The cost of having pets

Cliff and I have had several discussions about how much money we've spent on dogs in the past few months.  First, Sadie had some sort of problem that was making her heave and puke.  I don't even remember how much it cost... I know it was over $100, though.  
About a week later I thought the same problem had returned, but turns out she'd been fed a pork bone.  It ended up killing her.  The cost of futile efforts to save her, added to the cost of putting her down, was over $200.  
So I went to Wayside Waifs and found my next dog; the adoption fee was $120.  I brought Iris home and she immediately showed signs of kennel cough.  
Turns out it was something worse than kennel cough:  cost, over $200.  Then of course, she needed flea protection and heartworm prevention.  $$$$$. 
Cliff has been very kind, although he personally wouldn't have spent all this money on dogs.  He's the chief money-maker here, so I'm glad he lets me have use of his checkbook.  I won't even mention here how much we spend on Science Diet dog food.   
I told him the other day that it must be old age making me spend so much on dogs, because up until five years ago, there's no way I would have thrown so much money away on any animal.  
And that's when it hit me:  I wouldn't have spent that much money on a pet because we simply didn't have it.  Now, we do.  
The dogs who live here these days just happened to have shown up in the best of times.  In the future, my pets might not be so fortunate.  Cliff obviously won't be able to hold down a job forever.  There will come a time when we will have to live on a fixed income.  
Meanwhile, I am thankful for my husband's generosity.  He doesn't hold it over my head or mention how much I've spent on my dogs, unless I bring it up first.  Even then, he doesn't complain.  


Thanks, Cliff.  I know there are a lot of things you do just because you want me to be happy.  I appreciate that.