a knot tied in it can be your dog's favorite tug toy, or a perforated golf ball tied on a string and suspended in a doorway can keep your cat amused for hours. You'll find yourself being amused by the antics of a cat finding various ways to keep the ball moving as well. Check on internet sites like Freecycle and Craigslist for some of the larger expense items, like crates, that you might find yourself needing. Go online and comparison shop for the flea and parasite control you may need. There are huge price differences, often for identical products. Just be careful, read and compare and make sure you are getting what you expect. If it looks too good or cheap to be true, there's a good chance it is. Also, check the manufacturers' sites for coupons. If you don't have a pet, but need one, consider the different options for obtaining your perfect companion. Buying from a reputable breeder is expensive, but not as expensive as buying from a pet store or an unethical breeder, neither in the short nor the long run. Raising a puppy is more expensive than starting out with an adult dog; a kitten involves more expense than a cat, and there are so many wonderful dogs and cats in rescues and shelters that will cost you a fraction of the price of one from a breeder. It's not difficult to find a pure breed animal in shelters or rescues either. Your local animal shelter is a great choice of starting point in your search. Not only are the animals there likely to be at high risk for being euthanized, but often shelter animals come with a certificate for a reduced rate on vaccinations and the mandatory spay/neuter, or the spay/neuter is included in the adoption fee. And remember, be responsible in the financial arrangements you make to care for your pet, but never lose sight of the fact that the most comprehensive, expensive care doesn't mean a fraction as much to your pet as your love, attention and affection. Brought to you by Mary Johnston of www.pet-super-store.com: Where you can get great deals on Dog Beds and Dog Crates TO LEARN ABOUT BUDGET STRETCHER PREMIUM Giving You The Power To Control Your Money |
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