While some students may still be going through the difficult process of selecting a new roommate for next year, some have chosen to avoid this ordeal by choosing to live with a non-human roommate instead. There are many UW-Madison students who share their homes with pets, but doing so can come at a hefty price that might catch some students off guard. However, even with the extra costs, students can manage to enjoy their time with their, pet and also, there are new pricey options that will allow them to keep their pets with them for a very long time.
If a student decides to own a pet, he or she must deal with start-up costs. Dogs and cats need to be licensed in Madison. According to the Office of the City Treasurer, it costs $8 to license a spayed/neutered cat and $13 for an unspayed/non-neutered one. Dog licenses cost $10 and $15, respectively.
Yet, these start-up fees are small and pale in comparison to the challenge of finding a decent place to live on campus with a pet. Thankfully, the Dane County Humane Society website eases this search by providing a list of apartments in Madison that accept pets.
The cost of caring for a pet can be in the thousands of dollars. PetEducation.com estimates the cost of owning a cat is $862 for the first year and $527 for each following year. For dogs they estimate $1977 for the first year and $807 for each following year. First-year estimates include one-time purchases such as bedding, leashes, collars, vaccinations, licenses and spay/neuter treatments that would not apply later on.
UW-Madison junior Sara Gensmer owns a cat named Meena and lives with a roommate who owns another cat, as well. She said she spends $10 a week for food and litter. The weekly costs of having a cat are not what she worries about most.
'It's the big expenses that hit you hard,' Gensmer said. She explained that Meena had gotten sick in the past, and she has had to pay for unexpected vet visits. Gensmer suggests that pet owners set aside around $150 for when pets get sick.
'Cats like to get sick when you can least afford it. Just seeing a vet can cost $50,' Gensmer added.
People often go to great lengths to ensure their pet is healthy. The UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine has been overwhelmed with requests since 1998 to help treat dogs diagnosed with melanoma with an experimental anti-cancer vaccine, according to a press release. Owners from all over the nation have wanted to help their pet through the study, even if it is still an experimental treatment. Other forms of cancer treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
For those looking to keep their pets with them for a very long time, cloning might be a consideration. Genetic Savings and Clone say they are 'cloning cats today and dogs tomorrow.' GSC offers PetBank services that save a pet's DNA to clone later, according to the company's website. PetBank services start at $295 with a $100 annual gene-storage fee. For $32,000 GSC can clone a cat, with the PetBank fees deducted from the cost. Cloning may not be suitable for a student budget, but the option to keep your pet forever is out there.
Cloning aside, the everyday monetary and time costs are outweighed by the values that pet owners find in their companions. UW-Madison senior Kat Neumeister cares for a cat and enjoys having it even with the expenses and constraints that come with owning a pet. She noted that she loves having a cat even though she sometimes must rely on friends to watch it for her when she's away.
Gensmer also expressed her joy in owning a cat.
'I'm an animal lover, so having animals around just makes me happy, and it is worth all the work,' she said. 'They are fun to watch and fun to play with.'
While pet ownership may be a little bit more of a strain on the wallet, it seems to be made up for with comfort and companionship.
