When we last had a dog four years ago I was buying 20-lb. bags of Science Diet Small Bites for about $22. Times have changed, as has the product I’m buying.

When I was adopting Abby I was given brochures strongly suggesting I get dog food with as little grain as possible, particularly if it just acted as filler. I ended up with Natural Choice dry food, which Abby seems to like. She’s got European dinner habits, though; she doesn’t really care about eating till 8:00 pm or later.

But this food is expensive! $8.99 for a 4-lb. bag at the commissary! That’s $45 for 20 lbs., double what I was paying in 2008.

I don’t begrudge the cost, but I’m certainly surprised.