Before getting a pet, figure out if you can afford one

According to a survey by the American Pet Products Association, more than 90 million families in America have pets.

Dogs and cats are the most popular pet, followed by freshwater fish and birds.

If you’re not one of the 90 million pet owners, but you’d like to be, do some math first to figure out if you can actually afford a pet.

First, find out how much the pet itself will cost.

You’ll find the price of a pet can range from under a dollar apiece to thousands of dollars each. Generally, the more rare, specialized or exotic the animal, the more expensive it will be.

The dragon moray eel looks really cool, but it can cost around $1,000. It probably would be smart to consider a less-expensive fish.

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On PetSmart’s website, I discovered a lot of species of fish are pretty cheap. The first page of results showed 18 fish. Eleven of them were priced under $10, and the Comet Goldfish could be purchased for as cheap as 20 cents.

You can buy a common type of pet bird for less than $50, while the more exotic species can cost thousands. Most hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, lizards and turtles can be purchased for less than $40.

If you’re ready to get a cat or dog, Springfield has a great resource that will save you a lot of money: The Animal Protective League.

According to the APL’s website, you can adopt a kitten for $50, or a total of $65 if you adopt two kittens. For the month of November, they’ve got some pretty nice deals: Any cat over a year old is free, and a kitten is $25. And don’t worry about paying an additional fee to get them spayed or neutered, vaccinated, or microchipped- those procedures have already been done.

Do you like black cats? In November, if they are over 4 months old, they are free.

The APL’s website says the adoption fees for dogs vary. The price depends on the size, breed and health of the dog.

For more information about adopting a pet from the Animal Protective League, call them at 217-544-7387.

After you know the cost of the pet you want, calculate the cost of all the supplies you’ll need to get it established in your home.

When getting a puppy, for example, you’ll need a food and water dish, leash and collar, a few toys, a crate or bed and a pooper scooper.

Other pets will need items like an aquarium, heat rock, bedding, toys, etc.

None of these items should need to be replaced for a long time. These are your one-time purchases.

The next expense to calculate is a big one: the amount of money you need to spend each month to take care of your pet.

There’s food, of course. But many pets need additional items and supplies that may need to be replaced or replenished on a monthly basis.

Your puppy will need treats so you can train it. Cats need litter, as do rabbits and hamsters if you train them to use it. All pets like gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs and similar animals will need their bedding and/or hay changed more than once a month.

The last expense to plan for is medical needs for your pet.

Almost every kind of pet will need a trip to the veterinarian at some point, and even a routine visit can be costly. If you get a puppy or kitten, you’ll probably want to get it spayed or neutered at some point. Be prepared to pay at least several hundred dollars for that.

And then there’s the cost of medicine. A three-month supply of heartworm medicine for our dog cost us $84, for instance.

If you add it all up, you’ll realize that obtaining and owning a pet can be quite expensive.

Don’t let these numbers scare you if you’re intent on adding a pet to your family though.

Just check your budget and make sure you can afford it the new animal. If you can, great! If you need to borrow money to get this pet or to pay for its monthly supplies, I’d advise you to wait.

Dave Kinzer is a music teacher and a financial coach in Springfield. Contact him at www.davekinzer.com. His column will appear here every other Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Before getting a pet, first figure out if you can afford one