@wild edges the problem comes when claims have actually been made. Policies will guarantee cover for life, but that doesn't stop them increasing premiums to eye watering levels. People then often have the choice of paying up or having no insurance as other insurers won't cover existing conditions. It's not just inbreeding which creates issues, although I fully accept that it is a serious problem.
racing greyhounds are quite expensive to insure. They are inbred. Lurchers are more expensive. Not at all inbred (by definition). 'Crossbreed' is usually quite cheap - which is what a lurcher is, if you know how to fill in the forms. They all get steadily more expensive as they age, unsurprisingly, and the excess jumps steeply at 10 years old. Our most expensive dog (in terms of claims) was a cross breed. He had bone cancer, had to have two expensive surgeries, including amputation of a leg and chemotherapy. Cost thousands. Nothing whatever to do with risk factors other than being a long-boned dog.
I’m sure it is the same with dogs but once cats reach a certain age, usually 10, premiums soar and other insurance companies won’t take on an elderly pet. Make a claim and the premium escalates sharply, and again if you claim again. Two or three of these cycles meant insurance for our two cats had reached £2,700 a year. We cancelled. Then Rollo got mouth cancer which required very expensive (multiple 000s) radiotherapy at the Cambridge University veterinary hospital. In some instances keeping a pet is extremely expensive.
We have never costed out the maintenance of our 2 dogs, 2 cats and now 2 chooks. They are all rescues but only one of the dogs was free. The others had fees attached to help the charities concerned. They are all neutered and micro-chipped except the hens, get their annual jabs as and when, flea and tick treatments, good food and any special veterinary treatment necessary.
Rasta doggy gets a haircut every 2 to 3 months and, now they're old and arthritic, the 2 dogs get special phyto meds and an occasional massage from the vet osteopath. They are all healthy and happy and give us a great deal of pleasure so who's counting?
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Are you old enough to remember when you thought the 21st Century would be a better place? A place of peace and enlightenment because you could change the world. We have stolen much from our children but the worst theft is optimism
It's better than it used to be when you may have been a poverty stricken peasant working in the fields in all weathers and paying tithes to the local monastery.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
No, didn't think you were @B3, nor am I, but from what I learnt in history at school it used to be pretty awful. Risk of having your head cut off if you went to the wrong church or hanged if you shot a rabbit to feed your starving family.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
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I doubt that WE's neighbour's criminal activities were specifically for the benefit of his dogs.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Very difficult to decide when it's a much loved pet when enough is enough.
Rasta doggy gets a haircut every 2 to 3 months and, now they're old and arthritic, the 2 dogs get special phyto meds and an occasional massage from the vet osteopath. They are all healthy and happy and give us a great deal of pleasure so who's counting?
We have stolen much from our children but the worst theft is optimism
Tory supporters should hang their heads in shame.