Canine costs in Evanston: How expensive is it to own a dog? – Evanston RoundTableCanine costs in Evanston: How expensive is it to own a dog? – Evanston RoundTable

Credit: Graphic by Jasper Davidoff / Evanston RoundTable

What is a dog’s life like within Evanston?  

And what does it take financially to own a puppy in Evanston? How much is it likely to set you back? In these inflationary times, the RoundTable thought it was the good time to examine the particular situation.  

This is neither a scientific study nor a replication of anyone else’s study.  

The price of each category will be influenced by specific factors individually or in combination, such as the age, breed, size and congenital conditions associated with the dog. As with any product or service not monopolized by the single provider, price is usually affected by the quality of the ingredients as well while more elusive factors such as packaging and corporate advertising.  


According to information provided by the City of Evanston, licensed pet ownership has decreased simply by 45% between 2018 and this year. In 2018, there were 2, 629 licensed dogs and cats in Evanston. Thus far in 2022, 1, 810 pets have been licensed. This decrease also translates into a similar drop in fee revenue: $31, 945 in 2018 compared in order to $19, 285 in 2022.

In short, there are many options, enough to satisfy every budget. The idea here was to identify within chronological order the general costs associated with an Evanston’s dog’s life plus point out some local stores and people that can fulfill those needs, both of the dog and the dog’s humans. It is not a good exhaustive list by any means.

Special conditions like being a puppy, pregnant, nursing, extremely sick or even being a senior dog are not addressed specifically, although the resources cited can usually provide whatever is needed.  

Obtaining a shelter dog

Price ranges from $250-$350 per canine.

Evanston Animal Shelter has canines available for immediate adoption. Fees in order to cover their costs, mainly to cover veterinary care and food, range from $250-$350 per dog.  

(As an aside, the EAS also can assist pet owners struggling to treatment for their own dogs due to the owner’s short-term health care issues or their own financial difficulties. ) 

City license f ees

Price is definitely $10-15 per dog plus proof of rabies vaccination.  

Law-abiding Evanston residents who own the dog or even cat aged four months or older are required to obtain a license for their pet and renew their particular animal’s annual rabies vaccination.   Indoor pets are also required to have licenses. Licenses require a certificate with evidence of the pet’s current rabies tag number and the particular vaccination’s date of expiration. Per the city’s website , “The annual cost is $10 if the particular pet can be neutered or spayed plus $15 if not altered. ”  

This 12 months, dogs represent 80% associated with the permit issued. Neutered dogs outnumber ‘unaltered’ dogs by nearly 6 to 1. The quantity of unaltered dogs and cats have dropped since 2018 when they represented 45% of certified pets. This year they symbolize 13% from the total.  

Pet insurance

Price varies based on age, breed, sex plus congenital conditions.

Pet insurance can offer significant savings if your own dog requirements expensive veterinary care due to illness or an accident. Some even cover routine dental care. Costs vary by breed, age group of the dog, pre-existing conditions and the amount of the particular deductible. Forbes Advisor evaluated and compared 13 brands of dog insurance.  

There are two Evanston ordinances dog owners must follow: leashing and proper waste disposal.

Ordinance 9-4-7 requires owners to leash their canine when out in public plus to keep the dog out of public beaches and school playgrounds. A regular-sized collar and 5’ leash can be purchased for less than $20 in shops. Prices with regard to leashes increase depending on their length, material, degree of personalization and more.

Ordinance 9-4-12 mandates that proprietors pick up their own dog’s waste materials and dispose of dog feces properly. A year’s supply of bags regarding disposing of canine waste costs approximately 20 dollars to $60.
Citations issued and fines assessed for those caught not following either ordinance vary from $20 to $125. Since 2018, there have been 131 citations issued for unleashed dogs plus one intended for improper waste disposal. Per the city, “All code citations must be signed by a complainant, along with the officer/animal warden who personally witnesses or the complaining witness who personally witnessed offense. ” 

Veterinary care

Cost varies, but approximately $585 annually.

Evanston is certainly home in order to six veterinary hospitals capable of performing surgery.  

Veterinary treatment is essential to maintaining the health of your pet. Minimal expenses to expect include:  

  • a wellness exam ($62-$90) once or twice a year;  
  • lab costs to analyze the fecal sample ($39-$50) and routine blood work ($90-$250, varies based on the panel), which requires a blood draw;
  • a monthly pill in order to prevent heartworm, ticks, plus hookworm ($292-$342, depending on the size of the dog); and 
  • preventative vaccines to protect against bordetella ($30-$42), rabies ($44-$69 every three years, which includes the medallion) and DHLPP ($28-$60), an acronym representing five different diseases (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus).  

