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USA Today
3 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Would you go into debt for your pet? Some couples are.
How far would you go to care for your pet? For some, the cuddles, comfort, and joy they bring are worth going into debt. It's particularly true for 'DINK' couples – those with a dual income and no kids – 94% of whom view their pets as family members, according to a new Insurify survey. Some 68% of these pet parents say they've made financial sacrifices to cover essentials for their furry friends. From taking a second job to stopping savings contributions to skipping medical care for themselves, DINK couples are willing to go a long way for their pets. Kenzie Mollock and Wiley Garren, two married 29-year-olds living in Texas, consider their two-and-a-half-year-old miniature schnauzer mix family. They named her 'Hazelnut Frappuccino Whip Cream Paws,' or 'Hazel' for short. Mollock is a teacher and Garren serves in the U.S. Army. They described their salaries as 'not huge,' but they always make room in the budget for Hazel. 'When I'm happy, she's there. When I'm sad, she's there,' Mollock said. 'Even if my husband's not here because he's at work and he's deployed, my dog is there. And she's happy to see me every time.' More: Owning a pet isn't easy. But these species can make it a little easier How much do DINK couples spend on pets? DINK couples surveyed spend an average of $1,906 per year on their pets; a fraction of the $23,000 parents spent raising a child last year, according to a SoFi report. The most common pet-related monthly costs for these couples are food, treats, and toys. Vet care, medication, and groomers are other common monthly expenses. However, an unexpected vet visit can quickly throw a wrench in pet parents' budgets. The highest vet bill those surveyed have paid is about $1,449, but 13% said they had spent more than $3,000. While that may seem like a lot, DINK pet parents say they would be willing to spend more. Those surveyed said they would spend up to $5,004 for lifesaving treatment and $2,835 per year to care for a pet's chronic health condition. Even that may not be enough. Dr. Amy Fox, a veterinarian at Kinship said she has worked in several specialized animal hospitals where bills sometimes exceeded $10,000 after pets experienced accidents or had severe health conditions. "This can put pet parents in a difficult position when their pet has an unexpected emergency and is another very important reminder to have pet insurance or set up an emergency savings fund for your pets," Fox told USA TODAY. Whatever the cost, some pet owners seem willing to find a way to pay. 'I don't think there is a cap or a limit because you can just finance and pay it off slowly,' Mollock said. What luxury pet items are people buying? It can also be difficult to stick to a budget when your pet is giving you puppy dog eyes. Only 11% of those surveyed said they never splurge on their furry friends. About 20% said they rarely buy non-essentials, 43% said they occasionally splurge, and 26% said they regularly spoil their pets. Some of the most popular luxury items DINK couples buy for their pets include vitamins or supplements, luxury treats, gourmet or organic fresh food. High-end toys and clothing or accessories are also common splurges. Mollock and Garren buy Hazel a salmon-and-rice-flavored dry food for dogs with sensitive skin and stomachs, tick and flea medication, and special bags she can sit in when they run errands or go hiking. They also buy her enrichment toys. 'We usually get her these puzzle boxes, and they can get a little bit expensive. She's so smart and inquisitive,' Mollock said. 'Then you are just kind of buying the next one and the next one. She's outsmarted them all.' What are DINK owners sacrificing for their pets? Even if DINK couples aren't splurging on organic food or outfits for their animals, pet-related expenses can put a dent in their budgets. While 32% said they had never made financial sacrifices for a pet, 34% said they worked extra hours or took a second job to cover costs and 33% said they took on credit card or loan debt. The poll also found 29% stopped contributing to savings, 24% delayed paying other bills, and 15% skipped personal medical care. 'Human relationships with cats and dogs have drastically shifted, with a growing focus on animal welfare over the past several decades,' Julia Taliesin, data journalist at Insurify, told USA TODAY. 'Pet owners care for their pets on a personal level, making it easier for them to excuse splurges for the sake of their pet's welfare.' Some sacrifices are hard to measure, like the time spent training a dog to stop begging for food or from chewing through another pair of shoes. And training doesn't always end when puppies or kittens grow up. As they get older, their personalities can change and issues can arise. Dr. Valli Parthasarathy, another veterinarian at Kinship, advises owners be prepared for unwanted behaviors to start at any age and work with a vet or experienced trainer when they do. Do pets replace children for DINK couples? While 'fur babies' are a welcome addition to the family, 39% of DINK pet owners surveyed said they do plan on having children someday. But 17% said raising children is too expensive to ever have them and 15% said they never wanted to have kids. Some 29% said they prefer a lifestyle that allows for more freedom. Of those surveyed, 22% said they need to improve their financial situation before having children, and 5% cited medical or fertility issues as the reason they don't have kids. For Mollock and Garren, having kids isn't a priority right now. 'We're still trying to find our way in life,' Garren said. 'We need to bring a kid into an environment where we have more things figured out than less.' In the meantime, Hazel is 'something to take care of, similar to a baby,' he said. 'We consider her family.' Reach Rachel Barber at rbarber@ and follow her on X @rachelbarber_
