Do a quick search of pet ownership statistics on Google.com and you’ll find that approximately 67% of U.S. households own a cat or dog. Of that 67% around 2% of owners actually carry insurance for their pets. I was part of that 2%, and unfortunately in November 2019 I learned my lesson the hard way.
Our 6-year old Rat Terrier mix, Raina, was nestled in her kennel from the evening prior, waiting for us to let her out to start her morning routine. When I opened her kennel door nothing happened. She didn’t rush out with excitement, she wasn’t wagging her tail, and she wasn’t moving. Only after gently pulling her out of her kennel was when I discovered the problem. Her hind legs were like spaghetti noodles. My husband and I found out later from the vet that she had injured her spine and couldn’t use her back legs. And how she injured it? By being a dog; It was as simple as jumping on or off the couch or our bed. The cost to fix an injury like this? Anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000 – and that’s just for the surgery. Knowing full well that we couldn’t afford it, we tried our best to help her using non-surgical treatment options. Despite our efforts though, we ended up having to say goodbye to our canine companion after a couple of weeks.
Prior to her injury, Raina was a happy, healthy dog. She had no prior health problems in her history, so signing her up for pet insurance would’ve been easy. Figo Pet Insurance, offered through Auto-Owners, provides coverage for the exact situation I experienced. When a perfectly healthy pet suddenly eats something they shouldn’t and becomes gravely ill or has a knee injury from running after a rabbit in the yard, that’s where this insurance comes in. Figo Pet Insurance through Auto-Owners can reimburse you up to 100% for those unexpected veterinary bills. And the cost for this type of coverage averages only $1.25 per day. So for around $30 a month you can have peace of mind that you’ll be able to get your pet the care they need, not if, but when situation arises.
Knowing what I know now, there was no hesitation when the opportunity came to sign my other two dogs up for Pet Insurance through Auto-Owners. Similar to life insurance for us humans, the younger your furry friend is when you sign them up, the less expensive your rates will be. Being that I have a very active and daring 9-month old puppy, the cost of coverage for him with 100% reimbursement is around $25 per month. Whereas my 4-year old canine for the same coverage is around $35. Are you a cat-lover instead? Premiums for felines are even less! I quoted my parent’s cat, a 2-year old Russian Blue, and the average monthly cost was $16. In short, Pet Insurance is a low expense for the amount of coverage provided and is worth the continued years you’ll have with your dearly-loved companion!