The three-year rabies vaccine will reward the owner and dog with the collar tag from Cook County proving the dog’s coverage; the particular fee is collected simply by the veterinarian administering the vaccine.

Veterinary dental hygiene

Price varies based upon size plus level of disease.  

Even diligent owners that brush their particular dog’s teeth regularly may find the need to seek vet dental care to combat periodontal illness and gingivitis. Dental care is more costly than a regular exam because the dog must be anesthetized. Routine blood work is typically required the particular week before, which is another expense.  

A dental veterinary examination will usually include radiographs (x-rays), cleaning and scaling of tooth, an test by the doctor and possibly extractions or preventive treatments.  

Costs vary from the sizing of the dog, extent associated with any dental care disease, and the number of extractions, in case needed. Some practices prefer to complete work over multiple visits. A few veterinarians offer discounts during February, National Pet Dental Health month.

Dog meals, treats plus dental bones

Assume $700 per year, give or even take.

Vicky Pasenko, director from the Evanston Pet shelter, said, “Our main canine food brand is Diamond Natural … we purchase it in bulk from a distributor. We decided on it years ago because it will be moderately priced dog foods that gets decent reviews. Since we have been using it, I don’t believe there have been any kind of recalls. ” 

Two stores focus on natural family pet foods: both Pet People by Hollywood Feed (2672 Green Bay Road) and Bentley’s Pet Stuff (743 Chicago Ave. ) offer a wide array of natural food and dog-related products.  

Trader Joe’s offers its own array of pet treats including cookies shaped as doggy bones that are grain-free and made with peanut butter and banana.

A conversation with Todd and Tamara Tabal, owners of Dog Supplies Plus at 1916 Dempster St ., shed a few insights into the purchasing patterns of pet owners they’ve observed in the six years they’ve been inside town.


To estimate annual feeding costs to get a 30-pound dog associated with average weight, health plus middle age (not the puppy and not a senior), the RoundTable assumed daily consumption of two cups of kibble (Diamond Natural, chicken and rice), a couple of treats (Trader Joe’s) and one dental bone (Greenie’s). Presume retail purchases at local stores without taking advantage of sales or promotions.

One cup of kibble weighs 100 grams, for each the manufacturer’s website. A 40-lb bag of kibble weighs 18, 144 grams, or 181 servings, or enough meals for 90 days.

The popularity of the particular product is not dictated with the size of the dog or even its breed of dog. In Todd Tabal’s experience, “People buy the best product they can afford. ” Pet foods created using food humans could eat will be common. Tabal jokes, “Some of these dogs eat better than my wife plus I do. ” Reading the labels of ingredients one can find bison, lamb, quail eggs, wild boar, venison, beef hearts and much more.

Owners may purchase food that is kosher, vegetarian, grain-free, high protein, made with exotic meats, depending on kibble size, based on the dog’s age or the dog’s size. Given the constant influx of new products presented in the pet food marketplace, it’s likely Tabal can find a product that will fit an owner’s specifications or satisfy a picky eater..  

Perhaps the biggest change both the Tabals have observed is how the particular behavior of owners today differs compared to pet owners they remember as children: the humanization of animals. Today’s pets are treated as members of the family if not de facto children.    

Incidental expenses

Prices vary.

The cost for dog crates and crate pads, purchased separately but priced here as an unit, start at approximately $70 with regard to small dogs and increase proportionally to about $200 for extra-large crates and crate pads. Dog beds start at $25 at Target.  

Do you own a boat and like to bring your dog onboard? Consider a dog life jacket. Are you devoted to the team or even school? Chances are your dog can wear your obsession.  

If you are motivated in order to capture your dog’s likeness with a new professional photography session, Evanston is home to David Sutton Studios . Sutton has spent his career focusing on photographing animals along with their humans.  

The list is endless regarding items, services and experiences one can purchase for a beloved dog.  

Grooming

Prices vary from $12 to $100.  

If you prefer to outsource your dog’s grooming, there are numerous options from which to choose ranging from straightforward nail trims to be able to specialty rinses, hot oil treatments plus massage.  

Dogtopia (900 Clark St ) offers an extensive spa services menu; costs for haircuts and bathing vary depending on typically the size associated with the canine. Haircuts include a wash, blow dry, facial (Yes, really. A blueberry facial, no less. ), toenail trim (or grind) in addition to ear cleaning. Prices range between $70-100; without the haircut, this bath package costs range from $50-65.

