Have you ever seen those heart-wrenching “free pet” ads on your local online marketplace? I sure have — and I’m not ashamed to admit that I fell for the promise of a “free cat.” I don’t regret adopting my little guy from a social media listing and I certainly don’t regret the money I’ve spent on him but it’s safe to say that there’s no such thing as a “free” pet, especially when you factor in a lifetime of food, supplies, vet bills, medical issues, and more.
According to a thread on Quora, this is made even worse the larger the pet gets. You’ll often find “free” horse advertisements. However, before jumping at the chance to fulfill your childhood dream of owning your very own pony, keep in mind that the cost of owning a horse comes in at around $15,000 per year.
