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How much is that doggy?
Do you remember the song 'How Much is That Doggie in the Window?' (see lyrics
) While that cute puppy or kitten may have a set purchase price, there is a whole lot more to owning a pet than just buying one! You need to consider the total cost of ownership, or how much it will cost for things like food, trips to the vet, and much more. Some of these costs may be one-time deals, but pet owners will face most of them over and over, throughout the life of the pet. How much is that doggie (or kitty)? You might be surprised!
Your task is to investigate the total cost of owning a dog or a cat. You will decide what type of pet might be best for you. You will discuss what it means to be a responsible owner of a pet.
Brainstorm as many costs of ownership as you can. Remember that these may be repeating costs, like food, or one-time costs, like the purchase price.
Use your ideas from brainstorming to complete the pet price worksheet. You will need to research the price of the pet you wish to purchase. You also need to determine how much you will be spending on your pet weekly, monthly, and yearly. To do this, you will need to determine what kind of expenses your pet will require during his/her lifetime.
You may want to use online pet supply stores like Pet Supply House
or PETsMART
to obtain prices of items.
Now that you've found out the total cost of ownership for your pet, compare those results with your classmates. How did the total cost vary when you changed the life span or the monthly cost of an item? Does a dog or a cat have a higher total cost of ownership? Which student calculated the highest or lowest total cost of ownership and why?
Where you live is very is important in choosing a pet. Pets need room to run and play. Determine what type of home will be best for different animals. You can complete the interactive activity or print a copy and complete it at your desk.
So how much was that doggie or kitty in the window? Is your tail still wagging after seeing how much it might cost?
Take some time to think about what you've learned in this lesson.
You will be paired with a partner to discuss your answers. Discuss with your partner what other items you buy that have costs other than just the initial purchase price. What are some items where total cost of ownership isn't an issue? What items might your parents purchase where total cost of ownership is a consideration? Be prepared to share your thoughts with the entire class.
For a fun language arts activity, complete the Animal Sayings worksheet .
Before you buy any pet, you may want to view the Animated Journeys to learn more about pet ownership and care. Not all pets can live just anywhere!
