Embrace Pet Insurance Blog

Embrace Pet Insurance joins NAPHIA

NAPHIA is the North American Pet Health Insurance Association and Embrace is the 5th member to join (see bottom of this post for the other members).

I'm not one for joining organizations (I have better things to be doing with my time right now) but I thought this is one was worth the time and effort.

Pet insurance is only going to grow if pet parents know more about the benefits of pet insurance and we (embrace) can't do it by ourselves.

Pet Health Insurance Association Grows in Robust Market Adding Additional Pedigree to Board of Directors

May 7, 2009 (Pittsburgh, PA) The North American Pet Health Insurance Association(NAPHIA) announced today the addition of Laura Bennett, President and Chief Embracer of Embrace Pet Insurance to its Board of Directors.

According to Loran Hickton, Executive Director of NAPHIA, “Laura Bennett is a champion of pets and their owners. Along with her team, she has built a successful pet health insurance company, while supporting the most positive principals of third party support for better pet care for all pets. Laura is creative and a keenly focused business person who will add significant value to the efforts of our Board.”

Ms. Bennett has over 16 years of insurance industry experience, including her work for The Canada Life Assurance Company in Toronto, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland, where she held a number of different leadership roles in asset-liability management, strategic planning, and business development. Laura holds an honors mathematics degree from the University of Western Ontario, is a qualified life and health actuary, and holds a chartered financial analyst designation. Laura is the only pet health insurance actuary in North America. Laura received her MBA, with a concentration in Strategic and Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, where she graduated with several university and peer awards. She was also part of the team that won first prize in the Wharton Business Plan Competition in 2003, with an entry for a pet insurance company.

“I am honored to be a member of this distinguished board and I look forward to working with all pet health insurance providers to educate pet parents on the value of pet insurance, and to promote the highest levels of transparency in pet health insurance,” added Laura Bennett.  

“While this difficult economy presents challenges for consumers and pet owners, it is also driving a robust market for pet insurance; in fact, the market in North America is very strong and has grown over 300% in just the past few years,” continued Hickton.

Research by the American Veterinary Medical Association shows that today pets are truly members of the American family. In the United States, for example, about 60% of households have at least one dog, cat, bird, or other companion animal; many have more than one. There are more than 72 million pet dogs in the U.S. and nearly 82 million pet cats. The owners of these pets spent $24.5 billion on veterinary medicine in 2006, more than double their spending of ten years earlier.

The Board of Directors of NAPHIA:

Jack Stephens, DVM, President & Founder, Pets Best Pet Health Insurance

Darryl Rawlings, CEO & Founder, American Pet Insurance Company, Trupanion™ and Vetinsurance™ brands

Dennis Rushovich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hartville Group, which includes Hartville Pet Health Insurance, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance™, and Petshealth Care Plan™ brands

Randy Valpy, President & COO, SecuriCan, Petsecure Pet Health Insurance

Founded in 2007, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association is committed to educating and promoting the values and benefits of pet health insurance to North American pet owners, the general public, and the veterinary industry.  For more information, visit www.naphia.orgor call 412-319-7730 / 412-908-9766.

Loran Hickton

Executive Director

North American Pet Health Insurance Association

Pet shipping fraudsters resort to bullying

One of the people who contacted us about her dog being shipped from abroad (Cameroon I believe) pushed back at the scammers:

YOU ARE A FRAUD, USING EMBRACE LOGO IS ILLEGAL, I HAVE SENT YOU TWO NOTICES AND YOU HAVENT GOT BACK TO ME, PEOPLE FROM THE REAL EMBRACE ANIMAL INSURANCE HAS TOLD ME TO GO TO POLICE AND THAT THE REAL EMBRACE INSURANCE IS GOING TO FIND YOU, AND PROBABLY TAKE YOU TO COURT...

Here is the disturbing response:

DEAR CLIENT,

WE AREN'T FRAUDSTERS AND THE MAIN REASON WE NEVER GOT BACK TO YOU IS BECAUSE WE DON'T LOVE TO BE INSULTED.THAT LOGO WE USED WAS CREATED BY ONE OF OUR COMPUTER TECHNICIANS SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT NEVER THE LESS WE RECEIVED PAYMENTS TODAY FROM MARY TROTT FOR YOUR PUPPY'S INSURANCE AND CRATE AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT WE WOULD GET HER SHIPPED OVER TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

ITS BEEN MORE THAN TWO WEEKS TODAY WE HAVE KEPT YOUR PUPPY HERE AT OUR AIRLINES AND SHE HAS BEEN GIVEN MAXIMUM ATTENTION BY THE PET DEPARTMENT AND BY THE VET.SHE WAS BEEN CHECKED EVERY DAY BY THE VET SO THAT SHE SHOULD FALL SICK OR GET ANY ILLNESS FROM HERE BUT THE VET SAYS THE SERVICES HE RENDERED IS FREE OF CHARGE SO YOU WOULDN'T PAY ANY MONEY FOR THE CHECKS HE GAVE YOUR PUPPY EACH DAY.

