Any type of pet ownership has its costs: visits to the vet (the planned and the oh-so-expensive unplanned), food, grooming, toys and boarding costs all add up. Even if you're a pretty frugal person, you still probably need to dedicate a portion of your budget to caring for your non-human family members. But depending on what sort of pet you want, your biggest expense could actually by what it takes to acquire the animal.
Pet costs are a huge aspect of Americans' finances. About 65% of U.S. households have a pet, according to the American Pet Products Association, and in 2015, it was estimated that those owners would spend more than $60 billion on collective pet expenses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average U.S. household spends $500 annually caring for their pets, though it wouldn't be hard to find some owners who exceed that in a single month.
Click through for photos of the 7 most expensive pets:
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Expensive pets
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7 pets you can't afford
1. Tibetan Mastiff
Price range: $1,000 to $7,000 (though one famously sold for $2 million in 2014)
Things like pet insurance or an emergency fund can help soften the blow of an unpredictable visit to an animal hospital, but it's not unheard of for people to go into debt over pet care. Careful budgeting can help you avoid letting your pets make a mess of your finances. (You can see how your pet overspending is impacting your credit scores for free on Credit.com.)
An exotic animal can definitely drive up your costs, but even so-called typical pets like cats and dogs sometimes come at a steep price. Keep in mind prices vary widely by seller and the specific animal for purchase, but we've rounded up general ranges of what these pets can cost. Based on information from breeders in various locations, as well as online pet-shopping sites, here are some of the most expensive pets out there. (Note: Not all these animals are legal to keep as pets in some states. No matter what pet you're looking into, remember that pet sales are a common scam tactic, so be careful about choosing a breeder and how you choose to pay. Many animals are available for adoption at local shelters, as well.)
Olivia Benson chewing on Olivia Benson's moon man because she is disrespectful.
So glad @therealmariskahargitay took it home and away from this monster.
Photo credit: @calvinharris
Missing my pups - but I'm sure they're having an awesome time at "camp"! #Dali #Allegra
Yup, he continues to be the only one in my life who 100% does not care about my busy schedule. #HobbsTheBeast
Pepper is excited that we are taping the second annual #causeforpaws event tonight (promoting animal rescue!) that will air on Thanksgiving on Fox. #savethemall
Hanging out with Doug the Pug
New "gigantic" rescue pup! Dora the Explorer. #rescuedog!
Up close and personal
Throwback Thursday to when cole made his acting debut in the 21 video!
#NMM So sorry it's late... Been so busy I forgot it was Monday!! Haha... Here's me and my little son Batman... #nofilterneeded with @devonnebydemi 💁🏻 www.devonnebydemi.com
Daddy's little girl
Well.....we caved. Freddy is the newest member of the family. Damn puppies make me happy.....I mean really happy. #littlebuddy #puppiesmakemehappy #whitelab #clumsy #poopingeverywhere #cutenessoverload #wolfbait #unclescotty
"Our rescue dog, Frankie, has enriched my family’s life in so many ways that we couldn’t imagine life without her. Happy to be supporting shelters & pet adoption today with #Swiffer and @BarkBox. Share a photo of your fur-ever family member and show how ready you are for when #ShedHappens! #spon
Norman get your shit together
These 2-a-days are whoopin' our butts, so exhausted - gonna be worth it tho - gotta see the end in the beginning 🙌🏻 #DaddyNDoggyWorkouts #Sabel #AdvoCare
#iloveacat
Am I wearing this right, @cincy_lymcrew? I wrangled my parent's cat for appearance insurance. 👍🏼 #LoveYourMelon
why is toulouse not having it tho? #ThatSlightSideEye
