The post Top 10 Things to Know When Adopting a New Dog appeared first on Pet Shield Insurance.
]]>Dogs truly become members of the family and fill our lives with excitement, love, and fun. If you and your family are looking into buying or adopting a new dog, there’s a lot to consider, especially when doing so online. Luckily, we at Pet Shield are here to help! Here are the top 10 things to consider when adding a new dog to the family:
Adopting or buying a dog is lifechanging and thrilling – it’s easy to rush into, and making a snap decision can be very tempting after an adorable little puppy catches your eye. However, it’s worth it in the long run, for both you and your pup, to put a great deal of time and consideration towards this choice. Think about your current home, life, family, and how a dog will fit into this equation. Then you can start planning!
Have you planned and budgeted for all your upcoming expenses, including pet insurance, vaccinations, dental care, and spaying/neutering? Tags and microchipping are also extremely important. Even the cost of food adds up! Taking the time to plan and create a budget for these expenses will make the process that much easier for you, will help guarantee your dog’s comfort and safety, and will give you more time to focus on bonding and training once your dog arrives. Remember, you’ll need to set aside time, as well as money, when welcoming your new pet to the family.
It’s important to be aware of your new dog’s background as you welcome them into your family and make decisions about their training and care. Your dog’s story and behaviour will differ depending where they came from: a reputable breeder, rescue organization, or a local shelter run by your municipality or local humane society.
This information is also crucial. Not only will it factor into your planning and budget, but you’ll also be able to learn more about the overall health of your new pup. You don’t want any unexpected or unwelcome surprises after your pet has joined the family.
“Meeting the parents” is usually pretty nerve-wracking, but in this case, it’s way more fun! This is also a useful step in ensuring that the seller or rescue organization is legitimate, and no fraud is taking place. It can also be such a treat to see your special pup and get acquainted before you bring them home.
This is a big day that you shouldn’t miss if you can take part! Not only will it give you the chance to further discuss your new dog’s background, ask any questions you may have, and (possibly) see the dog’s parents in person, you’ll also get to experience those important and memorable first moments with your dog, and start bonding right away.
Reputable dog breeders, rescue organizations, and local shelters should all offer thorough information, consideration, and care when dealing with both their animals, and people hoping to adopt. The best scenario is a seller and buyer who are both extremely considerate of the animals in care, treating these animals well, and ensuring the transition is as smooth and safe as possible for them.
Though we can hope for the best, it’s useful to ask these questions as a just-in-case measure. You can also ask about policies on returns if you feel inclined to do so. However, it’s always better to do your research beforehand, and try to be as sure as you can that you won’t need to return your new dog or give them away.
Remember that pet insurance, on average, costs just a few dollars a day. If medical issues arise at any point in your dog’s life, Pet Shield covers up to 80% of medical expenses, as well as additional coverage.
Those who take part in activities regulated by the CFIA are responsible for meeting the requirements found in the Health of Animals Act, the Health of Animals Regulations, and the Reportable Diseases Regulations. Anyone importing, exporting, or selling these products – even if they’re doing so on a small scale online from their home, is included in this category. Provincial and territorial requirements likely apply as well.
Canada has strong health requirements for imported puppies and dogs. It’s possible that dogs bred for commercial sale may have been exposed to other diseases or parasites that didn’t appear during the import. Importers are responsible for ensuring the health of animals in their care, and verifying and following import requirements before entering or re-entering the country.
There you have it! As we can see, adding a new dog to the family takes a great deal of thought, planning, and effort, but in the end, it’s worth it. There are so many reasons why dogs are humans’ best friends. Dogs can give us company, love, happiness, exercise, and improved mental health. The least we can do is make sure we offer them a good life that’s filled with the same benefits. For more information on buying or adopting a new dog, visit The Government of Canada’s puppies and dogs page, as well as its buying and adopting page.
