Owning a dog these days can surely leave a bite in the bank account.
And the Guelph Humane Society has had to pivot to not only support themselves, but the clients who come in every day.
According to a survey conducted by HelloSafe, the annual cost to own a dog in Canada is about $3,020 on average. That is up 23.3 per cent in the last three years.
However, the agency noted the cost can vary “as much as double” depending on the breed.
The survey shows food costs are around $2,640 a year for the biggest breeds. By comparison, the annual food costs for smaller breeds are around $525 on average.
“We see that as an organization, as well as we hear that from the community as a real challenger for pet owners,” said Lisa Veit, GHS’ executive director.
“We’ve had to help offset the cost of food by relying more on donations and donated products from our supporters.”
It’s also a big part in why the humane society started up the pet food bank.
Veit said she has had owners come in who were more concerned about feeding their pets than themselves, a choice “no community member should ever have to make.”
Food may lead the way, but the survey shows other factors play a big part.
Regular vet visits can cost the owner of a bigger dog around $500 a year, while smaller breeds look to be around $250. Veit said first-time owners are especially facing a challenge in gaining access to vet care.
Veit said the goal is to help owners keep their pets, but with all the costs involved, it has gotten increasingly hard.
She said between 2021 and 2023, the Guelph Humane Society has seen a 30 per cent increase in dog surrenders. While the reasons vary, Veit said vet costs and providing medical care are one of the top reasons for it.
It’s not just dogs either. Veit said animal intake has gone up overall, and the increased costs apply to all animals, something she anticipates won’t change in at least the short term.
“As an organization, we are looking at ways of offsetting some of those costs for us organizationally because our intake of animals has also been increasing in the last three years,” she said.
The report also noted getting a dog can be costly, up to $2,580 as an initial expense.
The biggest portion of that cost? Spaying or neutering, which can come in at $690. Veit said many of the costs – the spay or neuter, preventative health care and microchipping – is included in the adoption fee.
“The adoption fee is much lower than if you acquire a pet and got those services on your own,” she said.
For now, she’s encouraging owners to take advantage of the programs at the humane society.
“We know that this is a difficult time for many members of our community,” Veit said. “So if we can help to ease that burden and help keep that pet in the home, that’s what we want to do.”
