{"id":21098,"date":"2024-07-17T12:00:20","date_gmt":"2024-07-17T10:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/?p=18085"},"modified":"2024-07-17T13:43:43","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T11:43:43","slug":"how-to-manage-your-furry-friend-finances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/pretoria\/blog\/2024\/07\/17\/how-to-manage-your-furry-friend-finances\/","title":{"rendered":"How to manage your furry friend finances"},"content":{"rendered":"

A pet can offer companionship and emotional support. However, careful planning is crucial if you want to enjoy a happy relationship with your furry friend.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Bringing a pet into your home is exciting, but it\u2019s a significant commitment. You need to plan and budget carefully to ensure the well-being of your newest family member, and your own peace of mind.<\/p>\n

JustMoney<\/a>, a platform that helps South Africans make good money choices, advises you to start by researching the costs associated with pet care. These include vaccinations, spaying or neutering, and ongoing expenses such as food, grooming, and veterinary visits.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s essential to have a clear understanding of these costs before bringing a pet home. Keeping your \u2018fur-ever\u2019 friend healthy and entertained costs a lot more than you may expect,\u201d says Sarah Nicholson, operations manager of JustMoney.co.za.<\/p>\n

Buyer beware<\/strong><\/p>\n

If your heart is set on an unusual breed with distinctive characteristics and traits, be prepared for a hefty price tag. For example, a pedigree lilac French bulldog, which has a silvery-blue coat, can cost up to R85,000 to R95,000. This includes microchipping, health and vet certificates, registration papers and other documents.<\/p>\n

Be wary when browsing breeder websites and social media pages, advises Nicholson.<\/p>\n

The Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA) warns that scammers resort to deceptive tactics, such as using fake logos of reputable organisations that register pedigreed cats and dogs, to mislead buyers into believing they\u2019re dealing with legitimate, ethical breeders.<\/p>\n

Should you contact these fake \u201cbreeders\u201d, they\u2019ll often claim to have a \u201clast-minute cancellation\u201d that matches the breed, colour, and sex of your required pet.<\/p>\n

The \u201cbreeder\u201d will usually say they live in a remote location, so you can\u2019t view the animal in person. However, if you\u2019re prepared to pay all costs upfront, such as the final vaccination, travel crate, transport to the airport and flight, you will \u201cjump the queue\u201d.<\/p>\n

After paying an eye-watering sum, you\u2019ll be told that transport has been booked, and receive a reminder to collect your new fur baby at the freight section of the airport.<\/p>\n

Soon after, you may receive a message that the airline refuses to load the animal as \u201cthe crate is too small\u201d. However, the \u201cbreeder\u201d will source a larger crate if you make an immediate funds transfer.<\/p>\n

Having paid the money, you\u2019re unlikely to hear from the scammer again, according to KUSA. Follow-ups will be fruitless \u2013 all you\u2019ll encounter will be disconnected phone numbers and invalid email addresses.<\/p>\n

To ensure you are dealing with a legitimate breeder, JustMoney offers the following tips:<\/p>\n