Food, toys, salon visits and vet: Here is what it costs to keep a pet

Pet ownership is evolving into parenting, prompting some to extend their lavish lifestyles to their companions

- Shipra Singh

Swimming is Dylan’s favourite pursuit. He is a regular visitor to the swimming pool near his house in Bangalore—at least once every fortnight. For a three-year-old, that isn’t asking for much, you did say. Mind you, Dylan is a Labrador. And soon, he will be making a big splash in the sea—Dylan is set to go on a road trip to Goa with his owners, Vasudha Parmeshwar and Devraj Jee (see graphic) this year-end. “We don’t always want to leave him at a pet boarding when we travel. Also, he loves to frolic around in water, so we’re excited to take him to the beach," said Vasudha.

Vasudha is among the many new-age pet owners who go beyond the basics of providing food, shelter and medical care and want their pets to have a luxurious lifestyle. Of course, all of it comes with a pricey tag but that’s no deterrent for these pet owners.

In distant Gurgaon, Priyamvada Biyani and Abhishek Pant (see graphic) buy only five-star quality food and treats and deluxe spa services for their two-year-old Ronnie, a Siberian husky . “We want to give Ronnie the best food, medical care and experiences. For his sake, we are slightly price conscious—we are more inclined to buy expensive, superior quality products that come with good reviews," said Priyamvada, who works with a global consulting firm.

A high disposable income allows the couple to splurge on their adopted pet—they spend a little more than ₹1 lakh annually on Ronnie but that hardly constitutes 5% of their income. “We haven’t yet seen any pet care service in India which is too expensive, so we never have had to budget carefully while spending on him," Priyamvada said. For Vasudha and Devraj, the total cost of Dylan’s ownership is 1-3% of their income.