We don't have any pets right now because of heavy responsibilities to others that could cause us to have to board the animal(s) for extended periods--unacceptable stress to the animals in my opinion plus expenses we cannot easily incur--and vet bills cost you several hundred dollars for a routine examination and shots here. Grooming fees are also very high and a dog that needs professional grooming is often traumatized by the process.
But when we have had cat, gerbils, dogs whatever in the past, these were members of the family and treated as such. Everybody wanted to be our dog.
I don't want to be demonized or accused of being an animal hater because we choose not to have to deal with all that right now.