This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Varo. The opinions and text are all mine.
By Robbi Hess ~ Managing Editor Pet Calendar, Crimeless Cat Executive Story Editor, Chief Cat Herder
June is Naitonal Pet Preparedness month, Adopt a Cat Month and Pet Appreciation Day, among other pet-centric holidays. as I put together the pet calendar: preparing for pet financial emergencies struck me as being as important as preparing for a natural disaster or weather emergency. Why? Because this dovetailed in with Adopt A Cat/Adopt A Shelter Cat Month. Cats and dogs, and our other fur babies are the highlights of our life, but let’s face it — being a pet parent is not cheap!
As a mom, I always advised my children, “don’t adopt or rescue a dog or cat or snake or ferret unless you have money in the bank to care for them and take them to the veterinarian.” I have learned from experience that you cannot prepare for illnesses and injuries that may befall your pet. You don’t know if they will get into something they’re not supposed to or if your eighty pound Goldendoodle will run over your eight pound senior Poodle and dislocate her hip and knee. There is no way to plan for that — or is there?!
Pet Calendar: Preparing For Pet Financial Emergencies
Sharing your life with a pet is a responsibility that will last decades. That responsibility includes:
- Grooming (for some breeds)
- Buying high quality food
- Training
- Boarding or finding a pet sitter if you go on a vacation where your pet can’t join you
- Investing in toys and treats
- Ongoing veterinarian care to keep your pet healthy and happy for a lifetime
Did you know: Routine vet costs are not inexpensive, but are necessary. It’s been estimated that in the first year of your puppy or kitten’s life, you will spend upwards of $1,000 on routine veterinary care, not including any emergency vet visits. Those first year expenses include:
- Well-puppy and well-kitten check-ups
- Vaccinations
- Spaying and/or neutering.
Those costs don’t include anything for medications your pet may need or any topical items to keep him safe from flea and tick bites. If you factor in the costs associated with an ill pet, like a diabetic diagnosis for your cat or dog or a treatment that could cost more than $500 for heartworm treatment in your dog and you can see how, without careful budgeting, the cost of your pet could become prohibitive.
Preparing for pet emergencies
No pet parent wants to think about having to surrender or find a new home for his or her pet because the veterinarian costs are too high. Let’s not forget… as our pets age, they also cost more money (just as humans do when they age).
I speak from experience when I share the story of my poodle, Henrietta. She is a senior who will be thirteen-years-old in September. She recently received an injury when our Goldendoodle puppy “ran her over” when they were dashing through the house. That accident lead to Henrietta’s hip and knee being dislocated and required immediate emergency vet care. Thankfully, it wasn’t on a weekend, night or holiday when emergency vet visits are even higher. My regular vet got us in, put Henrietta under anesthesia and reset her joints.
Henrietta was in pain, was on medication and in a sling to hold her back end still. Unfortunately, her knee and hip 
popped out again three days later and back to the vet we went for the same procedure. Yes, I was seeing dollar signs, but I would do anything to help my fur baby heal. I was prepared to pay what I needed to because, thankfully I had a veterinarian savings account set up — no lie! I knew that when I decided to be a pet parent to five cats and two dogs, that I needed to be prepared and I did that by tallying what I spent in a typical year of pet ownership, divided that by twelve months and started putting money aside every month (and a little extra in case we faced emergencies).
Now, when annual vet visits roll around, I don’t stress. I have my savings accounts! If an emergency arises I am better prepared than I was in the past.
Why use Varo?
- It’s fee-free (Hey, I can save money for my pet-emergency savings fund!) No minimum balance required. Varo pays one of the highest percentage yields!
- With direct deposit, you get paid more quickly
- There is an app on Android and iOS
Do you save for routine vet visits?
How do you set aside that money and specifically earmark it for pet care?
Ensure that you are prepared if something happens to your beloved pet by starting an Emergency Pet Fund with a Varo Savings Account at www.varomoney.com.”
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Varo. The opinions and text are all mine.