If you like to wash your own dog yet don’t want to bother together with the clean up at home, Spotless Dog Wash at 1121 Emerson St. offers an option intended for self-washing ($20 per dog). Spotless Canine Wash provides non-slip mats, “salt-free, PH balanced doggy shampoo, ” blow dryers, microfiber towels and aprons for whomever is washing your dog.

Bentley’s Pet Stuff, Pet Supplies Plus and even Pet People by Hollywood Feed also offer a full set up for owners to wash their dogs ranging from $14-$20.  

Follow Your Nose (917 Chicago Ave. ) offers “compassionate grooming, ” which owner Ramie Gulyas describes as “a fear free salon. It’s all about making sure your own dog will be comfortable using the process so they have a good experience. ” Baths only from $45 together with haircuts start at $55. In an email, Gulyas added, “we are bonded, insured, and additionally trained in pet first aid, CPR, and have over 30 years regarding experience. ”

Á la carte solutions for nail clipping or perhaps grinding, ear cleaning or maybe teeth cleaning range through $12 for you to $19 based on an online review involving websites connected with Dogtopia, Rex’s Place (2120 Ashland Volátil. ) not to mention PetSmart (2122 Oakton Simply had to. ).

Day care and also boarding

Prices from $40 per day and $75 per night .

Tamara Tabal mentions a few products that are all often the rage having customers:  

The first is two containers packed by using 3-foot-long “joysticks” made of either chicken as well as beef. They are $3 each.  

Tablets made out of CBD fat , which are intended to help calm an anxious animal, also are very popular. CBD, or, cannabidiol, is an extract from the marijuana plant and some believe it has anti-anxiety properties, though those effects have yet to be proven. Tabal said that your products give pet proprietors a way to treat animals who get stressed , particularly during travel.

“People plan their own vacations as well as holidays and special events through their pets in mind. Owners want to know, ‘ How can we involve the exact dog or even cat while still keeping them happy? ’ They rely on some with the calming products to do that, ” Tabal said.

If you prefer a group setting for your current dog, doggie daycare might be a good fit. Each provider requires proof for immunizations plus a trial visit to see if the dog has the right temperament to become in a group setting and can get along with other dogs.  

These resources also offer overnight boarding. Prices differ depending on the level of privacy you choose for your pet. Discounts are available utilizing packages to get multiple visits. Each provider requires each dog to be up in order to date with the help of vaccinations as well as the owner to bring the dog’s food pre-portioned by meal for every day about the dog’s stay. They charge additional fees pertaining to early pickup, late pick-up and boarding during specific peak periods and holidays.

  • Dogtopia offers day care starting in $40 each day and boarding at $65 per night time.  
  • PetSmart offers child care starting from $24 daily and boarding for $56 per evening.
  • Rex’s Place offers daycare starting with $40 per day and boarding for $55 per nighttime.
  • Unleashed in Evanston (1908 Greenwood St. ) offers preschool starting on $40 in addition to boarding starting at $75 per nights.  

In-home services

Prices start at $19 .

Embark Animal Club Pet Care will stay overnight during your home with your doggie for $85. They offer dog walking solutions starting for $19 per 30-minute walk and $34 for a 50-minute walk. Follow Your Nose offers housesitting starting located at $105 meant for a 24-hour period and even dog walks starting by $20-$25 based on frequency. The majority of Evanston-based puppy walkers available on Rover. com charge 20 dollars per stroll.

End-of-life care

Costs range coming from $120 to be able to $425 or perhaps more.

Veterinary hospitals offer euthanasia starting found at $120. Lap of Love is some sort of network in veterinarians offering home-based hospice and euthanasia services. The particular price designed for euthanasia starts at $425. In both scenarios, hospital and at house, there are extra costs just for cremation influenced by weight of the dog and if the cremation is usually private or maybe part of a good group.

Adding it all up

The bareboned costs from owning your dog inside Evanston – basic veterinary care together with food – is around $1, 464. This does not really include pet insurance premiums, dental care, grooming, or paying others for you to walk, play with or take care of your pet during the day as well as overnight. Most dog owners are likely to spend more.

If a person choose to help indulge your own personal dog, you are not alone.  

A Forbes Advisor survey released within August 2022 ranks Illinois tenth in the nation for the purpose of states with spoiled canines with some score of 35. 65. New York is first with a score of 44. 95 and additionally South Dakota is last with a score of 24. 75. Typically the survey measures things like how much money owners spend on canine outfits, birthday parties, homemade food, specialty food in the restaurants, healthcare and tidying. Some pet owners admit to spending more on their pet dog than their particular significant some other.  

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