📑 Pet ownership in America is becoming harder to afford — especially for families already stretched thin.

A recent MetLife survey found that 1 in 5 pet owners carry at least $2,000 in pet debt, and 1 in 7 struggle to meet their own needs while trying to care for a pet. Rover estimates that the lifetime cost of care now tops $35,000 for a dog and $32,000 for a cat.

💰 Nearly a quarter of Americans fear they’ll soon be priced out of pet ownership, and some say their current pet may be their last. Even as costs climb, pets remain a cornerstone of American life — 94 million households now have at least one, up from 82 million just a year ago.

Two-thirds of Americans say pets are part of the American Dream. Many even include them in their wills. But the dream is getting expensive. Owning a large dog now costs over $5,000 a year, and a single ER visit for a cat can run $1,800.

💉 More than half of pet owners admit they’ve skipped or delayed veterinary care because of cost. Most say they couldn’t afford more than $1,000 for a life-saving treatment. Since 2014, vet costs have risen over 60%, fueled by pandemic pet demand and a national shortage of veterinarians.

Pets will always be family — but for many Americans, that love now comes with debt, sacrifice, and the painful fear of being priced out of parenthood altogether.

#CAREequity #CARENews …

One morning, 2yo Zeus couldn’t walk.

His family was living in a DV shelter with four kids, no resources, and a mom who didn’t know where to turn.

💗 But you made sure she didn’t have to go through it alone.

Thanks to the DV shelter that reached out to Downtown Dog Rescue @downtowndogrescue, Direct CARE got Zeus into Los Angeles Veterinary Center @la.veterinary.center, where he was treated for severe inflammation in his hips and knees.

All it took was $313 — and a community that cares.
For only $5 a month, you can help a pup like Zeus.

💙 Use the link in our bio to give back today and help your community move forward. …