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The ethics of pet ownership

July 17, 2011 in Pet insurance by admin | No comments

The right way to go about buying a pet

Congratulations! You’ve decided to buy a pet; let’s say a puppy. You’ll be joining the 50 per cent of Australian families that own a pet. It’s a rather exciting decision, but one that many people don’t take seriously enough.

Before you forge ahead and welcome the little bundle of joy into your home, ask yourself:

How much am I prepared to spend?

What is the upkeep of my pet going to cost – micro chipping, desexing, vaccination, obedience training, pet insurance, food, holiday boarding and other incidentals?

Do I have enough time and energy to exercise my dog?

Is my home suitable for a pet? What about future plans? (A pet is not just for a month or a year).

What kind of dog or cat do I want?

What should I look for in a breeder?

Choosing a dog or cat

Obviously you need to ‘tailor’ your choice to suit your home and family. Good sense must prevail. For instance, even though you may long for a big dog like you had when you were a kid, it would be selfish and inconsiderate to have a large highly active dog in a small space.  So make a sensible choice, based on the well-being of your pet.

 A good breeder will question you on your living conditions and offer ongoing advice and support. It’s advisable to go to the breeder personally, so that you can inspect the breeding premises. Internet purchases offer less certainty about the conditions and quality of the breeder and rely more on luck than evidence.

Things to know about ‘designer dogs’

The popular new ‘breeds’ like cavoodle, spoodle, labradoodle and so on are not considered breeds. They are the result of crossing two pure breeds and producing a dog for particular qualities – appearance, low maintenance (minimum shedding) and temperament.  However, because genetics are very complex, the dog may not necessarily turn out exactly to formula. The other point to note is that because these dogs are not considered a breed as such, they are not registered with the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) and the breeders do not have to be scrutinised under the ANKC) rules. So make sure you choose a reputable breeder.

Rescuing a dog

Saving a dog from euthanasia is a compassionate and rewarding act. There are so many animals that are discarded by owners for many reasons – moving, the arrival of a baby, divorce…all sorts of changed conditions can cause an owner to abandon a pet. These pets (cats and dogs) deserve a good home.

From your point of view they cost far less than buying one from a breeder and if you go to a reputable organisation like RSPCA,  Animal Welfare or DoggieRescue as they will ensure that the pet is desexed, vaccinated microchipped and dewormed and checked for behavioural problems.

Pet health insurance for your dog or cat

Pet insurance can save you huge, unexpected costs. It is best taken out when you buy the puppy and should be considered a set-up cost like vaccination etc. Like all insurance, pet insurance gives you peace of mind and if you never have to claim that’s the best outcome. But if your pet meets with an accident or develops a serious illness, you could be up for thousands of dollars in vet fees.

Contributed by Marcelle Grolman

Tags: breeding cats and dogs, Buying a new dog, Ethics of pet ownership, insurance for pets, Lifetime cost of pet care, pet insurance, puppy farm

Pets enhance health and wellbeing for all age groups

June 13, 2011 in Pet insurance, Pet insurance rates by admin | No comments

All animal lovers will have experienced the ‘feel-good’ effect of having an animal around, or even occasional interaction with a friend’s pet.

Older parents will speak lovingly of their ‘grand dogs’, endowing them with the special affection and indulgence they accord to their grandchildren. Those same grandparents love minding their grand dogs or grand cats – and the pets are certainly less demanding than the grandchildren!  They eat everything you put in front of them without complaint, are rarely insolent or stubborn and don’t have to be transported to parties or sports fixtures.

That’s wonderful, but even more important is the proven effect pets have on our health. According to the Australian Companion Animal Council (ACAC)  scientific studies conducted over the past 50 years have shown that human/animal interaction can improve the quality of our health as well as our lives. For people living alone the companionship of a pet can make all the difference

 How pets help improve our health

 Sociological and psychological reports show that pets help:

  • combat loneliness and isolation, delivering a positive psychological and physical effect
  • break down social barriers, facilitating human interaction with other pet owners
  • encourage outdoor activity like walking which provides exercise
  • help children’s develop social skills and positive behaviours including playing, nurturing, kindness, unselfishness and responsibility.

Medical studies have shown that people who own a pet and have suffered a bereavement recover more quickly, while the health of those without pets tends to deteriorate after loss of a partner or family member.

 Equally, research indicates lower levels of heart disease and less visits to the doctor in pet owners, while walking a dog encourages people who have suffered a heart attack to commit to the recommended exercise regime. In fact dog walking is beneficial in providing exercise to all age groups and helps delay many of the symptoms of ageing.

 Residents in aged care and nursing homes benefit greatly from visits from pets. Many aged care facilities encourage visitors to bring small pets along. They find improvement in mood and social contact during and after the visit.

