02-25-1991 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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p fS.- I I r FINANCING FIDO Bringing up Bowser can cost a bundle. But hey, this is your best friend. spend bmiorns of doOan a year baying mil- Uoas of pels. But tke check you n^ emt to a pet du>p or breeder marks the mere begitming of what you might spend on Ike ttso-minged. dr ugged or tmd^nmsd creature that will soon be sharing your home. Here's a guide to die roakne—eind occasionally esolie expenrn you can expect wd getbils are tremendous* Ijrcny to breed—which maJces them IMlcbttpu InMIal Cost. If you can’t find a neighbor desperate to introduce your child to the joys of ^ ownership, you can get moat mkoes of geitila or hamsters for leas dun $10. Peed end lidplii^ Really, how much can a person spend on such a tiny crea ture? A basic metal cage is less than $20,altbou^thoac with wheels and ladders can coat ISO or more. The little cuties eat only dboot a 09 of food per day and a twofound bag of dry food ($2tol3).witbsoniefrtntandvegeu- hies thrown in. win last a couple d weeks. ping $27ayear—mayte. PfoMs. ThM dfanmuthre critters tend to live only two to five years when raised at home, whidiniaiches the at tention and adoration span of the aver age young pet ownec MlnueM.Tl^‘re dealing with a gesta tion poiod of about 16 days for a ham ster and four wedcs for a gerbiL So if m become the proud owner of a fomalc that has not been restricted to the company of other females in recent wndn, von run the risk ^ ofsoonnvingfDoror five little pets on your r.j LK -* T u They may look great in the pet store, but don’t count on hours of fun watching them play—they're basically noctunud. MRM Some are so small and common they look as if they should be sold by the handful. Exotic ones prized for their plumage can cost hundreds of dollars. Initial C m*. Prices for common birds, such as finches and parakeets, start at less than $20. A hand-raised mynah can cost $200 to $300. and an imported macaw between $500 and $1,200. Food and Udfing. Figure on about $100 for a roomy cage, says Elise ^ Donato, of San Jose, who paid about that much for a cage for Ihiman and Jean, her zebra finches. You’ll need a nest ($5), a water dish ($2 to $4). a cut- tlebone for beak sharpening ($1) and birdseed ($2 a month). Fbod for large birds costs $10 to $25 a month. sounds like a microchip wake-up call: Det-del-dec-det-del-dtt-DEE. Talking birds make passable com panions. They can imitate just about anything—telephones, doorbells, word processor keyboards, even a rhythmi cally creaking rocking chaic MkHMM. You may spend thousands of dollars, but your homeowners or rent ers insurance policy won’t hdp you if disaster strilms. Most standard policies do not cover injuries to or theft of pets. birds will cost you at least $25 to $75 for annual visits to the veterinarian. They should also have their wings clipi^ once or twice a year: Some breeders will do that frM; pet stores and veterinarians charge mxn $2 to $7. Mums . Small birds are inexpensive and live five to ten years—an attractive purchase-price-to-life-span ratio. Also, you may be able toget rid of your alarm clock. The song of the zebra findi stressed out It’s such a problem that Birds USA magazine offm these cures: Give them window views, lake them for drives, bathe them, talk to them, vary their meals. “Make a new meal each night by offering something a little different such as pizza, spa ghetti. omelets, fresh fruits, and casseroles.’’ suggests the magazine. nsN They’re ideal for people whose build ing managers frown on having pets. inMM C mT. Aquarium “Uvesto^” costs won’t si^ your budget less than $10 for guppies tetris, for exam ple; less than $5 for a medley of other common fish. Even exotic apedes can be reasonable: $10 to $20 for sea urchins. $15 to $50 for sea hones. Or you can spend as much as $500 on a purple tang from the Red Sea. Had and ladling. A fishbowl costs makk i»t ep