You know how it starts ? the appealing pup. It won't be any trouble, it'll be company for you and it'll encourage you to take regular walks. It's a known fact that people with pets have lowered blood pressure. People with pets are happier. Children need a pet to look after. Like the offer you can't refuse, it's so appealing and would make your life complete.



Think carefully before you make the next move. What if the weather's truly awful ? "it" will still need exercising. What about the dreaded behaviour problems ? this surely won't happen with your beloved pet, it's just a matter of a firm hand. What about the expense of feeding whatever animal you decide is for you? How much does it cost if the animals has to be looked after whilst you're away? Now the potentially most expensive question of all, what if the pet needs the vet?

Apart from the round of inoculations and worming that start as soon as the animal, let's say a puppy, arrives at your home, there are the unexpected events and illnesses. Fear not, help is at hand in the form of pet insurance.

Virtually as soon as you arrive at the vet's surgery, you'll find racks of leaflets offering insurance for your animal. You'll sit there, amidst the growls, meows and the occasional puddle, awaiting your turn, whilst other pet owners will be coming out from their animal's examination, queuing up at the receptionist's desk. Unbelievable sums are discussed "That'll be ?1000 for the scan please, Mrs Jones, then there's the consultation fee, and the repeat pills ............. That's ?1,120 altogether, please. Yes, of course we take credit cards. Unless you have pet insurance of course?" and "We'll sort this out first and then I'll consult the diary for you next appointment". It occurs to you that everyone seems quite "at home" here, as though they may be regular visitors? At this point, you may well decide that maybe this insurance is something to consider. After all, there's no NHS for pets.

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To prove the value of pet insurance, take Mrs Allen's case. Eight years ago she bought a west highland terrier called Ben. Ben was a perfectly healthy puppy but the family were advised by their vet to take out insurance. At three years old Ben developed skin problems and then a kidney problem. Ben has had regular visits to the vet since then and with vets' bills running at over ?300 a month for regular injections and treatment, the insurance premium of ?15 a month has proved a valuable investment. This policy was provided by Pet Plan ? it's a budget policy and covers lifetime conditions costing up to ?4,000 per annum. There are two other Pet Plan choices and you need to look carefully at the terms and conditions to see which one best suits your needs.

There are several insurance companies offering this service and it's quite a task to decide on which one to choose. Terms of cover vary tremendously; there can be limit on the number of claims which can be made in a certain period. There could be an age limit for cover. Some of the companies even cover kennelling costs should the owner be admitted to hospital, for instance, not to mention 12 months free membership of the Missing Pets Bureau. It is well worth spending some time on the internet, looking carefully at the small print and making sure that you are going to get what you want for your premium. The cheaper policies can be quite limited on cover.

For people who are on a tight budget, help is at hand in the form of the PDSA PetAid service. The PDSA (Peoples dispensary for sick animals) is the UK's leading veterinary charity, providing free treatments for sick and injured animals at the rate of 4,650 per day. There are PetAid practices and Hospitals throughout the UK as well as four PetAid branches. To receive this help, animal owners need to be one of the 5.8 million households receiving either Council Tax Benefit or Housing Benefit.

There are just over 5 million dog-owning homes in Britain without pet insurance cover. When you consider that the average cost of care resulting from a road accident is ?379, not to mention the other health problems, it's a worrying thought. When faced with the situation of a suffering animal, the last thing you need on your mind is whether or not you can afford the vet's fees.

So, good luck with your pet and remember, insure for peace of mind!