By JOHN SCHLANDER, St. Petersburg Times

As dog and cat owners know, pet-care costs can add up quickly. I recently wrote about how my affectionate bichon frise, Mojo, is costing an average of $2,000 annually, half of which goes to veterinary care and special-order food.Which brings me to pet health insurance: Good deal or not?Gauge your situation

TIERRA VERDE, Fla. -- On Nov. 19, 2004, I wrote a $600 check to a Seminole breeder and brought home a whimpering bichon frise puppy that my wife named Mojo.Three days later, our veterinarian checked him, implanted a microchip and supplied his medications. First vet bill: $96.50. Lana, my organized wife, filed the bill in a folder that would soon get thicker and thicker.