It’s Raining Cats and Dogs
A common “ice breaker” question, the question of whether someone has a cat or a dog, is usually answered by a yes which is followed, most times, by detailed stories of the trouble their pet has gotten up to. With around 63% of US Households owning at least one pet, it is no doubt that our furry friends play an important role in our lives. While many argue that a cat or a dog is far too much work and far too much stress, however those that own pets know that while there is some work involved, it is worth it as pets truly make us happier. In fact a study done by the National Institute of Health found that out of 240 married couples, “those who owned a pet were found to have lower heart rates and blood pressure...than those without pets”. Not only this but they also found that when these people were with their pets they had calmer, milder responses, and their stress levels went down faster (“Can Pets Keep”). Although people argue that pets are too stressful the facts show that pets actually reduce stress. Another argument is that pets have too many negative externalities on others. While yes dogs poop in other people’s yards and in parks, and cats prevent people who are allergic from being able to see their loved, but by being a responsible pet owner these externalities can be significantly diminished. For example if people pick up their dogs poop it is no longer a negative externality and if cat owners keep a clean house the cat will only bother people with allergies to small extent. Clearly pets have both healthy benefits and, with responsible owners, less negative externalities than people think, but they also have a price tag on them. Pets are a private good, one not everyone can afford and if someone wants to have a pet they need to be aware of the financial impact it could have on them.
This idea that pets make us happier has even been picked up by pet product suppliers, see this commercial to see what Purina has to say about it view this video
Through the years the roles of our pets in our family has evolved. From sleeping outside to sleeping on beds, dogs and cats have truly become family members. Just like any other human family member, people are not afraid to spend about 574 dollars on a dog’s surgery and about 337 for a cat. Not only do people spend a large amount of money on their animals medical care but they also pay around 241 dollars for dog food and 185 dollars for cat food per year. The total cost of a dog per year is 1,571 dollars and for ten years it is 15,710 dollars. For a cat the total cost per year is 919 dollars and for ten years is 9,190 dollars. (“The Economics of”)
Although pets may cost a lot of money for their owners, this money spend on pets gets fueled back into our economy. In 2009 the estimate as to how much the pet industry is worth was said to be around 45.4 billion dollars (“The Economic Impact”). Additionally the pet care industry is one of the fastest growing parts of retail, expanding 6% annually and the veterinary service has grown about 10% annually for the past decade (“The Pet Economy”).
In conclusion pets represent a significant financial cost to their owners. Therefore prospective pet owners must be sure that they can financially handle a pet, however the marginal cost of adding one of these furry family members should not be a reason why people turn their nose up at the idea of a pet. The marginal benefit of having a dog or a cat far outweighs the cost of them. Additionally, while pets may not be the best for an individual's bank account, they are an important part of our economy.
Works Cited
Hughes, Jim. “The Economic Impact Of The Pet Industry”. Kennel Spotlight: n.pag. Web. 19
Sept. 2014.
Brady, Diane, Christopher Palmeri. “The Pet Economy”. Businessweek (2017): n.pag. Web.
19 Sept. 2014
“Can Pets Keep You Healthy?”. NIH News in Health (2009): n.pag. Web. 19 Sept. 2014
McWhinney, James E. “The Economics of Pet Ownership”. Investopedia (2014): n.pag. Web.
19 Sept. 2014.
When people get pets I find that not many people think about the economics or true cost of having a pet, just how much surface area work it will require. I used to have a dog, and I never really thought about how much it cost to have her per year, which is at least a cheaper year at college. It is very important for pet owners or future pet owners to be aware of the monetarist cost, how much time the pet will require, and the benefits to their lives. In the end though pets seem like copious amounts of trouble what it does to your happiness is truly worth it.
ReplyDeleteYou had put good information and facts in about how cats and dogs are a big part of our lives. I like how you chose a topic that a majority of people can relate too, considering that a lot of people in our school are animal owners. I like how you had the statistics of how pet retail is a fast growing process, although it may be a big financial impact on the owners. You had put many facts in there that were good to know and how well you incorporated vocab words into it also!
ReplyDeleteAs i read this i get happier and happier. Pets can make you one of the happiest person in the world, when you have a bad day they can cheer you up. If you don't feel good they try to make you happier. I really like you piece it makes me very happy that someone wrote about this. You did a very good job and am very pleased with your writing.
ReplyDeleteI really like this topic because it retains to the majority of our society. I love cats and dogs and I myself have a dog and 2 cats at home as well as some other pets. I never really thought that the price of them could add up so quickly! Whether or not they're costly though, they are defiantly worth having, even if a dog costs about $1,571 dollars a year to maintain, and a cat $919. The marginal benefit is truly greater than the marginal cost in this situation.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting that pets can have such a health and economic effect. It surprised me that dogs don’t cost very much a year. About $1,500, which is not a lot and can be affordable for just about everyone who wants a pet. The health benefits also are a great aspect of owning a pet. That would make them an economic benefit is that these pets also create thousands of jobs for people all across the US. Thus lowering the unemployment rate. Thus showing that pets offer economic and health benefits.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this topic very much, as I have a dog and know the benefits of having a dog. My family spends a good portion of money on my dog, especially on his food as it is important that he is healthy and eating the right food. Also as for the benefits that are received by having a dog in the house, three is a certain amount of joy and fun that I receive from my dog. Overall I agree that having a pet in the house outweighs the cost of taking care of them.
