Tough Times for People and Pets

Everyone knows we are in tough economic times. As we try to recover from the mistakes of the past and put our country on the path to a financially secure future we still face serious problems. Unemployment, foreclosure and the high cost of our own medical care are the three key factors creating most of the economic woes we face.

These three issues are also creating negative fall out for pets. According to the American Humane Association and additional 15 to 26,000 pets are entering shelters across America every day because their owners can no longer afford to care for them. In some cases they have been forced from their homes and they can't take their pets with them.

 

Caring for a pet involves a significant financial commitment. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association the annual cost to own a dog is $1400 and to own a cat costs almost $1000 per year. This is just for routine vet care, food and other pet products. If you have a serious illness or accident those numbers can rise dramatically.

 

Planning for these expenses can help keep pets a part of the family. Pet health insurance is one way to help protect you from the worst case. A savings plan to cover pet related expenses is another. Putting a way a certain amount of money each month requires discipline. Paying a nominal premium for pet health insurance may be the easier route. It's easier to make an automatic monthly withdrawal from a credit card or bank account than it is to remember to move money from checking to savings.

 

The biggest issue with a savings account is timing. Suppose you need to have a $3000 surgery the month after you start saving? Unless you are saving $3000 a month you are in trouble. With pet health insurance you are covered from the moment your policy becomes effective even if you've only paid in one months premium.

 

I looked at my cable bill for last month and it's over $100. I get a gazillion channels and I watch about five with any consistency. In many cases you can get good health coverage for your pet for less than half that. In any case it's a small price to pay to be able to provide your pet with a lifetime of care.