Money News
Sainsbury's Bank reports in a new survey that 8% of UK residents, equating to 3.93 million people, have had a pet cat or dog go missing over the past five years. Alarmingly, 26% of these owners believe their pets were stolen.
The bank's research also indicates that many lost pets are never reunited with their owners. In fact, some 61% of people who've suffered from a pet cat or dog going missing since November 2002 never saw them again.
Despite these distressing findings, many victims may find that their pet insurance policy will offer little or no support towards the recovery of their pets. Indeed, roughly a quarter of all pet insurance policies offer no reward for the return of lost or stolen dogs and will not provide financial assistance to owners who want to try and find their missing dog by placing advertisements. The corresponding figure for pet insurance policies covering cats is 21%.
In an attempt to secure the safe return of their pet, 71% of people who had their cat or dog go missing over the past five years, turned to their neighbours for help, 44% put up posters in their neighbourhood and 13% placed an advertisement in the local paper. 40% informed the RSPCA or equivalent local dog or cat home of their lost pet, whilst only 12% contacted the police.
The bank offers the following tips on how to reduce the chances of your pet going missing or worse, being stolen:
1- Ensure that your pet wears a collar and pet identification tag.
2- Have your pet micro-chipped. This takes seconds and is virtually painless. Consult your local vet for details.
3- Keep garden boundaries as secure as possible to prevent your dog from escaping and also to deter thieves from entering.
4- Always supervise your dog, whether it's in your own garden or in a public area.
5- Try to avoid tying your dog up outside a shop or leaving it unattended.
6- If you use a dog walker, make sure they are reputable.
7- Vary your routes when walking your dog.
In the meantime, if you are considering taking out a pet insurance policy, or simply switching provider, make sure you read the policy's fine print first.
02 January 2008 © Moneyextra.com
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