Have you ever gazed into your pet’s eyes and felt that profound connection – the blend of love, trust, and responsibility? Data indicate that 97% of pet owners consider their pets as part of the family, and more than half of them assert that their pets are at least as significant as human relatives. The merits of having pets are incredible: animals can help fight isolation, reduce anxiety, and even lower blood pressure. But what if the great creatures it would be too expensive to take care of?
The fact is that having a pet is more than just fun and company. Research indicates that pet owners have lower risks of depression, hypertension and are less likely to visit the doctor. Taking care of an animal gives purpose and organization to everyday life, improves the mood, and helps the person to establish contact with others. Meanwhile, pets can help kids learn responsibility and compassion, and elderly people receive joy from the company and the meaning of life. But as long as all these perks are dependent on one key assumption: being able to keep your pet healthy and safe.
Pet care has become more expensive, with costs rising more than 60% since 2014. There are several reasons why. Advances in veterinary medicine now allow clinics to offer high-tech testing and treatment on par with human medicine. Advances save lives but add costs for equipment, training, and specialized personnel. There is also a shortage of veterinarians, which pushes wages up and adds waiting time. Inflation hits every from drugs to clinic supplies, and as more and more preventive care becomes the norm, wellness packages and specialty diets contribute to the overall cost.
The expense is real, and it isn’t just those who are low-income who bear it. Even those who earn more than $90,000 forego vet trips because of cost. A national study found nearly 40% of pet owners have gone into debt paying vet bills. Emergencies, acute illness, or injuries can lead to charges that any aren’t prepared to deal with. The result is difficult choices—sometimes painful ones.
Over a third of U.S. pet owners skipped or refused recommended animal care in the last year. Cost is the primary reason for most, but stress and the inconvenience of a visit are factors as well. Of those who refused, 71% said it was due to cost. The results can be serious: neglecting preventive treatment or diagnosis can make an animal’s condition worse or even cause death. The impact spreads beyond households—three in ten pet owners have a friend who lost a pet because of expenses, and 11% have a friend who had to surrender a pet due to cost.
Housing instability provides another level of complication for pet owners. It is common for families to have to surrender pets because they are unable to afford pet-friendly housing. Nonrefundable pet deposits, pet rentals, and restrictive policies just add to the complexity of the situation for low-income families who struggle to keep their pets. Losing a beloved pet as a result of housing issues is a hard experience that happens quite often. Backers of such reforms as capping pet fees and better tenant rights are advocating for changes, but progress is minimal.
So what can work? There is increasing pressure to make veterinary treatment more affordable through flexible, low-cost means. Interest-free repayment schemes might ensure that life-saving treatment is available, but less than one in four pet owners have been approached with such schemes. Transparency in costs and open discussion of alternatives are also necessary. From the housing sector, animal protection and tenant advocacy groups are converging to advance pet-friendly policies and fair housing laws. It is straightforward: no one should have to decide between having a roof over their head or the companionship of a pet.
With veterinary expenses on the rise, the discussion is shifting. It’s no longer about breed bans or deposits—it’s about hearts, fairness, and keeping families together, paws and all.