Our pets are something that many of us hold close to our hearts. Some people may invest thousands of pounds in a pet for many different reasons such as; Buying a pet; medical care;insurance and taking a pet on holiday -all requiring a fair sum of cash. In an attempt to protect our little critters from the unexpected, it is essential to be cautious with our cash.
Internet shopping is the current craze, not only can the household shop be delivered straight to your door the day after your order is placed but items can be imported globally at the touch of a button. Now you can also buy your chosen pet online. There have been reports of pet selling scams over the internet; it is likely that they will use websites such as Facebook and Twitter or free domain names. Upon occasion, they have even been caught advertising within local newspapers. Usually, the scammer will be offering a pedigreed or rare breed for an extremely low price or will only request shipping charges. If an offer presents itself as too good to be true, it is almost certain that the animal does not exist. The extents a scammer will go to is unsettling, official logos have been stolen from organisations to fabricate a professional operation that upon first glance seems legitimate.When in contact with a scam merchant, they will often seem pushier than usual and will lie and attempt to manipulate their potential victim.
A recent incident within East Sussex involved a family paying £250 for a British Bulldog, intended for a Christmas present. The scammer claimed that the animal would be sent from a missionary within Belfast. The animal was never obtained and the family’s hard earned cash was irretrievable. Upon further investigation from trading standards, it was later found that the operation was based in Cameroon. "This scam is sadly a common one, with the scammers taking animal lovers for a ride both financially and emotionally," stated a council member."Always insist on seeing an animal for sale in its home environment before parting with any money," he advised.
IPATA (International Pet and Transport Association) are an international trade association for pets and offer the following advice on purchasing pets online;
Unlucky victims of pet fraud have in some cases only discovered after payment has been sent. It is common that the merchant will claim there is an issue with shipping or the animal needs insurance and express that they cannot fulfil the purchase until extra payment is sent. Some even insist care and medical costs will be incurred within the meantime.
It is distressing for both pets and owners when a pet is in need of medical care. Immediately, people will rush into arranging veterinary care without a thought of the costs that may be incurred in the process. Ideally, at a young age, pets should be registered with a veterinary practice and it is always a good idea to attend a general check-up no matter how healthy your animal seems. Choosing the right practice will depend on the species or specific requirements your pet may have. It may be beneficial to talk to other practice users or speak with friends and family for their recommendations.
Opening hours and emergency care services are vital elements to take into consideration. Some practices will work alongside another to provide this for your animal and researching the reliability of the partner company is also a must. The Royal College for Veterinary Surgeons (RCVA) has a list available online of accredited practices across the UK. To qualify, the practice’s standard of service is assessed every four years and occasionally subjected to on the spot inspection.
There will always be a standard charge for initial assessment when you bring in an animal for examination, additional costs will apply for any medication dispensed during the appointment. According to the RCVA, all veterinary services by law must have a price list displayed of the most commonly prescribed medications in the waiting room. Studying the price list before-hand will ensure that you know exactly what to expect.
For minor ailments, veterinary surgeries are obliged to give free advice over the telephone, take advantage of this benefit foremost. It is essential to consider the quality of the response will reflect the accuracy of your enquiry. Be specific and detailed when explaining the issue.
When it comes to the purchasing of flea and worm treatments, 55% and 63% of people respectively buy their products from a vet and 22% say the cost is more than they were expecting. However, it is possible to buy these products on the high street but their effectiveness is questionable. Where the health of your animal is concerned, it is worth spending extra for treatment that works.
Akin to humans, there are many diseases that can affect household pets such as catflu, distemper and the parva virus -all of which can be prevented by a single vaccine. A vaccine will protect your pet from contracting a disease but also prevent transmission to other animals in the process. In the recent past there have been concerns over how frequently these vaccines are issued. Over 30 vets signed a document which stated that annually dispensed vaccines could last a longer duration than expected and included accusations of fraud by misrepresentation. The pharmaceutical companies responded by clarifying that they are bound by the licencing bodies to provide a minimal immunity period for legal purposes.
David Sutton, from Intervet, a leading veterinary drug manufacturer, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We base our recommendations on the science and the science we have tells us that we don't know how long immunity lasts in any individual animal.” The problem is too complex to resolve, it is notpossible to provide long term research to supply accurate immunity durations. Animal testing is currently only possible for up to 2 years. Even so, each individual animal may respond differently to the vaccine, despite being of the same species and breed.
