Monday, December 3, 2007

Dog Insurance - Only the Best for Your Best Friend

Insuring Fido is not something that immediately springs to mind. When our dog falls ill or suffers an accident, the vet bills can be exhorbitant. It is not unusual for even basic, minor veterinary procedures to cost hundreds of pounds. If our family pet becomes seriously ill or hurt, the bill can run into thousands and place a very great strain on our finances.

If we are unable to afford vet bills for our pet, at the very least this can mean distress and discomfort for them. In the case of serious illness it can mean that we have to make a very unhappy decision to have Fido put to sleep because the treatment that will save him simply cannot be paid for. Insuring our dog ensures that we are never placed in such an unhappy predicament where we have to choose between our loved pet and our financial security.

Today, we have a legal duty to ensure that we provide all the necessary care for our dog or face severe penalties and even run the risk of getting a criminal record for not providing care as required. There is no NHS for pets so we must make sure that as responsible dog owners we can pay for the often, very expensive medical services that our dog may need. Not only can we satisfy our legal responsibility that we now have to care for our pet, but ensure that they continue to enjoy a good quality life and continue to play their part in our lives.

There is also the liability that we carry for the behaviour of our dog. If our dog runs into the road and causes a traffic accident, we as the dog owner can be held liable for causing the accident. If our dog bit someone, we are liable for the damage and distress that is caused. The cost of dealing with such an instance can be ruinous unless we have a means to pay for the bills that are incurred or be able to pay to defend ourselves legally. Dog insurance policies can be used to cover for any such eventuality.

We have all seen posters for missing pets from time to time. Insuring our dog will allow us to be able to cover the cost of a reward for finding Fido should he decide to wander off, as well as help cover the cost of advertising in the local press. Make sure that any policy will cover these basic things as they are frequently the cause of an insurance claim on these policies.

Carrying dog insurance makes a great deal of financial sense. It is cheap and easy to arrange, with cover costing pennies a day which when you set that against the thousands of pounds that a vet bill may result in, is all too easy to see the financial arguement for having the policy. Unlike insuring our lives, medical underwriting is kept to an absolute minimum so filling forms should be quick and very easy to do.

Probably the greatest benefit to be gained from holding dog insurance is the peace of mind that comes with it. You cannot always be certain how your dog will behave or what fate has in store and no matter how much you love your four legged friend, your bank balance may simply be unable to withstand the financial cost of looking after them. Peace of mind can cost you pennies, but there is no price you can place on the value of knowing that if the worst happens you have one less thing to worry about.

If you insure your car, you should insure your dog. It is cheaper and simpler to set up and you are more likely to claim on the policy than claim on your car insurance. Take the opportunity to consider how much it may cost you if you do not cover Fido not just from the financial aspect of him falling ill, but from him taking a bite out the postman or chasing a cyclist across the street. Legally you have to insure your car, but common sense requires you do the same for Fido.



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