New research by CompareNI.com has revealed that just 10.15% of pet owners rescued or adopted their dogs – with 9 in 10 people choosing to buy their dog instead of rehoming.
Northern Ireland has the highest percentage in the UK of homes with pet dogs – at 35%, followed by the North East of England with 33% and East Midlands at 31%*.
Pet insurance comparison website CompareNI.com normally sees sales in pet insurance spike straight after Christmas, with a 27.8% jump in January 2019 compared to the average for the preceding two months.
There generally isn’t any degree of seasonality to insurance premium calculations for pet insurance, so the average premium for dog insurance doesn’t tend to fluctuate from one month to the next. However, it is worth noting that January sees an average 24.8% spike in people insuring new puppies compared to October, November or December, indicating that when people do get a new dog for Christmas it is very likely to be a young pup.
This year is harder to predict as lockdown has already produced an influx of people adding pets to their families since March. People who have been working from home now have animals for company during the day and the growing popularity for socially distanced exercise such as walking, jogging and cycling has perhaps highlighted how valuable pets can be.
As the initial lockdown began (March-June 2020), CompareNI.com saw pet insurance traffic spike by a dramatic 60%, and volumes remained high during the remainder of the year even as restrictions were eased in many places.
Many animal charities are highlighting how important it is now more than ever, to think these decisions through thoroughly and if these changes in your lifestyle are only temporary, give pets time to adjust their routines – to help them adapt. It’s also important to research where you get them from, checking it is safe and legal and consider the importance of rescuing those who already need a home.
Greg Wilson, Founder of insurance comparison website CompareNI.com comments: “12 million UK households are home to pets according to the RSCPA** – Northern Ireland tops the list with more than a third of all homes owning a dog. With this year’s Christmas being much more intimate with just a few family bubbles mixing and for only a few days – it could be ideal timing for more families to add a pet to their households.
“Research suggests a dog can cost its owner as much as £30,000 during the course of its lifetime, so it should come as no surprise that a pet’s veterinary bills have the potential to be quite sizable if the animal suffers an accident or is diagnosed with an illness. Pets don’t have the NHS to fall back on, of course, so a good pet insurance policy really is the best way to protect your furry friend… and safeguard your finances.”
Steps customers can take to help keep pet insurance costs down;
- Ensure pets are up to date with vaccinations/booster shots (neutering can help too)
- Think about lifestyle – house pets are less likely to be stolen or run away
- Consider opting for a lifetime pet insurance policy, because the higher upfront cost could save you more as your pet ages
- Insure multiple animals under the same multi-pet insurance policy
- Use a comparison website to help shop around and find a competitive price
CompareNI.com will be donating £15,000 across three UK charities this winter – one of which will be the RSPCA, who aim to prevent cruelty, promote kindness and alleviate suffering of all animals.
CompareNI.com is the leading insurance comparison website in Northern Ireland, helping over 660,000 users find a more competitive deal on their insurance. Compare specialist quotes for puppy insurance, older dog insurance, kitten insurance or cat insurance.