There are currently around 30 million cats and dogs in the UK alone, just 18% of canines and 28% of felines are not vaccinated, a single vaccinecosts only £20-£40. Owners have been concerned that administering vaccinations more regularly than necessary may induce side effects. However spending a small sum of money on an annual basis will not only provide an owner with piece of mind but also avoids a trip to the vets that could demand a hefty price tag.
The PDSA advises that puppies are initially vaccinated from 6 weeks onwards; with a subsequent needle 2-4 weeks later; boosters are then issued each year following this. Similarly, for kittens, 9 weeks is recommended for the primary vaccination and then 3-4 weeks to follow up, with boosters supplied on a yearly basis afterwards. Interaction with other animals is strongly discouraged before vaccination.
Vacation Vaccinations and Insurance
Travelling abroad with your pet will require further vaccinations, for further information you can visit; http://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-health-advice/further-information/downloadable-leaflets
Many owners take out insurance for additional reassurance and in preparation for unexpected costs. Recent studies have shown that policy holders are more likely to claim on behalf of their pets than with regards to any other insurance they have taken out. Illustrating this, insurance provider Saga, expressed that its customers are three times more likely to claim on their pet insurance as they are on their car cover. Pet insurers pay out £1.2m in claims every day according to the Association of British Insurers.
The average vet bill can total hundreds of pounds, with even some long term illness costing in the region of tens of thousands of pounds. The arrival of new technology and medicines has catalysed the inflation of vet’s bills more recently and in turn boosted revenue for insurance companies. Following this, there was a corresponding rise in complaints by 50% to the financial Ombudsman Service (FOS,) in relation to pet insurance claims. Martyn James from the FOS, said: "Pet insurance is one of the most hard fought and sensitive areas of complaint that the Ombudsman sees." He alleged “a number of these complaints concerned the decision by a number of insurers (including Lloyds TSB, Halifax and Petguard) to pull out of this market, despite previously selling so-called "lifetime" cover.” In other cases, insurers have refused to pay out for some bills, convinced that it must be cheaper to find care elsewhere.
Available Policies
Getting a new pet is almost like getting a new family member, adopting online can prove a risky business. Always buy from a reputable website and thoroughly research the legitimacy of the advertisement, before going ahead with any transactions. Alternatively, why not adopt from a rescue centre such as the RSPCA and help out a charity? Regarding medical care, cutting corners may not necessarily save you money in the long run. It is always better to be safe than sorry, remember some diseases/illnesses/injuries are fatal to animals without vaccination or medical attention. Finally, when considering pet insurance the benefits of claiming are obvious buet check that you understand renewal conditions and limits before you sign up. If you are still not convinced after speaking with an advisor, then you can also read reviews online from previous and present customers. Overall, adopting an animal can be a pricey affair but the enjoyment of owning a pet itself is priceless.
StaySafe Magazine and its on-line journal contains an outsized quantity of key information and stories regarding current criminal behavior. StaySafe is additionally a helpful purpose of reference for the authorities, they're unbroken abreast of current criminal activity.
Follow Stay Safe:
Internet shopping is the current craze, not only can the household shop be delivered straight to your door the day after your order is placed but items can be imported globally at the touch of a button. Now you can also buy your chosen pet online. There have been reports of pet selling scams over the internet; it is likely that they will use websites such as Facebook and Twitter or free domain names. Upon occasion, they have even been caught advertising within local newspapers. Usually, the scammer will be offering a pedigreed or rare breed for an extremely low price or will only request shipping charges. If an offer presents itself as too good to be true, it is almost certain that the animal does not exist. The extents a scammer will go to is unsettling, official logos have been stolen from organisations to fabricate a professional operation that upon first glance seems legitimate.When in contact with a scam merchant, they will often seem pushier than usual and will lie and attempt to manipulate their potential victim.
 |
| Stay Safe Magazine |
A recent incident within East Sussex involved a family paying £250 for a British Bulldog, intended for a Christmas present. The scammer claimed that the animal would be sent from a missionary within Belfast. The animal was never obtained and the family’s hard earned cash was irretrievable. Upon further investigation from trading standards, it was later found that the operation was based in Cameroon. "This scam is sadly a common one, with the scammers taking animal lovers for a ride both financially and emotionally," stated a council member."Always insist on seeing an animal for sale in its home environment before parting with any money," he advised.
