The RSPCA has calculated that 61 per cent of Australian households have at least one pet.
This figure has increased during the various lockdowns experienced by each state due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in which many people have adopted or bought new companions.
This trend has also been observed in Brisbane’s Italian community.
Diletta, a new mother who is also studying sociology, said her family has adopted a kitten during the pandemic.
“Taking care of an animal gave me the opportunity to distract myself, and I found that it calmed me,” she explained.
Meanwhile, newlyweds Elena and Michele had long envisioned owning a dog but struggled to make their dream a reality.
“We’d always wanted a golden retriever,” Elena said.
“The prices have almost doubled over the last year, going from $3000 to $5000 for a puppy.
“We both have great jobs, but insurance for a dog could cost up to $80 a week, and it would only cover 60 per cent of bills in the case of an emergency, so we gave up looking.”
Giulia Agostini, a veterinarian in Brisbane who specialises in intensive care, said owning a pet can be expensive.
“Pets can accrue considerable costs,” she said.
“It’s not just a question of the initial cost; even if you adopt the maintenance, medical and insurance fees really do add up.
“A visit to intensive care could cost a pet owner up to $15,000.
“Many people don’t understand that animal hospitals work exactly as they do for human hospitals, and that there are equivalent specialists.
“The number of qualified staff is low compared to the number of animals who need care.”
Laura Di Gregorio, who has just returned from Rome to live permanently in Brisbane, talked about the transportation fees for travelling with pets.
“It cost us more than $3000 to bring our dog, Olivia, back to Italy, and it caused her a lot of distress,” she said.
“I couldn’t have left her in Australia, she’s my daughter’s dog.”
The Lobino family went through a similar experience when they returned to Italy for work.
“We’re spending about $2500 for a one-way ticket for our two cats,” they said.
“It’s practically the cost of tickets for two people, but we couldn’t leave two members of our family behind!”
Another important factor to consider is one’s housing situation.
Italian real estate developer, Henry Vecchio, noted that the pandemic has exacerbated multiple problems in the sector.
“Property prices in Brisbane have soared during the pandemic, because so many people have moved to Queensland from New South Wales and Victoria,” he said.
“As a result, rent prices have risen and the competition for properties with long rental agreements is extraordinary.”
This has affected many families and, in many cases, owning a pet can be a deterrent for landlords.
Enrico, who is divorced with two children, admitted that he struggled to find long-term accommodation in Brisbane.
“The rental market began to deteriorate in January 2020,” he said.
“I noticed that for each house I looked at, there were around 30 families interested.
“We finally found a house that has a two-year lease.
“Having a pet certainly doesn’t help; many landlords favour families with no pets over other applicants.”
Despite the difficulties, many people in the Italian community love to own pets, but Agostini has issued a stark warning to those considering purchasing an animal on a whim.
“It’s an important responsibility that must be carefully considered,” she said.
“However trivial it might seem, it’s a choice that may have serious financial implications down the line.”
