Which Pet is Right for You?

Which pet is right for you? Do you like spending time outdoors? Yes Both No Do you have extensive Do you (or your neighbors) acreage? mind a little noise? Yes No Yes No Do you have allergies? Yes No Would you like an obedient pet? Yes No Made a decision? Now let's consider cost. Listed below are the purchase price, initial cost, annual cost and lifetime cost for each animal. Dog *Note: Small and medium sized dogs live an average of 5 years longer than large dogs. Purchase Price o Adopted/Rescued: $50-$200 Professionally Breed: $200-$2,000 Initial Cost Small Dog: $470 Large Dog: $560 Medium Dog: $565 Annual Cost Small Dog: $580 Medium Dog: $695 Large Dog: $875 Large Dog: $6,900 Small to Medium Dog: $9,970 Lifetime Cost $0 $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 Cat *Note: Indoor cats live an average of 11 years longer than outdoor cats. Purchase Price Adopted/Rescued $40-$200 Professionally Breed: $500-$2,000 Initial Cost o All Breeds $365 Annual Cost Outdoor Cat: $497.50 Indoor Cat: $600 Lifetime Cost Outdoor Cat: $3,297 Indoor Cat: $9,947 $0 $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 Bird *Note: Common birds can live up to 10 years, whereas some exotic birds can live up to 50 years. Purchase Price Common Bird: $0-$100 Exotic Bird: $500-$2,000 Initial Cost o Common Bird: $75 O Exotic Bird: $1,050 Annual Cost Common Bird: $90 Exotic Bird: $1,035 Lifetime Cost o Common Bird: $1,025 Exotic Bird: $52,250 $0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 Fish *Note: Saltwater fish can live anywhere from 2-25 years. Freshwater fish generally live between 1 and 15 years, depending on the breed. Purchase Price o Freshwater Fish: $2-$10 Saltwater Fish: $10-$100 Initial Cost o Freshwater Fish: $200 o Saltwater Fish: $635 Annual Cost o Freshwater Fish: $35 Lifetime Cost o Freshwater Fish: $350-$525 o Saltwater Fish: $70-$7o0 $0 $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 Horse *Note: Horses live an average of 25 years. Purchase Price Pleasure Horse: $500-$5,000 Initial Cost Pleasure Horse: $1,667 Annual Cost o Boarded On-Site: $3,085 Boarded Off-Site: $11,000 Lifetime Cost O Pleasure Horse: $275,000 $0 $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 References: http://www.firsthorse.com/report.htm http://www.catster.com/cat-adoption/cat-cost http://www.fishlore.com/saltwatervsfreshwater.htm http://lorienstable.com/articles/owning/100-costs/ http://www.aspca.org/adoption/pet-care-costs.aspx http://www.petside.com/article/real-cost-owning-cat http://www.tree.com/lifestyle/costs-of-owning-a-horse.aspx http://wowhorses.com/cost-of-a-horse.html#.UJAARLT3BNO http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+17948aid=1516 http://www.helium.com/items/1264055-what-does-a-bird-cost http://www.petsmart.com/family/index.jsp?categoryld=3970431 http://dogs.about.com/od/becomingadogowner/a/costofdogs.htm http://www.petplace.com/fish/what-it-costs-to-own-fish/pagel.aspx http://www.businessinsider.com/cost-of-owning-cat-dog-pet-2010-11Pop=1 http://www.petplace.com/horses/what-it-costs-to-own-a-horse/pagel.aspx http://www.petplace.com/dogs/lifetime-costs-of-dog-ownership/pagel.aspx http://visualeconomics.creditloan.com/how-much-our-pets-cost-in-a-life- time/ Which pet is right for you? Do you like spending time outdoors? Yes Both No Do you have extensive Do you (or your neighbors) acreage? mind a little noise? Yes No Yes No Do you have allergies? Yes No Would you like an obedient pet? Yes No Made a decision? Now let's consider cost. Listed below are the purchase price, initial cost, annual cost and lifetime cost for each animal. Dog *Note: Small and medium sized dogs live an average of 5 years longer than large dogs. Purchase Price o Adopted/Rescued: $50-$200 Professionally Breed: $200-$2,000 Initial Cost Small Dog: $470 Large Dog: $560 Medium Dog: $565 Annual Cost Small Dog: $580 Medium Dog: $695 Large Dog: $875 Large Dog: $6,900 Small to Medium Dog: $9,970 Lifetime Cost $0 $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 Cat *Note: Indoor cats live an average of 11 years longer than outdoor cats. Purchase Price Adopted/Rescued $40-$200 Professionally Breed: $500-$2,000 Initial Cost o All Breeds $365 Annual Cost Outdoor Cat: $497.50 Indoor Cat: $600 Lifetime Cost Outdoor Cat: $3,297 Indoor Cat: $9,947 $0 $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 Bird *Note: Common birds can live up to 10 years, whereas some exotic birds can live up to 50 years. Purchase Price Common Bird: $0-$100 Exotic Bird: $500-$2,000 Initial Cost o Common Bird: $75 O Exotic Bird: $1,050 Annual Cost Common Bird: $90 Exotic Bird: $1,035 Lifetime Cost o Common Bird: $1,025 Exotic Bird: $52,250 $0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 Fish *Note: Saltwater fish can live anywhere from 2-25 years. Freshwater fish generally live between 1 and 15 years, depending on the breed. Purchase Price o Freshwater Fish: $2-$10 Saltwater Fish: $10-$100 Initial Cost o Freshwater Fish: $200 o Saltwater Fish: $635 Annual Cost o Freshwater Fish: $35 Lifetime Cost o Freshwater Fish: $350-$525 o Saltwater Fish: $70-$7o0 $0 $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 Horse *Note: Horses live an average of 25 years. Purchase Price Pleasure Horse: $500-$5,000 Initial Cost Pleasure Horse: $1,667 Annual Cost o Boarded On-Site: $3,085 Boarded Off-Site: $11,000 Lifetime Cost O Pleasure Horse: $275,000 $0 $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 References: http://www.firsthorse.com/report.htm http://www.catster.com/cat-adoption/cat-cost http://www.fishlore.com/saltwatervsfreshwater.htm http://lorienstable.com/articles/owning/100-costs/ http://www.aspca.org/adoption/pet-care-costs.aspx http://www.petside.com/article/real-cost-owning-cat http://www.tree.com/lifestyle/costs-of-owning-a-horse.aspx http://wowhorses.com/cost-of-a-horse.html#.UJAARLT3BNO http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+17948aid=1516 http://www.helium.com/items/1264055-what-does-a-bird-cost http://www.petsmart.com/family/index.jsp?categoryld=3970431 http://dogs.about.com/od/becomingadogowner/a/costofdogs.htm http://www.petplace.com/fish/what-it-costs-to-own-fish/pagel.aspx http://www.businessinsider.com/cost-of-owning-cat-dog-pet-2010-11Pop=1 http://www.petplace.com/horses/what-it-costs-to-own-a-horse/pagel.aspx http://www.petplace.com/dogs/lifetime-costs-of-dog-ownership/pagel.aspx http://visualeconomics.creditloan.com/how-much-our-pets-cost-in-a-life- time/