ReplyDeleteClaire, this is a really relatable topic since so many people have pets. You’re right, though, I have never really thought about the economics of having a pet. In my family, we have both a dog and a cat, and for us, the marginal benefit of having these loving creatures as a part of the family far outweighs the marginal cost of care, grooming, vet checkups, etc. I think many pet owners would agree, however, that doing the kitty litter or walking the dog is a small price to pay for something with such a big heart. Also, it would be interesting to compare the costs per year within different dog breeds, such as large, medium, and small dogs, as well as other common house pets, such as hamsters, birds, and bunnies.
ReplyDeleteClaire, This is a good topic and I like how rather then giving an unbiased opinion you stated factual evidence. It was a breath of fresh air to hear someone talk about the pets in an economic way. That being said I think it is of the utmost importance that you get constructive criticism. The one comment I have is when you were stating the fact of stress that had direct correlation to people who have pets versus those who don't, you could have stated more factual information rather then just saying that you read people dropped stress. It gives a kind of sense that you are telling us to get a pet if our stress level is escalating.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this, as I'm an pet owner myself, but one aspect I was thinking of would be the positive externalities of having a pet. Do our pets bring others happiness and a feeling of safety? For instance, if my next-door neighbor had a guard dog, wouldn't I reap the benefits of that as well if an intruder came to my house? If it's an alert dog, it would most likely scare away any stranger that dared to come near its house. Likewise, if I was having a rough day and someone's dog came running to happily greet me, wouldn't I benefit from that dog's temperament? Just something to think about.
ReplyDeleteHello (I would insert a name here but I have no clue who wrote this piece). For starters I believe that you had a viable argument on the fact that pets overall bring a sense of happiness to those who own them. However there were many instances where I found myself having to read over passages of writing in which the meaning/ wording was unclear, in the future I would urge you to read over your pieces of writing prior to submitting them for a grade/viewer consumption. Your use of the term “negative externality” was spot on and really helped the reader understand your point of view. Your writing brought to mind the outcome individuals may get who abuse animals, would they feel the same happiness from a pet that a typical human being would. Overall while at times your writing/message may have been confusing, I enjoyed reading your piece and the possibilities that it provoked in my mind.
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to say that I completely agree with this essay that you have written. I have pets of my own and I can see the see these same effect they have on myself. I like how you incorporated an actual study, because -- like you said -- there are sceptical people out there regarding the correlation between happiness and pets. But like I said before, I am completely with you on the fact that pets DO make people happier. I also was very surprised at the cost of these pets (Dogs and Cats) annually.; but again I agree that over the past decade, the importance of pets in a family has increased, and people are willing to spend more and more on their pets to keep them around. Well done!
ReplyDeleteYou have a great post, I have 3 dogs and I love them and would do anything for them. Thinking that I will be paying for them myself soon makes me realize just how much they are through your article.
ReplyDeleteI really like the topic you choose to write about. We don't really think about how much pets impact our daily lives, but I couldn't even imagine living without my dog. I thought the second last paragraph was really interesting where you wrote:
ReplyDelete"In 2009 the estimate as to how much the pet industry is worth was said to be around 45.4 billion dollars (“The Economic Impact”). Additionally the pet care industry is one of the fastest growing parts of retail, expanding 6% annually and the veterinary service has grown about 10% annually for the past decade (“The Pet Economy”). "
I didn't actually realize how large the market for pets is. I realize that we feed our pets daily like children so it only makes sense that the per market is growing just as fast as the market for children, but these numbers amazed me. Overall, awesome essay, I really enjoyed it and all the information it contained about pets.
I feel like this topic is a really interesting one to choose, because not many people think about the economic value of pets, considering they are like family to most people. It's interesting to see how much we are really spending on these animals. I have a dog myself, and, while I did know that they were expensive, I didn't really put into consideration the amount of money that goes into caring for our pets. Overall, I think your essay was well written, and had a lot of cool information!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your blog post in that pets do relieve stress and make our lives better. I’ve owned pets my whole life and I wouldn’t think twice about not having one in the future. Dogs can be expensive to take care of - from the medical bills, to food, and to other things. But, I think all that is worth it for a little furry friend that’s part of the family. And, I agree that owning pets can improve the economy. It’s good that you used the words “negatived externalities” and “private goods” because it showed that you knew what you were talking about and it made your post better.
ReplyDeleteWhile pets do have negative externalities when they are needy or when they have accidents in the house and such, I believe that it it they owner's decision to deal with that. Pets bring so much joy and relief to so many problems. For example, dogs can guide the blind, save people in fires, and find illegal substances. So I believe that a few negative externalities are no wear near the comparison of marginal benefit that the owner receives from having the animal. Pets have feelings and can bring so much happiness and joy; a joy that I truly believe is unlike any other.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do like this topic and how you looked at the positive and negative externalizes of pets as well as their cost, I do wish you had expanded your view to not only cats and dogs but other common pets as well, such as fish or hamsters. It would be interesting to see how the true cost and benefits of those pets different from the cats and dogs.
ReplyDelete