IPATA (International Pet and Transport Association) are an international trade association for pets and offer the following advice on purchasing pets online;
- Perform a search online for the merchants email address and check for duplicate advertisements, scammers will often create multiple advertisements to maximise their potential “customer base.”
- Attempt to arrange personal collection of the animal, if the seller refuses this is most certainly grounds for suspicion.
- Search for partially, or entirely, the introductory offer or any text you have received relating to the sale of the animal through an online search engine.
- If payment is requested by Western Union bank transfer or any other unofficial banking services, never comply. These services will offer no payment protection and once sent it cannot be recovered.
- Some more established pet suppliers are members of trade associations. Do not hesitate to ask a merchant if this is the case. You can check with the relevant association that this claim is genuine.
- You can report potential scammers online by forwarding emails to petscams@ipata.org, or alternatively you can report them to the website the advertisement was placed with.
- Check that the merchant has a valid telephone number and ask to speak directly with them. If the telephone number begins 237 then this is a scam.
- You can look at a full list of reported telephone numbers, websites and email addresses of known pet scammers online at; www.ipata.org
Unlucky victims of pet fraud have in some cases only discovered after payment has been sent. It is common that the merchant will claim there is an issue with shipping or the animal needs insurance and express that they cannot fulfil the purchase until extra payment is sent. Some even insist care and medical costs will be incurred within the meantime.
It is distressing for both pets and owners when a pet is in need of medical care. Immediately, people will rush into arranging veterinary care without a thought of the costs that may be incurred in the process. Ideally, at a young age, pets should be registered with a veterinary practice and it is always a good idea to attend a general check-up no matter how healthy your animal seems. Choosing the right practice will depend on the species or specific requirements your pet may have. It may be beneficial to talk to other practice users or speak with friends and family for their recommendations.
Opening hours and emergency care services are vital elements to take into consideration. Some practices will work alongside another to provide this for your animal and researching the reliability of the partner company is also a must. The Royal College for Veterinary Surgeons (RCVA) has a list available online of accredited practices across the UK. To qualify, the practice’s standard of service is assessed every four years and occasionally subjected to on the spot inspection.
There will always be a standard charge for initial assessment when you bring in an animal for examination, additional costs will apply for any medication dispensed during the appointment. According to the RCVA, all veterinary services by law must have a price list displayed of the most commonly prescribed medications in the waiting room. Studying the price list before-hand will ensure that you know exactly what to expect.
For minor ailments, veterinary surgeries are obliged to give free advice over the telephone, take advantage of this benefit foremost. It is essential to consider the quality of the response will reflect the accuracy of your enquiry. Be specific and detailed when explaining the issue.
When it comes to the purchasing of flea and worm treatments, 55% and 63% of people respectively buy their products from a vet and 22% say the cost is more than they were expecting. However, it is possible to buy these products on the high street but their effectiveness is questionable. Where the health of your animal is concerned, it is worth spending extra for treatment that works.
Akin to humans, there are many diseases that can affect household pets such as catflu, distemper and the parva virus -all of which can be prevented by a single vaccine. A vaccine will protect your pet from contracting a disease but also prevent transmission to other animals in the process. In the recent past there have been concerns over how frequently these vaccines are issued. Over 30 vets signed a document which stated that annually dispensed vaccines could last a longer duration than expected and included accusations of fraud by misrepresentation. The pharmaceutical companies responded by clarifying that they are bound by the licencing bodies to provide a minimal immunity period for legal purposes.
David Sutton, from Intervet, a leading veterinary drug manufacturer, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We base our recommendations on the science and the science we have tells us that we don't know how long immunity lasts in any individual animal.” The problem is too complex to resolve, it is notpossible to provide long term research to supply accurate immunity durations. Animal testing is currently only possible for up to 2 years. Even so, each individual animal may respond differently to the vaccine, despite being of the same species and breed.
