You don't have to be wealthy to have a pet. I have a kitty with a chronic illness that took 6 years of vet hopping to get a diagnoses. He will be eleven shortly, I have had him since he was only 3 weeks old. I have probably spent right at $10,000 in vet costs since he was 18 months old and that is in addition to regular vet expenses. I am far from wealthy, believe me.