Christmas is now less than 2 months away and as many people still buy pets for Christmas for their partner or children, you might want to pause and consider the costs first.

Research by British insurer Petplan claims that a dog will cost $33 900 over a 12 year typical lifespan and a cat $32 600 over 16 years.

So while puppies and kittens are cute they’re for life and the expenses are very real. You need to cover not only food but unexpected vet bills from accidents and sickness, worming and flea tablets, desexing costs, toys, collars, leads, boarding expenses when you go away and grooming.

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An article in The Age yesterday said that the results from an online poll by an Indian car manufacturer found that 53% of women think men driving a ute is sexy.

Of those who perceived men in utes as attractive, 66% said the style of the ute and the condition it is in matters to them as it shows the owner takes pride in their work and appearance.

And if there is a dog in the back of the ute, 15 per cent say it makes the driver even “cuter”.

Only 6 per cent say utes that have been modified or hotted up really do it for them.

So there you have it - dogs in ute’s mean you’re super cute boys!

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