A dog is for life, not just for Christmas. It’s an adage that was coined to remind prospective pet owners of the years of responsibility that come with owning a pet, but if there’s going to be a new furry friend under your tree this Christmas, remember that those years of responsibility also equate to years of expense.

It’s something that former Australian ex-pat Jason Coates, 51, and his husband, Yao-Chung Chang, 44, know all too well. The couple spent $20,000 to bring Valentino, a pug they adopted while living in Japan, back to Australia with them just over a year ago.