Allow me to introduce my Milo. I’m sure you can understand why I’m so madly in love with him.

But seriously, if you haven’t picked up on it from some of my previous posts, there’s not much I wouldn’t do for my dog. I’d literally sell every single thing my husband and I own if he was sick or injured and needed serious medical care. If you have a dog, you know veterinary fees are no joke. So, to keep us from ending up living out of our car, I have a pet insurance policy.

I first sought out insurance after Milo broke his leg when he was six months old. Andy and I were grad students then and that episode set us back significantly. If it hadn’t been for my mom’s financial assistance, we’d have been in serious trouble. During the time that I was toting him around with his little blue cast, an acquaintance noticed his injury and asked if we had pet insurance. As we spoke, it was obvious that having this kind of protection brought her tremendous confidence and peace of mind and I immediately set about considering the options.

There are several providers of pet insurance on the market, but I eventually settled on VPI pet insurance. Of those available, VPI is probably the most well-known provider of pet insurance in the country. They’re also the oldest and largest provider of health insurance benefits for pets and come highly recommended by veterinary professionals.

VPI operates on a benefit schedule that outlines all of the injuries and illnesses covered by your policy and how much they will reimburse for each. You can visit any veterinarian or emergency clinic you prefer, after which you complete a simple form and fax or mail it in along with your invoices. After you meet your deductible (mine is $50) VPI sends you a check for the either the benefit schedule allowance of your policy or the eligible invoice amount, whichever is less.

Since Milo was so young, I was able to get a pretty decent policy from VPI for a very reasonable amount. I also really liked that I could trust that they were legitimate and well-established. Having the freedom to choose my vet was also key.

There are varying levels of coverage available from VPI, including a plan that allows for preventative and routine care.  I carried that additional coverage for several years, but eventually dropped it because it wasn’t saving me anything (wasn’t hurting me either, just not particularly useful). You also have flexibility in selecting your deductible and can pay monthly or annually. I believe there are discounts for enrolling more than one pet as well.

The plan I have for Milo provides basic coverage for injuries and illnesses and special additional benefits for cancer treatment. Exactly what I bought back in the day is no longer offered, but there are still some great options available. Plans for dogs start at $14/month and are based on your dog’s breed and age, your state of residency and the level of coverage you select. Our plan is $18/month and as long as we stay up to date on our payments, Milo’s policy can never be cancelled or reduced.

I know for a lot of people, this sounds like overkill and that $200+ a year for dog insurance certainly isn’t small potatoes, but the peace of mind I get from knowing that I’ll never have to choose between Milo and the mortgage payment is priceless.

If that friend of mine had never mentioned it, I wouldn’t have even known pet insurance was available, so hopefully this post can do the same for someone else. It is definitely something I recommend and I hope I’ll continue to be fortunate enough to always have it in my back pocket, just in case.

I’m sure we all remember the stories of heartbreak and heroism that surfaced in the wake of Hurricane Katrina about the animal victims of the storm and those who came (or tried to come) to their rescue. As a direct result of the tragic tales of New Orleans residents that refused evacuation orders because it would have meant leaving behind beloved pets, FEMA now includes companion animals in official disaster planning.

That is, of course, a fantastic step forward, but as the recent string of deadly tornadoes and massive flooding in the Midwest and some southern states has proven, there is certainly still more work to be done to ensure that some of our most vulnerable family members will be safe and well-cared for in the event that disaster strikes. Undoubtedly, this begins with pet owners themselves.

First things first: every pet owner should have an emergency plan prepared for themselves and their pet that includes a place to stay that will accept companion animals. The single most important thing you can do to protect your pets in an emergency is to take them with you when you leave. Whether you’re headed to stay with an out-of-town friend or family member or a nearby hotel with a liberal pet policy, making sure that your pet will be welcome is important.

Next, the USHS recommends creating a disaster kit for your pets that is stored with or near any other emergency supplies you keep on-hand. This kit should include:

• A checklist of all your pets’ supplies and medical information
• Food and water for at least five days for each pet, bowls and a manual can opener if you are packing canned pet food
• Medications and medical records stored in a waterproof container and a first aid kit. A pet first aid book is also good to include
• Cat litter box, litter, garbage bags to collect all pets’ waste, and litter scoop
• Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and carriers to transport pets safely and to ensure that your pets can’t escape. Carriers should be large enough for the animal to stand comfortably, turn around and lie down
• Current photos and descriptions of your pets to help others identify them in case you and your pets become separated and to prove that they are yours
• Pet beds and toys, if you can easily take them, to reduce stress

Also, try to identify a close-by friend, neighbor or family member who can take care of your pet if you are away from home when something happens. Be sure to alert this person to the location of your pets’ disaster kit as well.

I recognize that this sounds a little crazeballs. Admittedly, I am overzealous about the health and safety of my dog, but I know I’m not alone in that – and that’s kind of the point, right? Me going to crazy lengths to protect my pet in the event of a disaster would be bad news for my own personal health and safety and that of my family, so it’s obviously important that considerations be made ahead of time to prevent that.

Of course, by their very nature, disasters are unpredictable and dangerous, so you can’t possibly plan for every scenario. Having some kind of basic plan in place though goes a long way in heading off tragedy. Check out this article from the Humane Society for a more comprehensive guide to disaster preparedness for pets.

If you’re interested in helping support the current disaster relief efforts of the Humane Society or would like more information about how you can help, please contact HSUS or click here to donate.