I often see people looking for "Free Pets". Firstly I think, if they want a free pet, will they be financially able to care for it down the road? And secondly I wonder, do these people know that "free" pets usually cost lots more in the long run? Here are some great ideas for people who want pets but don't want to waste a lot of money on extras, so t hat in fact they will have money to care for it down the road.
When "Free" will Cost You More.
Lots of people get suckered in on "free" kittens and puppies. In truth it is these pets who cost the most in the long run. A free kitten or puppy will not have any medical done on it. As such it will certainly need to be vaccinated, dewormed, and checked by a veterinarian. Many free pets come from homes where their parent animals were not well cared for, they may also have fleas or ear mites. I have been aware of many situations where these "free" pets turned out to have serious medical problems such as heart defects requiring costly surgery for repair or resulting in the premature death of the pet at a few months of age. I never advise anyone to take a pet that has not been seen by a veterinarian.
When you pay for a pet, it should have been seen by a veterinarian, been vaccinated, dewormed, and checked. You will get the papers from the veterinarian to prove this. Typically somebody taking a litter to the vet will pay less per animal than if you take an individual animal there yourself. Now of course we know most "breeders" inflate their prices to make a profit, so if you are looking for an affordable pet you don't necessarily want to get a pet from breeder, however animal shelters, such as the SPCA, are non-profit. Thus they have adoption fees that are lower than if you took a "free" pet and had all the medical done on it yourself.
This is how "free" pets will cost more than paying to adopt one from a shelter. Plus most shelters offer health guarantees, and advise if there is a problem. They are much easier to get real information from than somebody who has a litter they simply want to get rid of quick.
When "Free" is A Good Deal
Occasionally you can find "free" pets that are a good value. These are typically older pets or ones who people got and suddenly find they cannot keep. Sometimes these will be young pups or kittens, but as I mentioned earlier, they are only a good value if they have already had some medical done to them, otherwise it is cheaper to adopt. Some shelters adopt out older pets for free because it is so difficult to find them homes beyond a certain age. Generally though, you will find these "free" pets in the newspaper. They may even be already spayed or neutered, thus saving you even more money.
So if you are looking for a cheap pet, be willing to consider an older animal who somebody is giving away, but who has had all their medical done to them and is ready to go.
How To Save The Big Money
The pets themselves are one thing, but supplies are the big money. Particularly for people who are looking for caged pets, like bunnies or birds. A good cage can cost a lot more than the pet itself. One way to save is to go to the shelter and adopt a pet who comes with its own cage. Occasionally shelters have second hand cages or supplies for sale quite cheap. You may even find used pet equipment for sale in garage sales or at second hand stores. Do not buy anything, such as plastic, that cannot be washed and sterilized, from an unknown source.
Other money can be saved by buying quality items from local independent stores, rather than chains with high overhead. Stainless steel bowls will last forever, unlike plastic which should be replaced every 6 months due to the ability of bacteria to live in plastic, even when it washed. Good quality food is another way to save money, with better food your pet actually eats less, thereby also pooping less. I have found I can save about 10% by buying my pet food from livestock feed stores rather than pet stores.
Buying a healthy pet, keeping it healthy, and not taking too many short cuts will save you money in the long run, spaying and neutering are one of the best ways to prevent costly problems and many health issues. Keeping proper care of your pet will also pay off in the long run.
