Up-front vet fees clarify costs of owning pet

Bills are often underestimated, write Kath Oltsher and Sasha Campbell.

As the co-founders of Zoe’s Animal Rescue, a 100-percent volunteer-run organization that is based in Edmonton and serves the surrounding area and even farther afield, we see firsthand how important it is for families to be able to properly plan for their pet care.

Every day we see families who struggle to pay for vet fees, and are faced with financial hardship or the gutwrenching decision of giving up their loved one either to rescue or tragically — if there is no one to take the pet — to euthanasia.

This is a very real problem as many shelters and rescue groups charge fees to accept surrendered pets and many more simply do not have space.

In the past five years of running the rescue, we have learned how important education is in improving the lives of not just the animals we work with but also the communities that we work in.

A 2001 study showed that companion animals have a positive impact on the emotional and physical health of the people they live with. When Albertans can have a better idea of veterinary costs upfront, it will mean they are better able to plan for the care of their pets and will not fall victim to unexpected costs.

Then, fewer dogs and cats and other pets will need to be rescued, like the hundreds that we help or take in every year at Zoe’s.

That’s why we believe the government’s new rules on disclosure of vet fees and advertising are so important for families — because it makes it easier for them to find quality care that’s right for their pet and their family budget. Being able to see fees upfront means families are more educated and can properly plan for owning and caring for a pet.

Many people get a pet with no idea of how much it costs to even get the basics of care like vaccinations, spaying/ neutering and deworming, let alone how much a visit to an emergency clinic can be. Many think keeping a few hundred dollars set aside will be enough.

There is pet insurance available but many consumers don’t know that a lot of conditions are not covered or that it often only covers half of the actual cost. This varies from insurer to insurer.

Knowledge is indeed empowering and in this case it also helps families feel comfortable that they know they are making the best decisions possible.

We are truly blessed to know many of the trustworthy, professional veterinarians out there who keep the best interests of their clients and pets at heart. As medical care is the most expensive cost of operating Zoe’s, we can safely say that our success as a rescue depends on the generosity and dedication of these vets.

We cannot do all the good we do without the support and compassion of our partner vets.

Many of them are small business owners that are giving back to their communities in the most generous of ways. We are incredibly grateful to these amazing individuals, and their staff, who not only make it possible for us to help so many but into whose care we personally entrust our own beloved pets.

For us, it comes down to pet owners being better informed about costs and options upfront. In our work, we see daily that this is absolutely essential to keeping things affordable for families so they can properly care for and keep their pets.

Every pet-owning family wants to be able to afford the best care for their beloved pets. This will help them plan for and get that care.

All of us who make up Zoe’s have learned that saving one animal does change the world for the better — not just for the animal itself, but through the ripple effects for good through the lives of the people around it.

This is absolutely essential to keeping things affordable for families so they can properly care for and keep their pets.