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Pet owners get a helping hand finding missing cats and dogs

9th September 2014 Print

With more than 70,000 missing pets in the UK, new research from Gocompare.com Pet Insurance has found that pet owners could get a big helping hand from their insurer when it comes to finding their cats and dogs.

In a review of 280 dog and 272 cat insurance policies, the comparison site found that the majority (72% of dog and 71% of cat policies) offer cover for pet owners to advertise their missing pet, or offer reward money for their return.

Of the policies reviewed, most policies (60% of dog and 58% of cat) provide advertising and reward cover as standard, with only 28% of dog and 29% of cat insurance policies not offering any sort of cover.

It’s not just small change that insurers are paying out. Gocompare.com found that the majority of policies (60% of dog and 68% of cat) will pay £500 or more to cover the costs of advertising a lost or stolen pet, with just over a third of policies (35% of dog and 34% of cat) willing to pay out £1,000 or more.

Ben Wilson from Gocompare.com Pet Insurance added: “Many of us treat our pets like a member of the family, so losing a dog or cat can be a difficult experience for us.

“When we think of pet insurance, we usually associate it with helping to pay vet bills, however, excluding ‘accident only’ policies, most provide cover for a wide range of circumstances, including helping you find your pet should it go missing.

“Unfortunately, more than half (52%) of cat and dog owners don’t have insurance for their pet, which means they would receive no aid should they get lost or stolen, potentially lowering their chances of being reunited.

“With the host of cover that good quality pet insurance can provide, taking out a policy should be a priority for any owner.”

For more information on what pet insurance is right for you Gocompare.com has put together a beginners' guide to pet insurance available on their website.