Finding the right balance is challenging (just as with human healthcare).

I can't believe that they only pay 61 cents for the rabies vaccine. It always cost's us $60 or more to have them done!

When I got my puppy she was from a holistic breeder. A condition of the sale was I had to get her spayed. When I got her spayed the Vet said he wouldn't do it unless she was up to date on her vaccinations. So I got her her rabies, distemper and whatever else there was. She's almost three now and has not had any vaccinations since and she's a healthy happy little dog.

We're going to be getting shelter kitties, so they'll have gotten the first round of vaccinations. After that, though, we're going to be looking very closely and very carefully at which vaccines really make sense for us.