I was talking about Carmie, the other day - to someone who had just found out about her leaving us for Doggie Heaven (over the rainbow bridge, my friend, Lisa, says) and the topic of Pet Health Insurance came up. Naturally, I told my friend about this blog and about Purina's new Purinacare Pet Health Insurance. She was duly impressed.

BUT...I don't know why there has to be a 'but'...but, there does! So, anyway, my friend - who is a pet lover the same as you and I, went on to express doubt and distrust, after saying she was impressed with Purina for venturing into this new territory.

"I can barely afford insurance for myself," she lamented. "How can I afford insurance for my dog?"

Hmmm...what could I say but, "How can you NOT?"

Ok, here's the scoop. We buy health insurance for ourselves and our family not because it saves us money. I know, Dr. Larry is better at explaining this than I am, but I want to have my say. Health insurance is a comfort. Last summer when I dislocated my shoulder (wow, did that hurt!) I did not stop to think if I could afford to go to the emergency room, I just went!

I haven't done that with my pets - yet. Until recently, I, like many of you, had to think twice about whether to take my cat or dog to the vet in an emergency, or when I was worried about some strange behavior. The emergency part is not such a "choice"...we do what we need to in an emergency, but all the way to the emergency center - in-between worry over whatever it is that is taking us there - is a worry that the vet bills will be so enormous, they will cloud our desire for the best care we can get.

The other incident - when your dog or cat is just "acting strange" usually means waiting 24 to 48 hours, to see if the strange behavior disappears. Imagine NOT having to wait, because, like when your kids get sick, you can go to the vet and know the bill is at least partially covered by insurance.

When Carmie took ill with bloat, I did not hesitate to take her in. I did wonder what the cost would be - but I am lucky, even without pet health insurance, I have means to cover thousands of dollars in vet costs, if necessary. Not everyone else does. The fact that her illness was so far gone led to our decision to allow her to go...that and the fact that she was 15 and was having trouble getting up and down. The vet could not tell us her recovery would be anything but very difficult for her, and...might cause the inevitable, anyway.

Now, as we contemplate whether or not to add a puppy, or a grown dog from our local shelter, to our family (the elderly cat has voted 'No thanks' but...she sleeps all day, so we're only counting her vote as a half of a vote)...I am fully prepared to get pet health insurance to make sure our new pet(s) are covered. To make sure they know how much we love them (ok, they won't know for pet health ins. or not, but I will), and to be totally assured that I can always provide the BEST health care, at any time during that pet's life.

Here's another reason this post is being written, and why pet health insurance is on my mind, besides as a response to my friend's question about "affording" insurance for her dog ... This weekend, our local news reported on 11 dogs being adandoned ...but rescued, thank goodness, near a power station in our area. I think those adorable dogs, four of which were puppies, should have love, care, good food, and health insurance, when they are adopted. They should not ever have to be abandoned, again.

No, I don't know who abandoned these animals, nor do I know why...but, going forward, I hope their new owners (and I am sure they will all be adopted) will shower them with care and love...and budget the small fee for pet health insurance.

Isn't it only fair to give these furry four-footed friends the benefit of the best vet care, by adding insurance to the list of "must-do's" when adopting a pet?