FIGHT BACK! BY DAVID HOROWITZ

Our Other Loved Ones
        
        We Americans have a lot invested in our pets, both financially and emotionally.  Each year, 
we spend more than $1 billion buying, feeding and caring for the animals  we share our lives with. 
And what do we get back for that investment? Apparently,  quite a lot.
        According to a nationwide survey, 75 percent of dog owners and 69 percent  of  cat owners 
spend at least 45 minutes a day playing with pets. Most of those surveyed  said they pay as much 
attention to their pets as they do to their children, and two-thirds  said they feel guilty if they 
don't spend enough time with their animals.
        Our pets never judge us, they don't talk back, and they never outgrow their  dependence 
on us. A big part of what they depend on us for us health care. And as  veterinary care has 
gotten more sophisticated, it's gotten more expensive. The cost of  treating a dog or cat injured 
in an automobile accident can easily go over $1,000.  Diagnosis and treatment for cancer may 
cost $2,500 or more.
        Illness and accidents eventually strike at least two out of three family pets. And  yet, very 
few owners put money aside to cover those vet bills. It simply isn't something  most of us think 
about in advance. Those who can't afford that expense face the  terrible choice of letting the 
animal suffer or having it put to sleep.
        That's why many people are buying pet health insurance. Thirty-nine states now  allow the 
sale of medical plans for pets. The average cost for a policy is between $60  and $125 per year, 
depending on the extent of coverage and the size of the  deductible.
        As many as half-a-million pet policies have been sold since they first became  available 
about 10 years ago. They not only protect pet owners against catastrophic  expenses, they 
encourage them to give their pets regular checkups and preventive  care. Third-party coverage 
also gives veterinarians more choices in treatment.  Knowing the bills are paid, vets can 
recommend the latest diagnostic tests and more  extensive courses of treatment.
        If you'd like more information on pet insurance, ask your veterinarian or call the  toll-free 
National Insurance Consumer Helpline at 800-942-4242. ***
        Veterinary care isn't limited to dogs and cats. Fish and birds also need regular  checkups. 
Aquarium fish are actually the most popular pet in America. And, like other  pets, they get sick, 
too. A regular checkup includes discussions with a vet or tropical  fish expert on fish behavior 
and a water-quality analysis. If signs of disease appear, a  vet can examine the fish for parasites 
and microscopic infections.
        Birds, especially the more expensive tropical species, tend to get more regular  care from 
their owners. It's harder to tell when a bird is sick from its behavior because  they tend to perk up 
whenever someone enters the room. Signs of good health in a  bird include smooth, brightly 
colored feathers, clear eyes, a shiny, polished beak, and  a clearly defined scale pattern on the 
feet. ***
        Whatever type of pet you have, if you can't afford to give it regular vaccinations  and 
checkups, then don't buy the animal in the first place. It's just a cruel waste of  money.
        If you have any questions or comments, please write to David Horowitz in the  Consumer 
Forum+ (go FIGHTBACK). COPYRIGHT 1994 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.