Industry News from Yes Insurance

An increasing number of animals are being abandoned because owners can not afford pet insurance, reports the Independent.

Rising food and fuel costs coupled with the credit crunch has meant that people can no longer afford vet bills and are resorting to dumping their animals on charities.

Patricia Bernie, a trustee of the Wythall Animal Sanctuary, told the Independent: "You find that during times of economic difficulty, people start to cut back on going to the vet because it's expensive."

With the average cost of keeping a dog for its lifetime coming to £10,000, pet-owners are urged to take out insurance in order to protect them from rising vet bills.

Speaking to the Independent, Henry Macaulay, an RSPCA spokesman, said: "We would urge people to take out pet insurance to help them cover the cost of having their pet treated by a vet when it becomes ill. Vet bills can be expensive and insurance helps to cover the cost."

Research by scientists revealed that people who own dogs lead healthier lives because regular walks can lead to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.