Get pet insurance this national pet month

April 3-May 3 2010 is National Pet Month, and Fair Investment Company is urging dog and cat owners to get pet insurance.

"National Pet Month has released ten top tips for responsible pet ownership, and one is to get pet insurance if you have a dog or cat," explains Rachael Stiles, personal finance editor at Fair Investment Company.

"Pet insurance may not be a priority for most pet owners, but it could save you an awful lot of cash in the long run. For example, using our pet insurance comparison service, you can get dog insurance from £7.10, or cat insurance from £3.94, and you could get an extra discount when insuring multiple pets.

"But if you didn't have insurance and your cat or dog broke its leg, it would cost you around £1,200 to have it fixed. With pet insurance, that cost would be covered."

Pet insurance was thrown into the spotlight recently when the Government announced it would be making it compulsory for all dog owners to have at least third-party pet insurance, but the negative response was so strong that the Government pulled the plans a week later.

However, Rachael says even though getting pet insurance is not a legal requirement, all pet owners  - particularly dog owners - should consider the consequences of not having  it.

"Imagine if your family pet broke its leg but was otherwise completely healthy, and you were forced to have it put down simply because you couldn't afford the treatment.

"Recent research from Sainsbury's pet insurance revealed that more than half of vets have had to put down a pet because the owner couldn't pay the bill and it is so sad to think that so many of these deaths could have been avoided for the sake of just a few pounds a month.

"And the other cost to keep in mind is liability. According to Petplan, third party liability claims for dogs have increased by 500 per cent over the past 10 years as our society becomes more and more aware of its 'rights' to sue for compensation. If your dog did cause damage to someone's property or injure them, without insurance, you would be totally liable for the cost."

Get a pet insurance quote from Fair Investment Company, and save up to 20% for buying online.