Homes that are left empty for large chunks of the day have always been one of the strongest arguments against buying a pet. Leaving them on their own for the day is neither practicable nor kind. But working from home means those keen on a pet could now have the time for one.
Dogs are the most common pet, but owning one is a big commitment. And the cost can feel like that of another child. It's important to choose one that's right for you, and for your pocket.
How much is that doggie?
Buying a dog is a tricky business. Prices range from those “free to a good home” to €2,000 and more for a particular breed. Vets and charities recommend adopting from a reputable animal welfare organisation. Unlike some people, these experts have a vested interest in matching the right dog to the right home. And the cost is an affordable donation.
Of course shopping online can seem the more efficient route. The thousands of dogs advertised on selling platforms each month are testament to the strength of demand. Some 20 per cent of people buying a dog during lockdown collected it the same day as their first inquiry, according to research by the Dogs Trust.
A click-and-collect culture means some are getting fleeced, however. Buying a dog from an unknown trader is like playing roulette: spending big doesn’t guarantee anything and expensive mistakes abound.
One family spent €1,300 on Frank, a three-month-old dachshund, from a well-known online selling platform, recounts the Dogs Trust. On collection, Frank looked considerably older than his online profile. A vet subsequently confirmed he was at least two and not a puppy at all. Due to his fearful behaviour, the family surrendered him to the charity, €1,300 out of pocket and with no means of redress.
New regulations from February on the sale and supply of pets, in an attempt to shut down puppy farms, mean sellers of more than six animals a year must register with the Department of Agriculture and display a registration number when advertising. However, with little enforcement, rogue traders and fake ads are still plentiful. The practice is known as “dogfishing”. Animal welfare organisations regularly hear from those who bought a pet online only for it to fall sick or even die soon afterward.
"Sadly, it has become almost impossible to do this safely," says Corina Fitzsimons of the Dogs Trust. If you want to buy online, she recommends petbond.ie. It was founded and managed by vets, and buyers can choose from approved breeders and registered rescue centres.
Vet Pete Wedderburn, a spokesman for Veterinary Ireland's Companion Animal Society says that if you must buy online, do so from a seller with Irish Pet Advertising Advisory Group approval. Only sellers who have signed up to IPAAG minimum standards can carry the logo. The website ipaag.ie has useful advice on spotting dodgy dealers, too.
Specific breeds can command a premium. If you are paying for the real thing, make sure you get it. “You could be paying for something that isn’t what it says it is,” says Wedderburn. “I know of many, many instances where somebody thought they were buying a daschsund and it was quite obviously a cross-bred terrier. They paid a lot of money and they just didn’t know.”
Buyers should verify the seller’s Department of Agriculture registration number. When visiting or picking up the animal, do so at the seller’s premises, not at a neutral location. When handing over cash, don’t leave without a contract of sale; a microchipping certificate; medical records, including records of worming or flea treatment; and a vaccination certificate that has been signed and stamped by a real vet.
Which dog?
Although there are no guarantees, some dogs may be cheaper to own than others. “A really important thing for people to look into before buying a particular breed are the likely health issues,” says Wedderburn.
Some breeds will be prone to certain health issues: Labradors can have hip issues, some retrievers are prone to cancer in middle age and dachshunds can get slipped disks in their long backs. A quick search of the breed you are considering online will provide insights.
It’s significantly cheaper to insure a crossbreed than a pedigree dog, says Wedderburn. So-called designer dogs, where two pedigree dogs are mixed, such as a labradoodle or cockapoo, can also develop expensive-to-treat health issues. Bulldogs, pugs and Boston terriers, bred for their flat-faced appearance, will have health issues requiring significant spend.
“It’s rare for bulldogs to give birth naturally, they have to have Caesareans,” says Wedderburn. “Pugs are unable to breathe through flattened faces and narrowed nostrils. I know one that had to have a tracheostomy. Financially, it’s very expensive to correct these problems. There is a growth industry in surgery to correct these issues, and it’s not a good thing.”
Liking small dogs or big ones is a personal preference. But if a dog requires medication, it’s often on a per-kilogram basis, so for a small dog the cost could be €50 a month compared with, say, €200 for a very big dog.
Pet insurance
All going well, most pets are healthy most of the time, but pet insurance can help smooth out potential peaks in cost. Veterinary fees for a new hip, cataract removal or the treatment of heart or skin disease can go on for years and run to thousands.
“For many, coming up with the money for certain procedures would be prohibitive and they might have to consider not giving treatment. That’s where insurance is so useful,” says Wedderburn.
Policies will cover veterinary fees up to specified limit; third-party liability and legal costs; boarding kennels should you fall ill and be unable to mind the dog; death, theft, and straying and even holiday cancellation.
Pet owners should be aware, however, that Brexit may mean less choice in the pet insurance market as some providers are reliant on UK-based insurers or intermediaries who may not be able to sell into Ireland in the same way. Check with your insurer.
Initial outlay
Adopting an animal from a reputable shelter means things such as vaccination, spaying or neutering, microchipping and parasite treatment are likely to have been taken care of. The organisation usually asks for a donation of about €120 to cover costs.
Vets recommend all new pets receive an initial vet check-up. If the basics have not been done by the seller, vaccinations cost about €100, spaying or neutering about €200, and flea and worm treatments up to €25.
An annual health check will cost about €50-€60. The re-registering of a microchip to reflect your details will cost €10. You’ll need a dog licence, too, costing €20.
A dog’s life
Once you’ve had the basic health checks done, your dog will incur other expenses. Top of the list will be food. Expect to spend about €600 a year, says Corina Fitzsimons – that’s €11.50 a week added to your weekly household food bill. Your dog will need some furniture and toys; a dog bed, crate, food and water bowls, toys and chews can add up to about €320.
For walkies, you will need a lead, a collar or harness and the vitally important annual supply of poo bags – which all add up to about €110. You’ll need doggie shampoo and a brush, too. Professional grooming can cost up to €300 a year.
Training your dog will be a good investment. Courses provided by animal charities mean the funds go back into animal welfare. The DSPCA's three-week Puppy Starter School course, with other owners and their dogs, costs €95 and covers socialising, toilet, harness and crate training.
Its one-to-one training for new dog owners costs €175 for one 90-minute class or €425 for three.
Have dog, will travel
Many getting pets this year are doing so for company while spending more time at home. But what happens when we can all travel again? Whether you bring Fido on holiday or leave him at home, there’s a cost.
If travelling overseas, your pet will need a passport issued by a vet. This proves the animal is microchipped and has been vaccinated against rabies. It will cost €100-€150 and it takes three weeks post-vaccination for the passport to be issued, so plan ahead.
Most people bringing a dog overseas on holiday will travel by boat and car. Dogs and cats travel for free on Stena Line services. For travel to the UK until the end of December, you can continue to use your EU pet passport, but things are a bit up in the air after that.
If you decide to board your cat or dog while you are on holiday, expect to pay up to €25 day. If you live in rental accommodation, not every landlord will be keen on pets and some may factor an extra cost for additional wear and tear.
Wait and see
If you’re keen on a dog but not sure yet if working-from-home arrangements will last, you could start with smaller pet. Gerbils, guinea pigs and hamsters are other good options, says Wedderburn. “And fish have much more personality than people realise.”
