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For Pets and The People Who Love Them!
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October 2006

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In response to last month's article on monitoring an aging pet's health, several people have written to ask if there was any type of group or organization that can assist them with caring for a senior dog. One such resource is the Senior Dogs Project. There you'll find many health care articles as well as information on adoptable seniors, a section dedicated to those who face the loss of their companions, and - our favourite - tributes to old dogs. Well worth a peek! See you next month. As always, travel responsibly!

PET QUOTES

"Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog." (Sydney Jeanne Seward) "The smallest feline is a masterpiece." (Leonardo Da Vinci)

BEST BUDDIES! (PHOTOS FROM PROUD PET PARENTS)
"These are my kitties sharing kisses in scenic views from home." - Carmen M. of Massachusetts, USA	"Chase sleeping with our new kitten." - Kim
"Meimei and Miko cuddling together." - Amanda C. of Calgary, Alberta	"Chip, our 15 year old Australian Shephard, had just had a bath and was keeping warm under a blanket when Meg, our girl Aussie, decided Chip needed her to cuddle up with him." - Pat G. of Churchbridge, Sask.
"You take one end and I'll take the other, then we meet in the middle!" "Six month old puppies, Siberian Husky Isis Kyro and her best friend, German Shepherd Athena." - Tiffani S. of Whitby, Ontario

NEXT MONTH: DOES YOUR DOG SMILE? Send us your photo along with a brief caption and your location! newsletter@petfriendly.ca

COMPARING PET INSURANCE PLANS

Most pets will require veterinary care beyond basic health care at some point during their lifetimes. Pets owners naturally want to keep their pets as healthy as possible, and pet insurance can help with expensive vet bills. If you're good at putting away "emergency" funds then you may not need pet insurance. Many people, however, find that unanticipated vet bills can cause a real financial strain. Pet insurance isn't cheap but it's one way to plan for unexpected veterinary care and for some people, it's peace of mind knowing that insurance will pay part or all of the costs should your pet require vet care. Consider the following as you decide whether pet insurance is right for you. Compare different plans and shop around with several companies. Plans (and prices) vary widely. Some plans only cover certain types of vet care due to illness or accidents, while others will also include regular checkups and vaccinations. What's the deductible? Is there a maximum payable amount? Find out whether the maximum claim is for a certain type of care, or if there's a total maximum claim per term. For instance, a plan might cover up to $2000 in bills for emergency surgery due to an accident... but the same plan might only allow a maximum claimed amount of $2000 per year, too. That means you would have to pay the bill if your pet were to require any additional care during the same year. What percentage of your bills are covered? Does it vary with what type of vet care is provided? For instance, a plan might cover 100% (less your deductible) for accidents, but only 50% for routine exams. Check whether elective surgery is covered. For example, insurance may cover surgery to repair a broken bone if your dog is hit by a car - but it may not cover a "voluntary" or non-critical surgery even though you consider it essential to your pet's quality of life. Pre-existing conditions are usually not covered. That means if your pet already has an illness you likely won't be able to claim the treatment expense. Find out when coverage begins. Some insurance plans have a waiting period. For instance, if your dog got hit by a car today, you couldn't sign up for insurance and expect them to pay the bill. Age is sometimes a factor. Pet insurance plans often will not cover very young pets or old pets, and if they do, the plans may be much more expensive.

UPCOMING PET EVENTS

Winnipeg, Manitoba - Oct 14, 2006: Bow Wow Ball 2006 - The Cat's Meow @ The Fairmont Winnipeg. More info Calgary, Alberta - Nov 4-5, 2006: Calgary Pet Expo - Entertainment for everyone in the family! PetExpo is not limited to just dogs and cats – you are likely to see ferrets, fish, exotic birds, ponies, degus, chinchillas, guinea pigs and not to mention our growing reptile display. Also there is Safari Jeff & Shannon’s Great Green Adventure Show, dog agility and flyball demos, Show 'n Tell Theatre, the Thistle Hill Petting Zoo, and of course all sorts of pet products & services. More info Does your Canadian non-profit organization have an upcoming event? We want to hear about it! Please contact us.

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