Idaho is the cheapest state in the United States to own a dog

As much as you love having a furry friend as your roommate, sometimes it can feel like funding a dog’s lifestyle is burning a hole in your wallet. Especially with the global increase in the cost of household essentials, given that the cost of maintaining a dog is greater than ever.

This sentiment can certainly ring true after seeing the bill for a surprise trip to the vet or when you buy another replacement for a destroyed chew toy.

Through good times and bad, your bank account is always better off owning a dog in Idaho than in any other state.

The Gem State is ranked as the cheapest state to own a dog, according to a recent study by Pettable, a screening service that allows you to get a letter for your dog to become an emotional support animal or a support dog. psychiatric assistance.

Idahoans pay an average of $1,232 a year for their dog, which is below the national average of $1,750 and less than half of the $2,864 a year that national leader Delaware spends on their dogs.

Pettable considered four factors when creating its ranking: the annual cost of food, pet insurance, vet visits, and the cost of vaccinating and neutering a dog.

food cost

Idahoans pay the nation’s lowest $103 for dog food each year, eclipsed by the $1,609 those in Delaware pay. The national average is $581 per year, more modest.

Pettable collected its food cost data from the American Pet Products Association, which estimates that $50 billion was spent in the United States on pet food and treats in 2021.

Pet Insurance Cost

Idaho landed fairly centrally in the country for the cost of pet insurance, averaging $502 per year. Most states pay between $400 and $600.

Pettable used insurance comparison website Pawlicy Advisor to calculate the average cost per state. Pawlicy Advisor takes into account non-controllable factors such as dog breed, age, and where you live, as well as controllable expenses such as your type of coverage, deductibles, and number of pets enrolled in the same plan .

Vet visits and vaccinations

Pettable used US Census Bureau data to determine the most populous zip code by state, then plugged that zip code into Banfield Pet Hospital’s price estimator. The price estimator provides the average cost of a visit to the vet, six types of vaccines and different anesthesia procedures to calculate.

Idahoans spend about $53 on vet visits and $573 on vaccinations and other medical procedures per year.

The cheapest states to own a dog

Thinking of leaving Idaho but want to go somewhere where it will still be relatively inexpensive to own a dog? Here are the states that come close to the Gem State in terms of average annual costs:

1. Idaho – $1,232

2. South Dakota – $1,404

3. Rhode Island – $1,414

4. Oklahoma – $1,426

5. Arkansas – $1,348

This story was originally published July 5, 2022 1:28 p.m.