15th September 2008

PDSA Dismayed At Pet Deaths

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Leading veterinary charity, PDSA, is disturbed to hear reports of increasing numbers of pets being put to sleep due to owners being unable to afford vet bills.

"In many cases this extremely distressing and regrettable outcome can be avoided," says Sean Wensley, Senior Veterinary Surgeon at PDSA. "PDSA provides free veterinary care to the sick and injured pets of people in need so if you receive Housing or Council Tax Benefit you could be eligible for PDSA-funded treatment for your pets."

"Putting a healthy animal to sleep should only ever be a last resort after exploring all other options and we would encourage pet owners who are struggling to provide for their pet's good health to contact us on our freephone number, 0800 731 2502. With PDSA care, no client's pet should have to die because of financial hardship."

Indeed, PDSA has seen a 10% rise in the number of pets receiving treatment at its PetAid hospitals and branches in the past year. The charity will provide over 1.8 million free treatments and more than 200,000 preventive treatments, such as vaccinations, neutering and microchipping this year. Altogether, PDSA cares for more than 350,000 pet patients.

For those not eligible for PDSA-funded care, taking out a pet insurance policy is a good way to ensure any potentially expensive vets' bills can be covered and spread the cost. There are many different products on the market and policies vary so it is important to thoroughly research what is best for your particular situation.

The PDSA estimates that at least 10% of potential customers could pay £7.07 a month or less for their dog insurance, or £3.66 a month or less for their cat insurance although of course premiums depend on individual circumstances.

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