My dog was hit by a car yesterday, and now I need to cover at least $3,000 for her care. I used Scratchpay to manage the upfront costs, but I’m feeling quite overwhelmed. I’m relieved that my pup is getting the care she needs and is doing okay, but I’m struggling financially. Although I consider myself relatively well-off for my age, making $75k, I’m also paying $1,500 a month in student loans along with other living expenses, leaving little room for savings. How much do people typically keep saved specifically for pet emergencies? I have a 55-pound dog and a 9-pound cat.
Update: I do have pet insurance, but it’s reimbursement-based. For those suggesting that I shouldn’t have pets if I can’t afford them, I have a $5,000 emergency savings that I had saved up before getting my pets, which was important to me. I just wasn’t expecting to face a $3,000 bill right after returning from vacation. I feel confident in my financial decisions regarding pet ownership and would prefer not to receive further messages about being irresponsible.