Monthly Costs for a Beagle Living in New York City

Budget Breakdown is a content series where we ask real pet parents to showcase how much they spend on their pets every month. Inspired by Refinery29’s Money Dairies.

About My Pets:

Pet name: Elf
Age: 13 years old
Weight: 22 pounds
Breed: Beagle mix
Health concerns: Senior dog, high stress and reactivity

Budget Breakdown:

*Expenses are subscription payments

What financial planning did you consider prior to getting your pet(s)?

Honestly, I should have done more! My family and I rescued Elf when I was in college, but he didn’t live with me until I moved to New York at 23. Luckily, I had support and was in a good place financially. Now that he is older and needs more care at a higher price point, my fiancé and I can budget and plan ahead for each month.

Do you believe where you live influences your monthly pet costs?

Yes, I’ve realized everything is a little more expensive in New York City, especially pet care. The high cost of living affects our monthly budget and how much we can allocate to pet costs. Since we don’t own a car or have family in the immediate vicinity, we will often have to pay a higher price for a weekend away if that involves dropping Elf off at overnight care.

How did you decide what was the right food option for your pet(s)?

Elf’s previous Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sibling (who has now passed) came to us with a very sensitive stomach and pancreatitis. This helped us better understand how important a dog’s diet is. We started feeding them both fresh food, and the Farmer’s Dog was a convenient option! We have continued this food with Elf and believe the fresh food has helped contribute to his lack of severe health issues at age 13.

How much food do you go through in a month?

We go through a pre-portioned pack of Farmer’s Dog food each day, which adds up to a little over 2 shipments of Farmer’s dog a month.

Which Pet Releaf products do you use and why?

Because Elf came to us as a rescue with severe stress and some reactivity, the main Pet Releaf product we first started using is Stress Releaf 300mg CBD Oil. I give this daily in addition to his vet-prescribed meds to help with calming. If there’s a high-stress situation coming up like travel or visitors, I will give an additional dropper half an hour before the event. And while Elf certainly doesn’t act 13, I know he is a full-on senior now and needs preventative care. After my first dog struggled with mobility issues and cognitive issues, I knew Sentesa was the perfect preventative for all of my senior dogs in the future. Elf gets a Sentesa capsule each day at mealtime. Lastly, we use Digestive Releaf Edibites which are Elf’s favorite flavor of chews. He will get these as needed, and they support him having healthier poops! I feel good about giving him these as a reward since they are both yummy and all-natural. Plus, he only has four teeth and can easily chew them.

Which products are you subscribed to and what savings do you receive by being subscribed?

We’re subscribed to four products:

• Pet Releaf Stress Releaf 300mg CBD Oil
  • Discount: 15%
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Other Perks: Free Shipping
• Pet Releaf Sentesa Advanced Care Capsules
  • Discount: 15%
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Other Perks: Free Shipping
• Pet Releaf Digestive Releaf Edibites For Small Dogs
  • Discount: 15%
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Other Perks: Free Shipping
• The Farmer’s Dog
• • The Farmer’s Dog is available only through a subscription
  • Frequency: Twice a Month ($70 per 14-day shipment)

What would be your biggest tip to pet parents when it comes to budgeting?

Pets are expensive, and unexpected emergency costs can happen in an instant. To be a responsible pet owner, you need to have money in savings set aside for your pet if something comes up. You never know when you’ll need to visit the emergency vet or pay for an unexpected prescription.

If you travel frequently, make sure you consider pet care costs based on where you live. The cost of overnight care for dogs can add up in urban areas. Flying with a pet is also much more expensive than simply flying with a carry-on – and the pet takes the place of your carry-on bag.