There are currently around 30 million cats and dogs in the UK alone, just 18% of canines and 28% of felines are not vaccinated, a single vaccinecosts only £20-£40. Owners have been concerned that administering vaccinations more regularly than necessary may induce side effects. However spending a small sum of money on an annual basis will not only provide an owner with piece of mind but also avoids a trip to the vets that could demand a hefty price tag.
The PDSA advises that puppies are initially vaccinated from 6 weeks onwards; with a subsequent needle 2-4 weeks later; boosters are then issued each year following this. Similarly, for kittens, 9 weeks is recommended for the primary vaccination and then 3-4 weeks to follow up, with boosters supplied on a yearly basis afterwards. Interaction with other animals is strongly discouraged before vaccination.
Vacation Vaccinations and Insurance
Travelling abroad with your pet will require further vaccinations, for further information you can visit; http://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-health-advice/further-information/downloadable-leaflets
Many owners take out insurance for additional reassurance and in preparation for unexpected costs. Recent studies have shown that policy holders are more likely to claim on behalf of their pets than with regards to any other insurance they have taken out. Illustrating this, insurance provider Saga, expressed that its customers are three times more likely to claim on their pet insurance as they are on their car cover. Pet insurers pay out £1.2m in claims every day according to the Association of British Insurers.
The average vet bill can total hundreds of pounds, with even some long term illness costing in the region of tens of thousands of pounds. The arrival of new technology and medicines has catalysed the inflation of vet’s bills more recently and in turn boosted revenue for insurance companies. Following this, there was a corresponding rise in complaints by 50% to the financial Ombudsman Service (FOS,) in relation to pet insurance claims. Martyn James from the FOS, said: "Pet insurance is one of the most hard fought and sensitive areas of complaint that the Ombudsman sees." He alleged “a number of these complaints concerned the decision by a number of insurers (including Lloyds TSB, Halifax and Petguard) to pull out of this market, despite previously selling so-called "lifetime" cover.” In other cases, insurers have refused to pay out for some bills, convinced that it must be cheaper to find care elsewhere.
Available Policies
- Accident only, provides basic cover for emergency situations such as road accidents. It is the most inexpensive and will not include if your animal has an illness. When committing to this type of insurance, be sure you are clear on what constitutes an “accident.”
- Annual cover ensures cover for both accident and illness for up to 12 months. In the case of a long term illness the treatment is only covered for the 1 year period and after this will be considered “pre-existing.”Costs will not be covered regardless of policy renewal. When signing with an insurance firm it is recommended to check the terms and conditions for a maximum pay out value. If your bill exceeds this, the company is able to refuse settlement.
- Individual condition cover will mean that the insurance will pay for on-going treatment that will continue upon renewal. Each provider will have a specific limit allocated to different ailments, so it is definitely worth comparing the market. If this limit is exceeded, it may be that the policy cannot be renewed. Excess may be charged for each individual condition or per year, sometimes resulting in customers being charged twice if the illness lasts the duration of 2 policy periods.
- Life time cover is always the most expensive policy to opt for. The advertising of these policies is perceived as unfavourable due to many companies recently pulling out of the market. The maximum pay-out is reset annually and will cover continuous illness providing that the customer actively renews the policy. Unfortunately, it does not mean that the cost of cover is fixed, it will be prone to inflation and tend to increase with the volume of claims a customer makes.
Getting a new pet is almost like getting a new family member, adopting online can prove a risky business. Always buy from a reputable website and thoroughly research the legitimacy of the advertisement, before going ahead with any transactions. Alternatively, why not adopt from a rescue centre such as the RSPCA and help out a charity? Regarding medical care, cutting corners may not necessarily save you money in the long run. It is always better to be safe than sorry, remember some diseases/illnesses/injuries are fatal to animals without vaccination or medical attention. Finally, when considering pet insurance the benefits of claiming are obvious buet check that you understand renewal conditions and limits before you sign up. If you are still not convinced after speaking with an advisor, then you can also read reviews online from previous and present customers. Overall, adopting an animal can be a pricey affair but the enjoyment of owning a pet itself is priceless.
StaySafe Magazine and its on-line journal contains an outsized quantity of key information and stories regarding current criminal behavior. StaySafe is additionally a helpful purpose of reference for the authorities, they're unbroken abreast of current criminal activity.
Follow Stay Safe:
