Keep your Pet Spending on a Tighter Leash
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media release: 2 August, 2012
Keep your Pet Spending on a Tighter Leash
It will come as no surprise to most of us that 96 per cent of Australians regard their pets' to be part of the family and according to a leading vet, pet owners will spend an average of $25,000 over the lifespan of a dog, making them quite an expensive four legged family member.
Dr Mark Perissinotto, head vet at VetShopAustralia.com.au, said it can come as quite a shock to pet owners if they add up the money spent over time on their family pet, however he assured that by being a little smarter with pet care there is some serious savings to be had.
"While there really is no doubt that pets are “worth it”, there are ways to save money without compromising the quality of care you give your pets," he said.
"Cat lovers also love their pets like a member of the family, but unfortunately, they don’t get off much cheaper and can expect to spend about $1,722 each year on food, toys and vet care," Dr Perissinotto explained.
Here’s online pet health retailer, VetShopAustralia.com.au’s top money saving tips for pet owners:
- Adopt a pet from a rescue shelter – save a life and save thousands at the same time! Checkout the hundreds of beautiful pets looking for homes right now at your local rescue shelter.
- Buy just a few good quality toys – unfortunately cheap toys from $2 type shops just don’t last. Invest in just one or two good quality toys that are hard wearing.
- Buy flea, tick and worm control online – you can save up to $80 each year per pet by buying name brand products like Frontline, Revolution and Advantage online from reputable vet owned businesses.
- Keep all necessary vaccinations up-to-date, it can save lots of hassle and costs of vet bills in the future.
- Get pet insurance – vet bills can quickly run in to the thousands of dollars, but pet insurance starts from just a few dollars a week. Bundle it with your home insurance to save even more.
- Share the care – putting your dog or cat in to a kennel or cattery when you’re away on holiday can cost hundreds of dollars. Find a friend with a similar pet, and take turns caring for their pet while the other is on holidays
- Learn how to do basic pet grooming at home such as clipping nails, cleaning ears and brushing your pet’s coat. It can save you some serious cash on grooming bills.
- Buy quality food, it is important for your pets health - cheap foods often contain fillers that can lead to hyperactivity. If you have the space, try and buy in bulk for bigger savings.
“Dogs, cats and other pets bring us joy that you just can’t put a price on, but following these simple pet money saving tips can save you thousands each year,” Dr Perissinotto said.
ENDS
Further information
Media Contact: Jemma Lenton 07 5453 4840
Jemma.lenton@vetshoponline.com
Address: 5/42 Owen Creek RD. Forest Glen QLD
Go to the Dr Mark bio page for more information about Dr Mark Perissinotto.