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The only thing better than a playful puppy is a big dog who has gathered all the wisdom necessary to graduate from good boy to great boy. Such is Puffy, a 14-year-old girl with a heart of gold.
He has been with his wife Cristina Rodero Sales since childhood. So when Rodero Sales moved to Brooklyn after graduating college, Puffy was by her side. Today, almost a year later, she loves having her furry friend join her on new adventures. But this opportunity did not come at an unexpected cost and sacrifice.
A little more help
Puffy is almost ready for the quinceañera. This means he needs extra care to maintain his health and improve his quality of life – and it’s not cheap.
Rodero Sales has a state-of-the-art home setup: two separate baby cameras installed to monitor Puffy while she’s at work, special bowls that come with stands so she can access her food and water, a dog stroller for walking around town, and a small ramp (she built herself!) Puffy’s apartment. To help you get different points. Rodero Sales estimated that these adjustments saved about $300.
In addition, Rodero’s sale also deals with regular expenses—especially Puffy’s special kibble that helps stave off dementia and Pep Pads…which she strategically places in case of an accident. These costs about $120 a month, and another $100 every few months for the groom. These costs do not include unexpected vet visits, which, at Puffy’s age, will be frequent.
Health care, amirite?
We already know that healthcare is unaffordable in this country, but did you know that dogs (and their owners) are in serious trouble? Puffy developed age-related health problems—including arthritis, mild heart disease, and pulmonary hypertension.
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In the past four months, Rodero Sales has taken her dog to the vet four times. “I’ll sort them out by gravity,” she said. “Let’s say there’s a really crazy emergency and an overnight stay in the hospital. Those will be more valuable. So it goes from $1,200—and I haven’t gotten this yet—to $3,000.” A less serious visit, including things like X-rays, shots or medications, costs $300 to $600.
These veterinary costs have become a heavy burden on Rodero’s sales. Pet insurance can reduce some costs, but insurance for a dog of this age can be excluded Pre-existing conditions, making a hard sell. “I was just scared to get the pet insurance, because if they didn’t cover his major conditions, then I didn’t want to add an extra monthly cost,” she said.
Man’s best friend
These hefty price tags are just the beginning of the costs Rodero Sales faces in caring for a senior dog. She doesn’t have the right to work from home, so she has to transfer projects – with overtime pay – because she has to go home and check Puffin. She also has to reign in her social life, because she can’t spend all day and only with her friends, a big responsibility waiting for her at home.
Still, Rodero Sales is happy to have found her friend this past year, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. “Having Puffy means I’m not alone. [He] It has definitely helped my mental health and [provided] “Emotional support,” she said. “That’s what this loneliness gives me. The companionship.”