By CHRISTINE LINES

My second cat was five months old when I adopted her. That tiny, fluffy kitten with big ears was irresistible. I only paid $75 for her initially, but by the end of the month she had cost over $500 in booster shots, eye medication, Revolution heartworm medication and other vet bills. 

That wasn't the end of it; I knew she would need other vaccines and shots before she turned a year old.

I hear students talking about adopting pets all the time. Caty Dickensheets asked in her personal column, "Having a pet isn't all fun and games," to seriously consider whether you have the time or patience to take care of another life. The more serious question is whether you can afford to.

Let's be clear: if you have a pet, you must take it to a vet.

Pets need vaccines and other preventative care at least once a year whether they are outdoor or indoor animals. For a responsible pet owner, these are not optional. 

Puppies and kittens need their first shots within months of birth, and it doesn't stop there; rabies and distemper vaccines, flea and heartworm medication, and micro-chipping are just a few other investments. 

Don't be surprised if you spend up to $100 for one shot or a three-month pack of heartworm medication. You can find a list of vaccines and times for vaccination on PetEducation.com.

The most important investment for your pet: getting them fixed. Dickensheets accurately described the Athens Area Humane Society as a "No-Kill" shelter - and it's overcrowded. The last time I saw the cats in the back of Pet Supplies Plus, the cages were full and an AAHS volunteer offered me a cat for only $35, saying they had too many. 

Adopting a pet can help overpopulated shelters, but spaying or neutering your pet can prevent them from getting overpopulated in the first place. If you want your pet to live a long, healthy life, then get it fixed. The AAHS Web site lists many health benefits of alteration, such as cancer prevention, decreased aggression in males and longer life span. 

It also says, "spaying and neutering has a ripple effect - two unaltered cats and their litters could produce over 420,000 animals in seven years; but a simple surgery can prevent this from happening." This is why places like the AAHS shelter are overcrowded. 

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, fixing pets can prevent the deaths of millions of feral dogs and cats each year. An online article "Why Spay or Neuter?" says, "rarely surviving for more than a few years on their own, strays die painfully by starvation, disease, freezing or being hit by cars." If you have an unaltered pet, I hope the next time you see a dead cat on the side of the road you decide to fix it.

Joel Lopez, the ASPCA's Administrative and Outreach Manager, says "there really are no disadvantages" when it comes to fixing pets. 

"Lack of education contributes significantly to pets not being spayed or neutered. However, as soon as people learn of the health and behavior benefits, as well as helping with overpopulation, the buy in is significant."

You'll be happy to know such an important investment is affordable. The Athens Regional Spay and Neuter Center in Watkinsville offers low-cost spaying and neutering services open to pets and humanely trapped feral cats. 

For dogs, neutering is $55 while spaying is $65. Cats can be neutered for $35 or spayed for $45. The surgery can be performed within one day and the recovery period is seven to 10 days. The Spay and Neuter Center can be reached at 1-888-348-4448 Ext. 2.

This is what having a pet comes down to: time, money and patience. If you are lacking any of these, don't get a pet. And if you do have a pet, be a responsible pet owner and give it the love and care it needs.