by Richie Bernardo for WalletHub.com
For most of us, pets are part of the family — only furrier or slimier than the relatives we’re used to. This year, more of our animal companions — especially dogs and cats — will probably make it into the holiday greeting card. A record 65 percent, or 79.7 million, American households now own a pet, according to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Association.
But adding a pet to the family roster can strike a hard blow to the wallet. A litany of expenses — including licenses, grooming and medical care — can cost between $235 to nearly $2,000 annually, depending on the type of animal you adopt, which is generally a cheaper option than buying a pet. Health insurance alone can cost more than $200 a year for a dog, and it may not even be worth it.
With current and aspiring pet parents in mind, WalletHub compared the creature-friendliness of the 100 largest U.S. cities across 16 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the minimum pet-care provider rate per visit to the number of pet businesses per capita.
The best city for pets is . . . Cincinnati, Ohio.
The rest of the top 10 are: St. Louis, Missouri . . . Colorado Springs, Colorado . . . Tampa, Florida . . . Richmond, Virginia . . . Tulsa, Oklahoma . . . Las Vegas, Nevada . . . Reno, Nevada . . . Boise, Idaho . . . and Madison, Wisconsin.
Denver came in 15th on the list.
The worst city for pets is . . . Newark, New Jersey.
See the complete list.