In short, our four-legged friends are truly friends in need. Like any dear friend or family member they deserve care and kindness. And when they are unwell they must receive good veterinary care. While unexpected vet visits – or even routine visits – can be a large expense, pet insurance protects you financially and ensures our loyal friends receive the attention they deserve. Check out pet insurance rates and cover.

Tags: pet insurance, pet insurance cover, pet insurance rates

Dog lovers spark class warfare

May 31, 2011 in Dog cover, Pet cover, Pet insurance by admin | No comments

Recent post about dogs rescued from the dinner table is more than a good luck story for the rescued dogs as it has apparently sparked off some class warfare in China. There was a lot of symbolism – for example, the black Mercedes which forced the working trucker off the road.  This argument has been taken to extreme proportions by one man who threatens to kill a dog a day, until the money collected for the rescued dogs is given to poor peasants.  I doubt this will solve the problem as it is estimated that 10 million dogs are sold for the table each year.  Often these dogs are kept in terrible conditions, or they are stolen (many of the dogs in the rescue had collars and name tags which suggests they were stolen).  It sounds like pet insurance is a long way off in China.  We can but hope ….

Tags: dog rescue, Dogs saved China, pet insurance

Why is My Pet Insurance Premium so Low?

May 18, 2011 in Pet insurance by admin | No comments

The fact that your pet insurance premium is so low when you decide to take cover from Pet Secure is a great thing. But it is only natural to have reservations pertaining to explaining why it is so low. Pet Secure specialize in making pet cover more affordable but we also are dedicated to providing the best possible treatment for your dog or cat (browse info on dog insurance and cat insurance here). It begs some specific questions such as what is covered and what isn’t covered, how can you reduce your premium, and what options are available to you.

What is Covered?

Pet cover from Pet Secure covers vet bills for treatment and surgical procedures for accidents and illnesses from minor problems such as ear infections and bee stings to major conditions such as broken bones, diabetes and cancer. You can choose Pet Secure to cover 75% or 85% of your bills. Obviously choosing the 75% option will reduce your premium further. You can also decide between accident cover or accident and illness cover. Choosing both with provide comprehensive cover but your premium will be slightly higher.

What isn’t covered?

Like many other insurance companies we decide to exclude certain instances to keep your premiums very low. These include: pregnancy, elective procedures, foods/diets, grooming, behavioural problems, and pre-existing problems that were proven to be present before taking out the pet insurance plan.

Did you know?

1. Cat insurance in cheaper than dog insurance. This is because studies have shown that cats’ vets bills are lower than dogs.

2. If you insure more than one pet, you can get a 10% discount and save more on your premiums.

For a complete list of frequently asked questions about your pet insurance plan from Pet Secure visit the following link: pet cover for cats and dogs

Tags: pet insurance, pet insurance premium

When Should You Buy Pet Insurance

May 18, 2011 in Pet insurance by admin | No comments

The question of when you should by pet insurance is remarkably simple. The sooner you buy insurance for your pet the better. Just like humans, when cats and dogs are kittens and puppies respectively, they are more susceptible to accidents and illness. Think of them like baby humans that are fearless and have little or no idea of safety. Just like humans their bones are relatively soft, they have very little coordination, and their immune systems are yet to develop meaning they struggle with illness and infection.

For all those reasons it pays to have pet insurance early to make sure your four-legged friend is getting the best possible treatment from the vet at a very early age. But does this mean that the ship has sailed if you haven’t bought pet insurance for your puppy or kitten? Of course not! If your pet is fully grown and a ripe age it still pays to buy insurance for pets.

As dogs get older they are likely to incur more and more vets bills. Annual visits to the vet and vet bills along the way all add up. That is why it pays to have insurance from Pet Secure. With Pet Secure you can choose for us to pay 75% or 85% of your annual vets bills for up to $8000 for accidents and $12,000 for accidents and illness.

Tags: insurance for pets, pet insurance

Do we need to breed more dogs and cats?

April 10, 2011 in Cat cover, Dog cover, Pet cover, Pet insurance by admin | 3 comments

Consider this – over 250,000 animals are destroyed each year around Australia.  So how on earth do healthy, full of  life dogs and cats end up in pounds?   Basically, it’s supply and demand.  In an unregulated industry, simply too manydogs and cats are  being bred (for profit), and  many  are not being de-sexed prior to sale.  The industry is out of control, and it’s costing the lives of many dogs and cats, that deserve a lot better.  Find out what your council’s policy is on animals that end up in the pound under their control.  Does your council sell dogs, cats, puppies and kittens that are undesexed?  You may be surprised to know that this is indeed the case for many.  Let’s start naming and shaming!

Tags: breeding cats and dogs, cat breeding, dog breeding, insurance for pets, pet insurance

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