CNA
09-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNA
From peepholes to dog baths: How Singapore 'pawrents' are renovating with pets in mind
You've heard of childproofing your home, but for many DINK (dual income, no kids) couples in Singapore, it's their pets that take priority. What starts with practical tweaks like meshed windows and swapping out leather sofas for fabric ones often intensifies when homeowners get the chance to renovate from scratch. That's when pet-friendly additions go beyond safety and convenience, turning into full-fledged design features tailored for the comfort and chaos of their furry freeloaders. In this article, interior designers in Singapore reveal how they've put pets at the heart of their projects, sharing clever ideas, practical tips, and essential basics for a pet-centric space. ROOM WITH A VIEW Ruby Low has yet to attain DINKWAD (dual income, no kids, with a dog) status, but that hasn't stopped the founder of Tofu Design from incorporating dog-friendly features in her own home. Step up to the front door of Ruby's 4-room BTO flat in Punggol and you'll spot something a little unexpected: A custom-made Dutch door. It's a popular pick for those who want ventilation without giving up privacy or a secure barrier for kids and pets. But Ruby had something else in mind – she swapped out the usual steel for glass. 'The Dutch door will allow our future dog to see and interact with the outside world while staying safe,' she said. While the Dutch door eagerly awaits the verdict of their future dog, it has proven to be a hit among most four-legged visitors. Dogs love it, and so do neighbours and passers-by, including delivery riders who often comment on the handy little ledge they've added. No more parcels left in the riser or takeout bags dangling precariously from the gate. 'People are always curious about the gate and they always ask me where I got it. It's the first time they have ever seen something like this, and they think it's a great idea,' Low quipped. While her Dutch door splits in the middle, the designer suggests adjusting the proportions to suit your dog's size. To keep a lanky or sneaky dog from making a great escape, make sure the ledge isn't too low and don't skimp on a sturdy latch. Of course, keeping a pet behind closed doors doesn't mean they have to miss out on the action. Knowing how nosey dogs can be, the couple added a whimsical detail: Peepholes along the corridor walls. 'Most of our friends' dogs are always quite curious about what is behind the door. It's adorable to see them looking through the peephole from time to time!' They're functional too, letting their pup sneak a peek without straying into off-limit areas, like dinner parties where scraps may be up for grabs. A SERVICE YARD THAT SERVES While peepholes were the answer for one couple, another household took things even further: They removed nearly every wall in sight to give two senior Singapore Specials the run of the place. But the real standout feature is tucked away in the service yard: A purpose-built dog bath that anyone who's ever wrestled with a pup in a regular shower will envy. To make bath time ergonomic and safe, Kristie Yong, their interior designer from Lemonfridge Studio, got the dimensions down pat by factoring in the homeowner's height and the dog's size. According to her, the real challenge was blending form and function – finding sturdy materials that could take a beating but still match the home's design, so they could slave away in style. 'We chose coloured and patterned tiles to add a playful and inviting touch to the dog bath area. The glossy mosaic tiles also serve a functional purpose by hiding water spots and minor stains, ensuring the area looks clean and fresh even with frequent use,' Yong explained. To keep bath time safe, especially for senior dogs, non-slip flooring and proper drainage are non-negotiables. A handheld showerhead offers more control with squirmy dogs, and chrome fixtures make an easy-to-clean choice that can take a few scratches in stride. VIP (VERY IMPORTANT PUP) TREATMENT If you've got space to spare, why stop at a dog bath? In their sprawling 2,465 sq ft penthouse, one family went big and carved out a swanky mudroom for their dogs, complete with a shower and drying table for the VIP treatment. 'One of their puppies is more reserved in nature, so the client prefers to have the groomer over and shower and style them at the house,' shared Colette Tsai from The Interior Lab, who designed this project. In their old place, bath time meant squeezing into a makeshift shower that barely did the job. This time around, they customised a shower for their long-bodied Shetland, who's built like a toddler and just as restless. To keep him from squirming too much mid-bath, it was designed to be rectangular instead of square. 