Photo by Amanda Yepiz

The following is a guest post from Kristin of Making Cents out of Life:

During the holidays, one of the most sought after gift on many children’s lists is a new pet. Having never lived without a dog for more than six months myself, I can definitely relate!  However, during tough economic times, another mouth to feed and another body to take care of can seem out of reach.

Although owning a pet is a luxury and not a right, a pet can provide companionship.  Knowing a few frugal pet tips and tricks, as well as being prepared for a new pet, can make the unattainable luxury of owning a pet much more affordable for some.

As long as you keep in mind that the pet is a part of your family and should be treated with kindness and care — and not like a toy to be taken out and played with only when time permits — any one of the many available animals in shelters as well as the ones sold by reputable breeders may be a perfect fit for your family.

I have a few tips to help you find and afford a pet so that your family can be complete:

Calculate the Costs

First of all, realize the costs associated with the type of pet you’re getting. Large animals require fences, and if you do not have the funds to fence in your yard, or a portion of your yard, you may want to consider a different size or type of pet.  Before getting a new pet, you may also try Freecycle or Craigslist.com as a means for acquiring the materials needed for fencing.

If not, and you’re set on a certain pet, put aside a “pet savings account” and price the amount of fencing you need.  Once you meet your savings goal, make the fence a DIY project  for the family to save on the cost of labor.

Consider Temporary Foster Care

Consider adopting a pet or becoming “foster parents” for animals to save on the cost of getting a pet. Shelters are full, especially this time of year, and really need homes to place certain animals who may be expecting litters or have special needs.  Often the foster families get the first shot at adopting the animal at a reduced rate or even free for taking care of the animal’s needs.  Call your local shelter or vet’s office for details.

Our area has no actual shelter but there is a veterinarian who takes strays for a fee.  Unfortunately most of the animals never find forever homes, so you’d be saving an animal from euthanization and quite possibly finding the perfect new family member.

Check Into Available Help

Many areas have programs available to help with the cost of spaying or neutering your pet. In Alabama, for instance, the SNIP (Spay Neuter Incentive Program) provides deep discounts for the spaying or neutering of already owned pets.  Owners must meet certain financial and residential criteria, but this program is in place to provide financial assistance for those who may have no other companionship than their pet but lack the financial resources to take care of “extra” procedures.

Similar programs are in place at many local area shelters and veterinarians’ offices to provide assistance with vaccinations and health care.  Often, local vets will allow you to make payments on emergency procedures if they are aware of your financial situation.  Nobody wants to see a pet given up and placed in a shelter, so you’d be surprised at the amount of help available.

Cut Coupons to Save Costs

Feed your animal the best you can afford in order to maintain their good health and weight. Those of us who are couponers are aware of the amount of free cat and dog food available on a fairly regular basis.  Learn the basics of couponing, and stock up as much as you can when free food is available.  Deal Seeking Mom is one of the best places to come to learn how to make the most of your  money, and stocking up on pet food is just as important as human food!

We once stocked up on enough dog food that our dogs were fed for six months, which came at a time when I was forced to stop working due to health problems and our income stopped completely for almost that entire time.  Without that food, we may have had to give up our dogs.  As we consider them our “babies”, and life is unimagineable without them, I’m forever grateful for my couponing knowledge.

These are just a few of the things you can do to cut the costs of pet ownership, especially at such an important  time of year.

One final tip is to never surprise someone with a pet if they’re not in the market for one. This happened family that I’m close to, and although the dog is loved, he is an extreme financial hardship due to required medications, surgeries, and special food.  Not only does that show why one should never surprise another with a pet; it also shows how researching the kind of pet makes a good fit for your family is both financially and morally responsible.

Remember that owning a pet is a luxury and not a right. I have to resist temptations to add to our “children” every day and not rescue every stray I see.  One of these days I hope I no longer see strays to rescue; responsible pet ownership helps, and finding frugal ways to help one own a pet will hopefully lead us in that direction.

Kristin Thompson is searching to find her niche in the world of blogging and has found her passion in helping people save money on medical care and other necessities. Born a paraplegic, she now works with companies to promote products and services that benefit her readers and their families. Find more money saving tips and ideas for economical daily living at Making Cents out of Life.