New York couple spent $2.9 million building a custom home for their bearded Collie named Buster

Most people will never own a $2.9 million home. Howard and Suze Rubin bought and renovated one for their dog.

“I wouldn’t say we’ve given up part of our life for him, but we’ve changed our life for him,” said Howard to the Wall Street Journal. As for the house? “It is like a party all day for him.”

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The Rubins bought a $1.8 million home in New York after they realized that their current Florida home was too warm for Buster, their nine-year-old bearded Collie. Roughly $2 million in renovations later, they’re putting “Buster’s Retreat” back on the market for $2.9 million.

Here’s what they did to make their house Buster-friendly — and how their pet budget compares to the average pet owner.

This doghouse is expected to fetch a pretty penny on the market

Buster’s home is open and airy — lots of space for the pup to run around, and plenty of windows for the pooch to peer out of.

It has nine televisions — reportedly so that Buster can watch his favorite show, Paw Patrol — and a swimming pool that has two different sun shelves for Buster to lounge in. (Buster doesn’t swim. Neither does Howard — he’s never actually used the pool himself).

Everything from the landscaping to the composite pool deck is designed to keep Buster happy, cool and healthy. They aren’t the only pet parents to take such care for their pet’s real estate: one family designed a “doggy mansion” for his five pups (that they don’t actually use); another couple sold their $15-million home because their dog doesn’t like it.

According to the National Association of Realtors, there are more households with pets than there are households with children. And around 20% of recent homebuyers considered their pet when they were deciding where to live.

Listing agent Sally Slater expects the house to sell quickly. “People are willing to pay a premium for turnkey properties,” she told the Wall Street Journal.

No doubt the house’s pet-friendly renovations will be a draw for many interested buyers.

As some pet parents spend thousands or millions on homes for dogs, others struggle to afford rising vet costs

The Rubins represent the upper arm of a growing K-shaped economy that lets high-income pet owners spend freely on their furry loved ones.

At the same time, pet parents on the lower arm of the K are struggling with quickly increasing vet costs. According to PBS, vet costs have risen by around 60% since 2014. In comparison, overall prices are up by around 40% across that same time period.

In response, pet owners are taking their pets to the vet less than they used to; they’re also increasingly declining recommended services they can’t afford.

“I don’t expect price increases to fall to the level of core inflation, but I do think the market is telling veterinarians they can’t keep raising prices at the same pace,” said John Volk, senior consultant with Brakke Consulting, to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The pet wellness market is taking advantage of wealthy pet owners by marketing expensive treatments to help pets live longer. But it’s possible the same market is catching the lower half of the K-shaped economy, too — promising treatments that could keep older pets outside of the expensive vet’s office.

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