Pet Insurance Can Help Cover Costs And Make Life Easier

It is regularly reported that pet insurance can cover the costs of veterinary treatment and that this can make life easier for the pet owner.

In fact, having pet insurance can make all of the difference in some cases, with daunting veterinary costs arising if the owner is not covered in case of an emergency or unforeseen circumstances.

MoneySupermarket.com points to figures released by the RSPCA to back up long held claims of pet insurance meaning life or death for pets in certain situations, drawing attention to results showing a rise in abandoned pets in 2008.

It cites owners struggling to cover the costs associated with veterinary bills as well as food costs which can cause pet owners to abandoning their pets, allowing them to spend money elsewhere.

However, it is not just the RSPCA and MoneySupermarket that are drawing attention to such claims. In December 2008 it was reported by the Times that the financial crisis was leading to an increase in stray dogs as pet owners struggled to make ends meet.

Prior to Christmas it claimed that Battersea Dogs and Cats Home was nearing full capacity for the first time in its history. It seemed that as budgets began to tighten, the most costly features of the household were first to be abandoned. This is now backed up by RSPCA results showing that a 57% rise in abandonment of pets took place in 2008 from the year before.

The Times argued that by taking out pet insurance policies, pet owners would not necessarily be faced with an inability to pay for unexpected veterinary bills.

The recent RSPCA results show that half of pets in the United Kingdom will be faced with veterinary treatment at some point in 2009 and as vets’ costs rise this is becoming worrisome. But not all pet insurance policies are out of people’s price ranges, so by shopping around and finding a policy that not only meets the needs, but also covers the areas required, pet owners will avoid certain unnecessary situations.

Pet insurance is offered by various providers, with varying levels of cover and costs, so owners should always read the small print.

Source: TimesOnline and MoneySupermarket

Sainsbury’s Finance Outlines Growing Trends Concerning the Problems Pet Owners are Facing with their Cats and Dogs

A study carried out by Sainsbury’s Finance has shown that around 3.35 million cat and dog owners around the United Kingdom have been experiencing problems with their pets’ behaviour between July 2008 and July 2009.

There are various theories as to why pets are acting out in certain ways, but a similar study recently brought attention to the growing number of pets that are being left at home on their own for extended periods of time. Though dogs left alone for 4 hours or less a day is not frowned upon, some owners have been known to leave them for 8 hours or more, which Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance warns could cause behavioural problems.

Many of the behavioural conditions that Sainsbury’s Finance has witnessed in regards to the study were moodiness (accounting for 5%), aggression (at 2%), loss of appetite (at 2%) and depression (at 1%). There are also significant numbers of cats and dog acting out by causing destruction to furniture, with 1.3 million pet owners accounting for this, whilst 915,000 acted with nervousness or timidity.

Naturally, this means that many pets are requiring veterinary treatments for a variety of reasons, which is why people are highly encouraged to seek an adequate Pet Insurance policy to cover the costs. Whilst some pet owners are put off by high prices, there are pet insurance policies out there that suit various needs and do not have to be expensive to cover adequate ground.

The study highlighted the area of the UK most affected with behavioural problems as Yorkshire and Humberside, with the Eastern region of the UK least affected.

Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager, Joanne Mallon, commented on the results: “The current economic climate is placing a lot of people under increased stress, and unfortunately this anxiety can have an adverse effect on the household’s pets. 

“Cats and dogs can be very sensitive to their owner’s feelings and behaviour so changes in mood such as irritability, distress or remoteness could be sensed and leave the animal themselves, agitated or depressed.”  

Source: Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release July 2009

Sainsbury’s Finance Highlights 3.8 million Missing Cats and Dogs Over 5 Years

Continuing to highlight problems facing pet owners in the UK, Sainsbury’s Finance has highlighted the rising numbers of missing pet dogs and cats across the British Isles, whilst encouraging pet owners to take out a to cover associated costs.

With the large number of missing animals over the last 5 years amounting to 3.8 million, Sainsbury’s Finance points out, in their study, that of all those who have owned a cat during this period,12% have experienced them going missing at some point, with 4% of dog owners suffering a similar fate.

Of these, a little over half of animals reported missing during this period were returned alive, with 32% claiming that the pet was never seen again and 14% reporting that they turned up deceased.

Of the remaining 45% of pet owners whose pets were returned alive, there were various circumstances that accounted for this, with some saying their cat or dog returned on its own, some saying they found them and a further percentage claiming that a third party returned their beloved animal to them.

Many people seem not to realise how far reaching pet insurance policies are in these situations. Whilst most people are aware that veterinary costs can be covered by such policies, as well as other factors, it should also be highlighted that some pet insurance policies cover the costs associated with missing animals. In most cases this amounts to advertising costs in the search effort and compensation for pets unreturned.

However Lucy Hunter, Sainsbury’s Finance Pet Insurance Manager points out that “not all pet insurance polices recognise the importance of providing support in the form of advertising or reward benefits to owners who have lost their pet”.

This highlights the need to shop around for a pet insurance policy that suits the areas the individual thinks are necessary.

It also highlights various methods that pet owners can undertake to ensure their pet is safe, with Sainsbury’s Finance recommending micro-chipping pets, ensuring they wear a collar or ID, securing property boundaries, supervising animals, using a dog walker and varying routes on walks.

With these steps, we could one day see the figures for lost or stolen animals declining.

Source: Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release May 2009