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THIS WEEK'S TOPICS:

• 💰 Owning a dog in the US will cost you $28K

• ⚖️ Meet the Judge Judy of dogs

• 🦷 Diagnose dog dental disease in 10 seconds

💰 OWNING A DOG IN THE US WILL COST YOU $28K

For many, the joy of owning a dog is priceless.

The wagging tail, the unconditional love, the companionship – it's hard to put a monetary value on such happiness.

However, when we take a peek into the financial aspects of dog ownership, the numbers can be quite revealing.

According to a recent study by MarketWatch, the average lifetime cost of owning a dog in the US is a staggering $28,801.

This figure varies by state, with 13 states exceeding an average lifetime cost of $30,000.

For perspective, owning a Labrador retriever in California can set you back nearly $35,500 (assuming 11yr lifespan) – that's more than the average down payment on a house across the US in 2023!

On the other end of the spectrum, Oklahomans enjoy the lowest average lifetime cost at $24,855, which is almost 14% ⬇️ lower than the national average.

One of the most significant expenses for dog owners is food. Owners of large dogs, for instance, spend over $446 annually on dog food alone.

But while food costs are somewhat predictable, it's the unforeseen expenses that can catch owners off guard.

Veterinary care, for instance, is a major cost that many underestimate.

Dr. Angela Beal, DVM, an Ohio-based doctor of veterinary medicine with 15 years of experience, highlights that while routine care like vaccines and parasite prevention are often budgeted for, unexpected illnesses or injuries can lead to hefty bills.

The average emergency vet visit, for instance, hovers around $1,500, even with pet insurance.

Heartbreakingly, about 16% of pet owners have lost a pet because they couldn't afford such care. This also accounts for a large amount of dogs that are surrendered to rescues and shelters.

The breed and size of the dog also play a significant role in determining costs.

Larger breeds, naturally, have higher food and medication costs due to their size.

But it's not just about size.

Some breeds, like the French bulldog, despite weighing less than 28 pounds, are frequent vet visitors due to inherent health issues.

So, how can dog owners manage these costs?

One effective way is through pet insurance.

While it does come with a monthly premium, it can cover a significant portion of unexpected veterinary bills, substantially lowering overall costs.

Additionally, dog owners can consider at-home grooming or seeking help from friends and family for dog-sitting to save on some expenses.

While the joys of dog ownership are immeasurable, it's essential to be aware of the financial commitment involved.

By being informed and prepared, dog owners can ensure that their furry friends receive the best care without breaking the bank.

⚖️ MEET THE JUDGE JUDY OF DOGS

Did you know that are are people that specialize in pet custody?

Us either.

But heck, it totally makes sense!

Especially realizing that more and more owners view pets as family.

Like we've said before, we think that very soon, any product or service that exists for humans will exist for dogs.

So meet Karis Nafte, a certified dog behaviorist, who also specializes as a pet custody mediator.

Karis offers a few things:

• Pet custody mediation for separating couples ($250/hr) - She will help you and your ex arrive at a custody agreement that focuses on the needs and well-being of your pets

• A pet custody course for divorce professionals ($695) - Geared toward lawyers or other mediators, this is a 3 part, 5 hour live course that gives people more experience in navigating custody agreements around pets

• General pet behavior consultation ($190/hr) - Being a certified behavior consultant as well, Karis offers online sessions around issues including separation anxiety, aggressive behavior, integrating cats and dogs, and more.

She got into the custody niche after noticing a lot of her clients who needed behavioral help after a divorce.

Many pets were showing stress or anxiety, and being a good health care professional, she tried to understand the source, which led her to the custody plans couples had agreed to.

Some interesting FAQs we came across as well on her site:

Why do I need a mediator specifically for my dogs?

Lawyers and Mediators are experts at knowing the law and arriving at a resolution, unfortunately knowing what the long-term effect on the well-being of the animal is not something they learn about in law school.

