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Should I Get Pet Insurance?

Should I Get Pet Insurance

If you’re asking yourself, should I get pet insurance, it’s because you care deeply for your pet. Why else would you consider paying an annual premium for your cat or dog? Now, pet health insurance isn’t going to be for everyone. But for a myriad of different reasons, it’s right for many pet owners.

Of course, pet insurance isn’t free, so you’ll have to evaluate the cost of pet insurance before you buy. If you’re interested, you can get an online pet insurance quote, and check prices while you’re considering if it’s the right choice for you.

Below is my reason for why I elected to get pet insurance.

Remembering Chelsea

Chelsea was a 35-pound lab mix I got as a rescue when I was in my early twenties. I quickly developed a bond with her — but that was super easy. She was loving, friendly, super smart, and a heck of an athlete. One of my favorite things to do was her daily walk to the park to play ball. Chelsea would run until she was totally wiped out. She was so well behaved, I didn’t even need a leash when we would walk to the park. She seemed to intuitively know to stay close, on my leg, and never ran off.

For a few years, it was just the two of us, but eventually, I got married and we had a child. Chelsea stopped sleeping on the foot of my bed and started sleeping under my son’s crib. 

Another member of the family

Chelsea was simply another member of our family. Maybe the best member since she demanded so little and gave so much. When my son was younger, she was his protector and friend. For me, she was a keystone. She taught me to be responsible and to truly care for someone other than myself.

But it wasn’t just me, my friends all enjoyed Chelsea and she became, in a way, part of the group. She would tag along if we went hiking, when I would play basketball, or on trips. Chelsea was a constant fixture in all parts of my life.

The accident

We had outgrown our current home and had to move up. This meant leaving the only home Chelsea and I knew together. One evening, during the first week in the new home, Chelsea got out of the backyard and wandered off. This didn’t make any sense, she slept in our room and didn’t typically exit the doggy door in the middle of the night. Chelsea missing? Not Chelsea, she never strayed, never wondered, and we didn’t even need a leash on our walks. In fact, she would sit inside our open front door and not bark at or chase the passersby. None of this made any sense.

I was in full panic and began a phone call campaign to get support to locate Chelsea. Later in the afternoon, there was a knock on the door and it was an officer. He delivered the news. Chelsea had passed away in a tragic accident that evening. I was utterly distraught. Even to this day, I can’t think of that moment and not get a little emotional.

I was totally helpless

The accident that took Chelsea wasn’t preventable if I had pet insurance. It wouldn’t have changed the outcome. No, a better latch on the backyard gate would have been the simple remedy. However, what I do know is that I would have spent any amount of money to fix the problem. I don’t know if getting Chelsea medical assistance early would have saved her, but if it would have, I would have spent the money. She was family.

In my case, Chelsea was lost to a simple oversite (didn’t test the gate latch for how much pressure would push it open). That combined with aberrant behavior on the part of a curious dog led to the accident. By the time help had arrived, it was too late. I was totally helpless to save Chelsea. 

Next time it will be different

Even though no amount of money could have saved Chelsea that evening, I determined that if I had another dog things would be different. I’ll be even more diligent about creating a safe environment for my dog, and I’ll also be better prepared financially. I realized that I never wanted to be in a position where my pet’s life would depend on a veterinary procedure that I couldn’t afford or that would make me have to choose to issue debt against my pet’s life. For me, pet insurance provides financial help and assurance that those types of decisions won’t be part of the equation. Ever.

The bottom line

It took years to decide to get another dog, but many years later we ultimately did bring a new pet home. She is a cute, cuddly, and tremendously playful teacup poodle named Zoe. Yes, we did get a pet insurance policy through our partner Pet’s Best. That was an easy choice.

If you are debating the question, should I get pet insurance, you’re not alone. Lots of people are considering pet insurance, and it’s becoming increasingly popular. Largely because it’s less expensive than expected, and has flexible plans to fit nearly all budgets. You can get an online quote and see if the price makes sense for you, or give us a call at (877) 334-7646.

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