Holiday Pets
/Anyone that knows the ladies of Worley Erhart-Graves knows we love our pets, me included. My husband and I don’t have human children; instead, we have our two fur kids, Winston the goldendoodle and Ella the bernedoodle. Having these two sweet, silly pups in our lives has brought us so much joy. It’s exciting to come home each night to our two fur kiddos that are always happy to see us. Despite his 65-pound frame, Winston thinks of himself as a lap dog. Snuggling with him on my lap, while I hold the bone he’s chewing, is one of his favorite things to do. Ella isn’t so much a lap dog, but if you aren’t paying enough attention to her, she’ll happily let you know by reaching out to tap you with one of her human hand-sized paws. If you can’t tell, they’re both incredibly spoiled.
Like most Americans, we spend more on our dogs than we ever expected to. Pets are a big financial commitment, and ours even have their own health insurance policy! This time last year, around Winston’s first birthday, we found out he had a terrible case of bilateral hip dysplasia. He needed a hip replacement at only 12 months old. The surgery alone was over $5,000. This didn’t include all of the x-rays and initial exam fees. We were so thankful this wasn’t a financial event for us due to the pet insurance policy we had purchased when he was just a few months old. Instead, we were able to focus on Winston and make sure he received the best possible care.
If you’re planning to bring a new pet into your home during the holidays, make sure you’re ready for the financial commitment required to keep them healthy, happy, and well-fed. Consider a pet insurance plan that will cover you if you find yourself in a similar unexpected and unfortunate situation. Our policy has been worth every penny.
This year, Winston is running around like a happy, healthy puppy. I’ve already purchased both dogs’ Christmas presents and have them stored away in a cabinet with their adorable (I can feel my husband’s eyes rolling as I write this) Santa hats from last year. After all, I wouldn’t want them to feel left out of the holiday celebration!
- Margaret Gooley, CFP®, Worley Erhart-Graves Financial Advisors
