You knew we were head-over-heels in love with our animals in this country — and now a new study proves just how much dough we shell out for the dogs and cats in our lives.

Average pet owners in the United States spend more than $2,000 on their animals, as reported by SWNS and Fox News.

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“Research examining the financial commitment of keeping a dog or cat revealed it costs an average of $2,260 to take care of our beloved pets for an entire year alone,” according to the piece. “That means that 10 years of owning a pet costs an owner well over $20K when tallied up.”

Doggone it!

Here are some salient details from the survey of 2,000 cat and dog owners, which was commissioned by VIP Petcare:

  • The majority (65 percent) of pet owners surveyed experienced an unexpected cost due to a pet-related medical emergency.
  • Six in 10 (57 percent) have unfortunately struggled with paying for treatments and surgeries for their pets.
  • A devastated 49 percent reported having to put down a sick pet due to a serious illness of which they were completely unaware.
  • Eighty-four percent of pet owners say they see themselves as “pet parents.”
  • Three-fourths of those surveyed believe there are similarities between raising a pet and raising a child.
  • Over two-thirds (68 percent) of millennials have even raised a pet in preparation for raising a child.
  • Seven in 10 pet owners see their pet as a family member.

Still more fun: “Some [people] even reported taking their pets on vacation and even on dates … Half of the pet owners surveyed have even fed their pets a delicious steak dinner or cooked them a nice homemade meal.”

Related: 10 Most Expensive Dog Breeds in the World

And there is no doubt about the tie-in with personal happiness: “Three-fourths report becoming happier after adopting a pet, and 68 percent believe the animal gives them comfort.”