Having a dog is good for you. For at least half of the 50,000 years that modern humans have existed, it has been with dogs. Before we started breeding dogs specifically as companions, their survival depended on being well-adjusted to the moods and behaviors of the humans they joined on hunts. Dogs became natural support systems for humans during domestication.
Modern science recognizes the benefits of our moods. Dogs have been shown to increase physical activity in people who might otherwise be sedentary. Dogs can help lower personal, professional, and governmental medical costs. As more Americans adopt dogs, we have the potential to become a healthier nation.
Dogs are expensive like many preventatives. Dog food prices are going up. Group classes for basic obedience training cost around $50 an hour. Training a dog for support or therapy purposes is more expensive than training a dog for a health problem. The most expensive item is vet care, which owners have the least control over. Between doctors fees and vaccines, a routine visit can cost between $700 and $1,500 a year. There are emergencies. Most American dog owners can't afford emergency vet care. Emergency pet surgeries are a popular category.
I would like to propose that the time is right for universal vet care because the world is becoming increasingly stressed out with which dogs are uniquely positioned to help.
Universal medical care for humans is something we should have. People need their medical bills taken care of first if they choose one or the other. One of the most divisive topics in the country is healthcare reform, and our politicians are not going to agree on it anytime soon. People seem to agree on dogs across the political spectrum. If researchers agree that dogs make for a healthier America, and Americans love dogs, then healthcare reform for our pets could be the way towards a more unified conversation about healthier lives for all of us.
There are many similarities between human and pet health care. The pet insurance industry is not as good as it could be. Since the start of the Pandemic, it has experienced double-digit growth as families try to plan for emergencies for their pets. Most insurance doesn't cover routine visits, vaccines or pre-existing conditions, so it's a little help for owners who adopt dogs with special needs or those who are looking for a new plan for their ill pet. It can cost up to $155 per month to get more comprehensive coverage. Monthly premiums for dogs are double those for cats regardless of the price point. Cats are more prone to diseases than dogs.
The most important question rescues and shelters pose to potential adoptive parents is: can you afford to take your dog to the vet? To prove that one is able to take care of a dog's medical needs, one pays a rehoming fee, which is usually around $500 on average. The US has four hundred thousand dogs euthanized each year. The irony of this is that people who are struggling to maintain basic stability are the ones who may have a harder time paying the fee and for subsequent care. The introduction of dog programs into at risk populations has been a huge success. The recidivism rate for inmates who worked with animals in training programs is much lower. Therapy dogs work in long-term care environments like nursing homes and dog training programs rehabilitate at risk youth. Service dogs can help alleviate depression, anxiety, and addiction. It is unfair that you have to pay for a therapy dog if you already have a therapy dog.
It is clear that dog owners get out of having their dogs near. People are buying high-tech pet cameras in order to stay connected while apart, and the dog portrait industry is booming. Some people buy homes to give their dogs better lives. Many are fighting for more dog-friendly environments, from the workplace to college dorms to subways. Many people refer to their pets as their own parents. The next frontier of dogs should be affordable veterinary care.
We don't all need the latest fancy dog food delivered to our door and there are many expenses when it comes to dogs. Those who want to live with dogs shouldn't have to worry about how to pay their medical bills. Life with a dog is not a luxury.
