Accident-prone Alsatian proves it pays to have pet insurance

Jenny and David Sanders were sipping beer in a Helsinki bar when David looked at the label on the bottle and said: "Lappin Kulta! That could be the name we are looking for, for our new puppy."

Lappin Kulta is Finnish for "precious drink", and Kulta also means gold. So Kulta was what they called their newly acquired pedigree German shepherd seven years ago.

But in the past two years in particular, poor Kulta has been through a succession of problems that have meant regular visits to the vet – and regular pay-outs by Saga Pet Insurance, part of the Saga travel and financial services group.

"He has been through the wars," Mrs Sanders said, "but it has just been a run of bad luck." In February 2001 Kulta cut his foot on a piece of glass, which cost £115 to put right. A month later his other foot was cut, costing £117. Later that year he had to have scans for a bad back, at a charge of £1,366. Then he had glandular surgery: £764. And last December two Great Danes attacked Kulta, leaving him needing £62 of treatment. That is a total of £2,424, minus excesses of £175, leaving Saga £2,249 out of pocket in return for annual premiums of £143.

"They have been very good about it," Mrs Sanders said, "the premium has only gone up with inflation and Kulta's age."

Mr and Mrs Sanders have been converted to pet insurance ever since they bought Kulta from a breeder with six weeks' free cover. But it bears out the importance of cover at the start of the 15th National Pet Week, which aims to promote responsible pet ownership as well as making people aware of the benefits of having a pet.

Just under half the households in the UK own pets of some description: 5.3 million own dogs, 5 million own cats and 650,000 own budgerigars.

National Pet Week is a charity that organises events all over the country. Its spokeswoman, Carole Mendoza, said: "It is important to always check the licence of any animals bought from breeders. Rescue centres are a good place to get a pet, but always check carefully the character of an animal before accepting it. It is a good idea to see one of the parents of the pet you are going to buy to get an idea of its character and the size it is likely to grow to. If in doubt, always seek advice from a vet or the RSPCA."

A survey of 500 dog-owners, conducted on behalf of Churchill Insurance by the website K9Online.com, found that two in three owners think their dog is their best friend, and one in 10 spends more time caring for their dog than their children.

But when you buy your pet's first lead, collar, basket or cage, that is only a downpayment on the cost of what is effectively going to be another member of the family for up to 20 years.

Pets must be fed, and this can soon add up in the case of larger animals. They must also be taken care of when you are away, either in homes or by paying for a sitter at your home. If you do employ a sitter, you must remember to tell your home contents insurer, as the risks of theft or damage rise with a stranger in the house.

But pet insurance has been growing fast in recent years, partly because medical advances make it possible to treat a wider range of animal ailments. This has led some insurers to turn down pets over a certain age, and even some breeds. That is why it is more important than ever to shop around for the best deal.

But the best solution is to keep your pet healthy, so Saga has produced a free guide to keeping your pet in good shape. Andrew Goodsell, Saga's managing director, said: "The guide aims to provide some useful advice to help ensure that well-intentioned pet owners are also well informed."

Information

* National Pet Week Carole Mendoza, 4/6 Peterborough Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2BQ

Tel/fax: 020 8422 9300; www.nationalpetweek.org.uk

* Saga Pet Health Guide: call 0845 366 1608

* Kennel Club: www.the-kennel-club.org.uk