[neatdesign]

I hate to say it, but in many ways my decision to buy a puppy 11 years ago was probably one of the dumbest things I ever did.

First, let me just say that I LOVE my dog. Andie is a wonderful pooch and has been the one constant in my life for the past 11 years (and considering I'm only 33, that's my entire adulthood). She has brought a lot of joy to my life and makes me smile every day.

That said...

I got Andie from a pet store when I was a 22-year-old recent college graduate newly expatriated to Santiago, Chile -- with no job. She cost the equivalent of $500. All the extras -- leash, bowls, toys, brush, and preliminary vet exam -- easily cost another $200.

As a puppy, Andie had a very hard time with separation anxiety. Absolutely HATED being alone, even for 15 minutes. She became a bit destructive and chewed or ripped up a lot of things, including eyeglasses, books, furniture, carpeting, and even the baseboard moulding. She eventually outgrew this behavior but not before I spent a several hundred dollars repairing or replacing things she'd destroyed.

At 18 months, Andie was stolen by a taxi driver. LONG story. Ultimately I got her back, but not before losing about $800 in the process. I missed a week of work while looking everywhere for her and putting up flyers. I paid reward money to two Good Samaritans who actually helped locate her, and $150 to cops who "helped" get her back. (They just stood there, didn't even press charges against the guy.) Plus the vet bill to have her checked out and take 17 bloated ticks off her body. Still, THAT money was well-spent, because 10 years later she's still with me.

Because Andie's a big dog (100lb Akita), everything cost more for her than it would for a little pip-squeak dog that fits in your pocket. Dog food costs more. Vet bills costs more. Kennel boarding costs more. Even the leashes and bowls, which have to be larger to fit her size, cost more.

Having a large breed dog means I can't have a small compact car. Otherwise I'd never be able to get her anywhere. Of course, that means I have to buy a larger (= more expensive) car than I would have to otherwise.

Having a large breed dog greatly limits my housing options. I've never owned a house, always been a renter. Most apartment complexes consider a "large dog" to be 45lb -- Andie weighs more than twice that! It does not matter that she is very calm, doesn't bounce all over the walls and rarely barks. There is an automatic assumption that large dogs are bad dogs.

We've lived in the same one-bedroom apartment for the past 5 years. Partly it's because I just like the neighborhood, and the apartment is well-managed. But partly it's because it would be a HUGE hassle to try to find another rental location that would accept Andie. In fact, about three years ago my apartment complex put Akitas on their banned dog list -- thankfully, Andie was grandfathered in. She's now the largest dog resident in our complex.

Additionally, in order to have Andie in the apartment, I had to put down a $500 nonrefundable deposit and pay a $15/month "pet fee" in addition to rent. (My previous apartment charged $50/month!) Assuming I ever own a home while Andie's still around, I'll probably have an increase in home owners insurance because I have a large breed dog.

Having a dog, but especially a 100lb dog, severely restricts one's social life. Honestly, it's like having a child -- you can't just get up and go whenever you feel like it. If I want to go away for even one night, I have to make arrangements in advance for Andie to stay in a kennel. Most hotels won't allow a huge pooch like her to stay in their rooms, even the pet-friendly ones. Or they charge you an arm and a leg for the privilege.

As with any dog, Andie has health issues. She's on two medications year-round ($95/month), plus anti-flea/tick meds in summer. Once every 6-12 months she'll get a UTI or something and have to go into the vet. Each vet visit is at least $50-75.

As a 22-year-old kid out on her own for the first time, lonely in another country far from home, getting a dog seemed like the right thing to do. But looking back, I would have to estimate that I've probably spent close to $10,000 -- or more -- just for having Andie and taking care of her. If I had to do it all over again, I would have waited.

~ Jenney