AS A CANINE AND A JOURNALIST, I have an extraordinary nose for valuable information. I'm happy to report that this month I'm offering a great way to save money and do something wonderful for the life of your pet. I hope you will join me in giving an enthusiastic four paws up for pet health insurance. I'll bet many people don't even know such insurance exists!

Medical care for pets requires a great deal of money. I constantly overhear customers in the shop mention the expense of going to the vet. I am most alarmed by the fact that some people are forced to forgo necessary tests and procedures because of the associated costs. And, although I cringe to think of it, some people have even had to put a beloved pet down or let an illness advance because the medical bill for healing was prohibitively expensive.

In Europe, insuring pets is commonplace. In the United States, however, people have been slow to adopt the practice. Frankly, I just cannot figure out why pet insurance is not as accepted as people insurance – but I'm pretty sure it's because of lack of awareness. The truth is that pet insurance is widely available, easy to obtain, and relatively inexpensive.

There are several kinds of pet insurance, so it pays to shop around. Some policies cover only accidents and illnesses, while others pay for a broad spectrum of care including checkups and vaccinations. Premiums can be quite affordable, with some starting at about $10 per month. It's even possible to set up automatic monthly payments so that you never have to worry about remembering to pay the insurance bill. With options abounding, there is simply no need to put your pet's health and your peace of mind on the line.

I cannot endorse any company, as I do not know what each person's experience with that company will be. I can, however, tell you that a quick online search will yield many companies offering pet insurance. The three that I am most aware of are:

Veterinary Pet Insurance, www.petinsurance.com
PetCare, www.petcareinsurance.com
Pet Assure, www.petassure.com

As with any insurance decision, you should carefully analyze the pros and cons of the plan, as well as read the fine print. You will need to look closely at pre-set limits and deductibles as they can vary from company to company. Most importantly, if you are at all sensitive to price when it comes to your pet's medical care, please take the steps to insure your pet soon. Accidents and illnesses happen, and it is certainly reassuring to know that money will never be an issue in determining your pet's quality or length of life.

Albert, a Jack Russell Terrier, is Chairman of the Board of Wylie Wagg, a shop for dogs, cats, and their people, in Middleburg.