When we put our pets' best interest first, finding the right pet custody solution is easy.

My job, as an Animal Behavior expert, is to help my clients establish what the best possibilities are for the pet and come up with a long-term plan that will leave both the pet and the owners with the peace of mind that their animal is taken care of.

What does the law say about pets and divorce?

Every state and country has its own laws, however, in the majority of places pets are considered property.

This means animals are legally ‘something people own’ no different than a table, car or a lamp.

If you end up in court fighting over what will happen with your dog it is likely that a judge will have to make the final decision for you.

Pet Mediation is a good option because, even if you and your ex cannot agree on everything, you can make the decision yourselves about your pet, rather and judge making it for you.

After we work with you what happens? Is the decision then legal?

I will provide you with a written document of the mediated agreement you both come to.

You then take this paper to your divorce professional who can incorporate it into your divorce agreement and ensure it is written in the correct legal language.

Your mediator or attorney will advise you on the rules specific to your area about when the agreement becomes legally binding.

Like we said, this makes sense to us.

Here at Dogonomist we view pups as people, just people with a lot of fur and some weird cleaning habits 😆.

So when going through something as challenging as custody, there needs to be thought and care into the decisions you make and their impact.

🦷 DIAGNOSE DOG DENTAL DISEASE IN 10 SECONDS

Last week we covered HappyBond, the 4th of five winners of Purina's annual Pet Care Innovation Prize.

This week we are talking about the final winner, OraStripdx, who makes a 10 second test for periodontal disease in dogs.

OraStripdx

Unfortunately, periodontal disease is everywhere with dogs.

Cornell's vet program has it pegged that 80% of dogs over 3 years of age have some form of the disease.

And one of the biggest problems?

It's usually not identified until it is in an advanced stage, which makes it harder to treat.

Enter OraStripdx, from PDX Biotech (they could work on some of these names IMHO), a 10-second test to identify periodontal disease in it's early stages.

What's great is this test doesn't require sedation or anesthesia.

The product comes backed by peer reviewed clinical studies, and measures the concentration of thiols, a chemical compound that has been shown to correlate with dental disease.

PDX Biotech improved on earlier versions of the product to bring down the cost and increase the ease of use.

Their initial strategy is to sell directly to vets with the aim of having them include the test in routine visits to get ahead of common dental issues.

Dr. David McClure, the founder of the company, said:

Nice one David.

DOGGYDEX™

Winner 🏆: BITCOIN

Proudly introducing the DoggyDex™, an index comprised of 10 publicly traded companies whose primary focus is the dog/pet industry.

List of tickers used can be found at the very bottom of the newsletter.

The yellow line-plot in the chart represents these companies above (DoggyDex™) and their combined performance against both the S&P 500 and Bitcoin on a weekly basis.

Pawformance is measured by % gains & losses.

• 🎮 Dachshund crushes it at iPad game: Watch this pup use his swift and aggressive paws to get that high score.

• 🦁 Dog gets emotional watching Lion King: This poor dog whimpers at the heartbreaking scene between Simba and Mufasa

• 💅 This dog gets weekly manicures: This cute little pup can’t wait to go to the nail salon to get his paws painted.

DOGGY B-DAY

• $CHWY - Chewy: E-commerce platform for pet supplies

• $IDXX - Idexx Labs: Vet point of care instruments and vet software

• $FRPT - Fresh Pet: Pet food company

• $PETQ - PetIQ: Pet health products and medicines

• $PETS - PetMeds: Online pet pharmacy

• $ZTS - Zoetis: World's largest producer of meds and vaccines for pets and livestock

• $TRUP - Trupanion: Pet insurance company

• $WOOF - Petco Health & Wellness co.: Pet health & wellness company

• $BARK - BarkBox: Subscription service providing dog products, services, and experiences

• $PET - Wag! Group Co.: Tech platform that allows pet owners to connect with industry professionals for services such as, walking, training, etc.