I have to disagree with you on your comment about dogs and cats "systems not set up for people food." Dogs evolved in the wild, and  they weren't eating the processed little biscuits that is dog kibble. Dog food is a very recent invention, and marketing has convinced people that this is the only appropriate way to feed your dog. I have two dogs and I can tell you that the one of the things that we never do is feed our dogs dog food. Granted, we do not feed our dogs what would typically be considered "table scraps" - fat from meat, leftovers off of our plates. Our dogs eat a diet that consists of raw meat, offal (things like organ meats - kidney and liver for example) and vegetables. Occasionally we throw in some grains like oatmeal - or stale bread. If I have a eggs that are past the expiration (shame on me!), I scramble them and feed them to the dogs.

How is this frugal, you ask? Well, I have two dogs and I spend between $350-400 per year to feed them. I buy meat from a meat distributor, and by choosing cuts that aren't popular with humans, but are still human grade, I keep the average price per pound to about 50 cents. Most, if not all, of the true "premium" brands of kibble are more expensive than this. Obviously, supermarket brand dog food IS cheaper, but you have to weigh the consequences of feeding your dog crap.

Vegetables come from my garden. It is often giant zucchini that got missed, and the itty bitty carrots and carrot tops that I have to pull in order to thin them out. Parsley is also cheap and plentiful.

Dogs fed quality food (whether raw or a PREMIUM dog food) are healthier, meaning less vet bills.

Other ways I save money on pet care: 

1. Don't vaccinate every year. Many vet schools are coming out with vaccination protocols that recommend against vaccinating every year. Typically, the protocols suggest vaccinating every 3 years.

2. Don't let your animals roam. This can lead to fights and accidents with huge vet bills. I know a family who paid more in vet bills after their lab got hit by a car than it would have cost them to install a dog-proof fence.

3. Take other appropriate preventative measures, such as getting your dog on heartworm preventative. Preventing heartworm is a lot less expensive than treating it!

4. In terms of toys, I keep it simple. I have one dog that is ball obsessed. Inside, he has a giant tennis ball that I think cost me about $5 (I can't remember because I bought it 9 years ago). Outside, he has a "special" outside plastic football that cost $1 at Target (in the kids toy section, not the dog toys). I also buy sterile natural beef bones from a pet supply catalog. These last years at my house, and provide hours of chewing entertainment. I only throw them away when they get small enough to get caught in the mouth. If your dog likes stuffed toys, try stocking up at the thrift store. Pick ones that don't have pieces they can pull off and swallow.

5. Walk your dog. It is simple to do, free, and good exercise for both owner and canine.

We have 6 cats, 2 that are indoor/outdoor, they are the only ones that get a rabies shot (every 3 yrs), cost $12 for both cats at a local rabies clinic.

I go to Tractor Supply store n back where the cold case is I can pick up vaccinations for around $4 each, that all 6 cats get on a yearly basis.

I volunteer my time at our local SPCA n when they have an over abundence of pet food, for a small donation I can bring home several bags of good dry cat food, sometimes even bird, rabbit n ferret food. (not very often but sometimes) for free. I do have 1 13yr cat that loves canned cat food, for around a $1 at walmart i can get a 4pk , it ususally cost me about $7 a week for canned cat food (as she eats 2 cans aday, shared with another one who nibbles).

Most of their vet care is taken care of by me, as we use lots of herbal remedies for treatments. If I think they are truley in need of vet care, then I can take them. I take them to a wonderful vet in my home town, who treats not only the cats but me as a member of the family. Anything I need all i have to do is call.  I have 2 females who suffer from UTI's, antibiotics were getting expensive for both cats, until I found out that a simple cranberry tablet cost less. and it usually only takes 2 treatments n the UTI's are gone.

Theire are 3 vets in my hometown, n only 1 i will use. I dont trust the other 2 as far as I could throw them. 1 treats you as a bad pet owner if your pet gets sick the other is just after your money.

I have spent over $2000 taking care of my cat who has kidney problems.  One of the ways we save money is by using the online pet pharmacies.  Most of them have free shipping and their prices are usually 25% less than brick and mortar stores.  The other benefit is that most stores have coupon codes that can save you even more.  I even started a small website with coupon codes for 1-800-PetMeds (see sig).  Medication is not optional with a sick pet, but you can certainly find better prices online than locally.

 I have found rabbits to be among the best frugal pet options.   LLamas were pretty good too but not as cheap as rabbits and are harder to handle.   Rabbits don't need shots, eat very inexpensive food,  are still cuddly.  They can be purchased a very reasonable prices.  They are very disease resistant.  Most are gentle and rarely bite.  They are quiet.  When purchased used, the supplies can be dirt cheap.  Wire cages can be sanitized with a small propane torch.   The manure is great for the garden.  They can live outside in very cold conditions without adding heat.  They make a great home business for kids and even adults. 

 blessings and such,

joan of ark
 

 And if you are in my family, you might also find yourself in a family fued over whether Buck should be roasted or scratched behind the ears. Dad initially got rabbits to raise for food. But while Dad and I were looking at recipes, my mother and brother were naming the bunnies and playing with them.

Mother won by the way. Buck never made it to the dinner pot and he also never forgave Dad and I.

 I wasn't sure I should mention the edible part :) as so many before were dealing with pets with poor health and death issues. I couldn't help it. We actually did eat some but mainly I was so cheap we only ate really old ones or just when we had to clean out the bunny barn cause we had too many.  I raised them for money and sold them as pets or for food.  We had some colored ones but the New Zealand Whites were mainly for food.  Some of our friends had rules like you could make pets of the moms but beware if you named the little fryers. 

joan of ark

ps rabbits are all white meat, very dense protein and no feathers to pick. You get full faster eating rabbit.  

 joan of ark ~ I also was hesitant to mention we love to eat rabbit!  We do a beautiful stuffed grilled breast filet.....

 Leave it to me to bring it up, eh? LOL.

It's a clear line with cats and dogs..they are beloved pets. But other types of pets..rabbits, geese, turkeys, pigs and so on bring up a different aspect.

I wouldn't debate the issue with others since pet or livestock is a personal choice that does not effect me. But I have over the years been on different sides of the argument on whether an an animal was a pet or a future meal.

The rabbits I mentioned were not intended for pets. Dad bought them to raise for food and sale. He and I went through and separated the buck from the breeders. Then we watched to see which should be earmarked for sale out of those. We discover Mom, my brother and my children naming them, giving them treats and playing with them.

Today I can shake my head and even laugh but I assure you, it was an emotionally trying thing at the time with tears and arguments even. In the end, Dad sold the additional rabbits, keeping Buck, Muffy, Peter, Sweety and Sugar as pets for Mom and the kids.

Dad and I remain convinced that Buck somehow knew what we had intended and never forgave us. He would do this weird little body wiggle when he saw Mom and jump into her lap but if it was Dad or I..he'd make a hissing and humming kind of growling noise and try to bite us.

Dad and I have considered trying raising rabbits for food and sale again but each time, one of us thinks of Buck and how Mom and the kids were so upset and we just don't see the point in having twenty bunny friends again.

Now on the flip side of that, I have had pets that were not conventional ones. Asking me if I planned to eat them was not the way to stay on friendly terms with me, heh.