About two-thirds of U.S. households now include a pet as one of the family members, and for most people, that relationship is a central part of daily life. But alongside the emotional investment that comes with having a pet, there's a financial one  — and that component is becoming harder to ignore. Whether it's routine care or unexpected emergencies, the cost of keeping a pet healthy and comfortable is climbing, and not always in the ways you'd expect. Pet-related expenses have been surging