'Since the space is narrower, the pup would be confined in the dedicated space while being showered.' Two openings – one to enter, one to exit – made the layout flow better, but the materials were a tougher call to make. Tsai and the homeowners debated between solid walls, which were sturdy but required the dog to hop in, and glass, which made for easier access but wasn't the safest bet. In the end, they settled on a hybrid arrangement with three solid sides and one tempered shower screen. Tsai made the shower safer by choosing anti-slip tiles with generous grout lines for better traction. Subway tiles seemed like the obvious choice – until she saw how much they cost. In the end, she went with precast options that were more affordable and easier to maintain. 'The grout was also precasted with the same finish as the tile. So unlike the normal grout that can be quite difficult to clean, these turn sparkly with a gentle scrub.' The attention to pet-friendly design didn't stop at the mudroom. Remembering how their dogs used to slip and slide in their previous place, the couple ditched vinyl flooring for tiles that offered better grip during playtime. 'We found a wooden colour that fit perfectly in the house and which also matched their dogs' coats, so fur won't be too noticeable when they shed,' Tsai added. Tiles are great for little dogs with big energy, she said – but that doesn't mean you need to break the bank. If your dog's more of a gentle giant, vinyl flooring works just fine. Just avoid parquet, she cautioned, as it's 'very sensitive to liquid, stains and scratches.' PLAYGROUNDS FOR PAWS AND CLAWS Not a dog person? No problem. Pet-friendly spaces work for all kinds of companions whether they're furry or feathered. Take this four-room resale HDB flat in Woodlands, in which interior designer Lucas Ngan created a bird enclosure for two parrots and a wall-mounted playground for two cats. 'This was one of the first projects where I had to integrate spaces for both feline and aviary companions. As someone who only had low-maintenance pets like terrapins growing up, I learned a lot from the homeowners,' Ngan said. In the bedroom, he maximised every inch by turning the space beneath the window into a sleek bench for stashing cat beds and accessories out of sight. Ngan took care to ensure the built-ins were well-sized, ventilated, and easy to clean. But as he candidly admitted, the cats weren't quite as impressed as their humans were. 'Last I checked, they were curled up under the bed sheets half the time,' he laughed. 'As many cat owners will understand, cats ultimately choose their own favourite spots. Since pets often settle into new habits once they've made themselves at home, Lucas advises against diving straight into permanent built-ins. Instead, he recommends modular setups that can adapt as your pet's routines evolve. That said, there's no harm in sharing your pet's habits with your interior designer from the beginning. 'This lays the groundwork for creative solutions that cater to both humans and their companions. Some might even say the pet is the true owner of the home!' GET THE BASICS RIGHT Bells and whistles aside, there are some fundamentals every pet owner should consider when planning a pet-friendly home. Practical choices can go a long way in making a space functional, safe and easy to maintain. For interior designer Joshua Wee, co-founder of Threehaus Works and proud paw-rent to a five-year-old Corgi-Sheltie mix, good spatial planning is half the battle won. 'When it comes to space layout, I'll always try to allocate a space for a bed, a pee pad and a shower,' he shared. 'Joji (his dog) loves the study room where her dog bed is. She likes to soak up the sunlight and laze on the floor.' Just as you would plan ahead for things like a robot vacuum or laundry hamper, it's worth carving out space for your pet's daily needs. Otherwise, they might end up cluttering the home and disrupting your daily flow. Safety, too, was a top priority in his own home. He made sure to round off all sharp corners on furniture and built-ins alike – a stylistic choice in many homes that serves a practical purpose in households with pets or children. 'The curves reduce the chances of Joji getting hurt during zoomies or if the kids accidentally bump into things,' Wee added. From the dining table to the master bed, he also opted for built-ins wherever possible. As Joji sheds a lot, keeping dead spaces to a minimum means there are fewer gaps for fur to gather and to clean. Yet, despite the extensive carpentry, the dumbell unit doesn't feel visually heavy. That's thanks to a consistent use of a single laminate finish, which unifies the space and keeps it feeling light and airy. Pet-friendly design doesn't have to be extravagant, and Wee's home is a clear example of that. In fact, he offers a gentle reality check for those tempted to go all out on custom features for their pets. 'Frankly, we all know that pets have a lifespan. I tend to remind clients to keep costs in mind, and that perhaps loose solutions are better than built-in options,' he added.
