[anonymous]

The cost of owning and caring for a dog has indeed increased, in fact it is the #2 reason why dogs are given up.

Common Surrender Reasons (Dogs) https://www.mspca.org/pet_resources/common-surrender-reasons-dogs/ (click on link for full article, excerpt below)

2) Money. Depending on the animal, dog ownership can be an expensive endeavor. There are the usual costs: food, gear (food dishes, collars, leashes, toys), and medical costs (parasite prevention, wellness exams, and vaccines), but there is also the likeliness of additional expenses. These could be medical costs, including emergency treatment for a trauma, or a disease or other illness that is difficult to diagnose or expensive to treat. Dogs who are destructive might cost their owners hundreds of dollars in replacement furniture and training classes. And there are added expenses, including hiring a dog walker or kennel to care for your dog when you cannot. In many cases, those who surrender for this reason have lost their income, or cannot afford necessary, but expensive medical procedures.