Paws for thought … can you really afford to get a dog?

Your pooch could set you back £33,000. As we report, it’s a lifetime commitment from food to pet insuranceHow much is that doggie in the window? Before deciding to buy a canine companion, add up the total costs during its lifetime – Ben or Poppy (the two most popular names in 2016) could be more of a drain on your finances than you think.Research by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) found that 98% of pet owners underestimated the lifetime costs, with 12% (2.