Vet fees too high? She spent $30,000 to treat her dog

Medical cost a likely factor behind AVA figures that show more owners dumping their pets

Video producer Denise De Cruz, 25, spent almost $30,000 to treat her Siberian husky Cody who was diagnosed with cancer. The treatment included three blood transfusions. Cody died last November and Miss De Cruz did not regret footing the hefty medical
Video producer Denise De Cruz, 25, spent almost $30,000 to treat her Siberian husky Cody who was diagnosed with cancer. The treatment included three blood transfusions. Cody died last November and Miss De Cruz did not regret footing the hefty medical bill. However, the SPCA said one out of three pet owners who plans to give up, or has given up, his pet does so for reasons linked to cost, usually medical-related. PHOTO: COURTESY OF DENISE DE CRUZ
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When Cody was diagnosed with cancer, her owner spent almost $30,000 on her treatment including three blood transfusions.

The Siberian husky eventually died last November, but video producer Denise De Cruz, 25, never regretted footing the hefty medical bill. "Having Cody made me understand the responsibilities pet owners should be prepared to take on," she said.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on January 20, 2019, with the headline Vet fees too high? She spent $30,000 to treat her dog. Subscribe