The easiest way to ensure you’ll always be able to provide your pet with the care they need is through pet insurance. Check out our Plans & Coverages page for dogs to discover the best plan for you and your best friend.
The post Top 10 Things to Know When Adopting a New Dog appeared first on Pet Shield Insurance.
]]>The post Pet Profile: Dolce and Gabanna appeared first on Pet Shield Insurance.
]]>We at Pet Shield are obsessed with protecting your pets, because we know just how special they are. We thought it’d be fun to show them off on our website! We’ll be sharing some of our favourite “pet profiles” we receive. This week’s picks are none other than Dolce and Gabanna!
Names: Dolce McDonald & Gabanna Cole (though their dog parents are now married, their owners say they haven’t gotten around to changing Gabanna’s last name yet).
Breed: Miniature Pinscher
This brother and sister were born in 2007. “My husband chose Dolce because he immediately took a little nap in his arms when he picked him up. I chose Gabbana because she was the runt of the litter. We decided to get 2 at the same time so they would have each other during the day while we were at work.”
Unlike most other dogs, these two absolutely hate car rides. When their owners go on vacation, they get to stay home and have puppy sitters come live with them.
Dolce has had a few surgeries over the years and has a thyroid issue. He is now pretty much blind and going deaf. Gabanna has had zero issues, and still gets the zoomies. Her family always jokes that she will outlive us all.
Dolce and Gabanna are typical siblings who will snuggle and cuddle each other one moment, and are a tad grumpy with each other the next. Gabanna must sleep completely under blankets. Dolce, not so much.
They love “toothbrushes” (their owner’s code word for “Greenies” treats), and their favourite song is Dolce & Gabanna (in the tune of Copacabana). His name is Dolce, hers is Gabanna.
If you’d like the chance to show off your pet in one of Pet Shield’s pet profiles, send us your favourite pet pictures and a little info on your furry friend – their likes, dislikes, a cute story about them, etc. You can send us your pet bios over Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or email us at info@petshieldinsurance.ca.
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]]>The post Pet Shield’s $500 Photo Contest appeared first on Pet Shield Insurance.
]]>Of course you would, and we’d like to give you the chance to do so! To get everyone as excited as we are about the launch of Pet Shield, we’ve put together a fun little contest where you can show off your pets for the chance to win! It’s easy as 1–2–3:
After that, you’ll be automatically entered in our draw to win $500!
This contest runs from April 1 – June 30, 2021. We’ll send out reminders over our social media channels coming up to June 30, when we’ll draw the winner.
No purchase necessary to enter or win this contest.
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]]>The post Welcome to Pet Shield! appeared first on Pet Shield Insurance.
]]>Welcome to Pet Shield! We’re your new and local Canadian pet insurance provider, specializing in dog and cat insurance. Pet Shield was developed around the idea that protecting our pets’ health is a decision that shouldn’t be based on finances alone – we believe you should always have the freedom to make decisions about your pet’s care. Our pets play a big role in our well being, and we want to ensure that you can do everything possible to protect your well being.
Veterinary care is necessary, but expensive. Having pet insurance is the best way to plan for unexpected veterinary costs, should your pet have an accident or illness. Through Pet Shield, we’re ensuring that Alberta pet owners have access to great insurance coverage and excellent service at a reasonable price.
On average, pet insurance costs just a few dollars a day, and offers peace of mind knowing your best friend can receive the medical care they deserve, without having to worry about costly vet bills. Our plans include special coverage and additional member benefits, as well as coverage for alternative treatments, behavioural therapy, routine dental and member benefits.
Pet Shield Insurance is underwritten by Petline Insurance Company, the first licensed insurance company in Canada to focus solely on pet health insurance. Pet Shield is also a division of Armour Insurance Group Ltd. At Armour, we like to say we’re Obsessed with Protection. This obsession carries over to Pet Shield and we are happy to continue expand our journey by being able to offer, what we believe to be, the best Pet Insurance product available in Canada.
Contact us today to find out more about protecting your pets!
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