WE PROVIDED FOOD TO YOUR PUPPY EVER SINCE SHE WAS BROUGHT HERE UNTIL TODAY AND WE EXPECT YOU TO BEHAVE LIKE A RESPONSIBLE WOMAN AND GET ALL FOOD FEES REFUNDED BACK TO US BECAUSE THE INSURANCE AND CRATE FEES YOU PAID IS GOING TO BE REFUNDED BACK TO YOU AS WELL SO WE WOULD WANT YOU TO PAY OUR MONEY BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN GET HER SHIPPED OVER TO YOU.

RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING IS READY FOR HER FLIGHT SHE HAS ALL HER PAPERS IN ORDER BUT WE WOULD GET HER SHIPPED OVER TO YOU ONLY AFTER YOU GET HER FOOD FEES PAID.WE CALCULATED THE AMOUNT OF FOOD WE GAVE HER IT AMOUNTED TO $790 BUT WE CAN'T ASK YOU TO PAY ALL OF THAT SINCE YOU JUST PAID HER INSURANCE AND CRATE FEES.WE WOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT SO THAT YOU CAN AFFORD IT.

YOU WOULD PAY ONLY $300 FOR HER FEEDING FEES WHICH WE GAVE HER OR ELSE SHE COULDN'T BE ALIVE TODAY AND YOU BEST KNOW THAT FOOD IS VERY NECESSARY RIGHT..SO GO RIGHT NOW AND GET THE MONEY PAID SO THAT WE CAN RECEIVE THE MONEY AND GET THE PUPPY SHIPPED OVER TO YOU.NOTHING IS WRONG WITH YOUR PUPPY,SHE HAS ALL HER PAPERS AND EVERYTHING BUT HER FEEDING FEES MUST BE PAID FIRST AND WE WOULD GET HER SENT ONCE THAT IS PAID.

ONCE YOU ARE READY TO GET IT PAID LET US KNOW SO THAT WE CAN LET YOU KNOW HOW AND WHERE TO GET THE MONEY SENT TO.

THANKS

MANAGEMENT.

Don't be taken in. There is no insurance. There is no puppy.

Related Posts:
Email scam using Embrace Pet Insurance as a lure - bah! - intro to the pet scam
Follow up on Online Scam using Pet Insurance - what you can do if you have been duped :(
Foreign puppy shipping fraud continues - another sample letter from scammers

How Much Did You Say Surgery to Remove a Swallowed Foreign Object Cost?

In our experience, anywhere from $1,600 to $4,300 (even without surgery, costs range from $300 - $1,200)

Here's an example of emergency surgery and 2 additional hospital days to remove undergarments from a 2 year old mixed breed dog in Cleveland, Ohio (December 2008.)

The total cost for this surgery was $2,406.51 - I'd hate to think how much it would have cost in NY City or LA (at least $1,000 more).

DATE	ITEM	BILLED AMOUNT
Day 1	VSS CBC/Profile UA	$          0.00
Day 1	Sampling Fee	$       14.00
Day 1	Biohazard Fee	$          3.00
Day 1	CBC/Profile	$     100.20
Day 1	Medications	$       19.00
Day 1	VSS Exam Only	$          0.00
Day 1	OVSN SLP Exam	$       65.00
Day 1	VSS Soft Tissue	$          0.00
Day 1	IV Catheter	$       23.00
Day 1	Fluid Therapy	$       33.00
Day 1	Extension Set	$          7.00
Day 1	Anesthesia	$       69.00
Day 1	Large Suture Pack	$     168.00
Day 1	Suction	$       15.00
Day 1	Electrocaut	$       15.00
Day 1	Skin Staple	$       38.00
Day 1	ICU Cage Fee	$       82.00
Day 1	Intensive Nursing	$       22.00
Day 1	Medications	$       19.00
Day 1	Intensive Care Management	$       52.00
Day 1	Perisurgical Monitoring	$       51.00
Day 1	Technician - Anes	$       89.00
Day 1	Surgical Drape Pack	$       47.00
Day 1	Duragesic 100mcg	$     100.46
Day 1	Duragesic 50mcg	$       52.20
Day 1	Enterotomy	$     859.95
Day 1	Medications	$       19.00
Day 1	Fluid Therapy	$       92.00
Day 1	Medications	$       38.00
Day 2	Fluid Therapy	$       69.00
Day 2	Oral Medication	$       17.00
Day 2	Medications Inj	$       57.00
Day 2	Daily Cage Charge	$       41.00
Day 2	Intensive Care Management	$       52.00
Day 3	Daily Case Management	$       36.70
Day 3	Daily Cage Charge	$       41.00
Total		$  2,406.51

We paid out $1,715.86 on this claim as the pet parent had selected a $500 annual deductible, 10% copay with a $10,000 annual maximum. The policy's annual premium for this pet (there are 3 dogs on the policy) is $197.10.

As you can see, it's not a good idea to leave your undies out where your dog might find them :s

In our experience, anywhere from $1,600 to $4,300 (even without surgery, costs range from $300 - $1,200)

Here's an example of emergency surgery and 2 additional hospital days to remove undergarments from a 2 year old mixed breed dog in Cleveland, Ohio (December 2008.)

The total cost for this surgery was $2,406.51 - I'd hate to think how much it would have cost in NY City or LA (at least $1,000 more).

DATE	ITEM	BILLED AMOUNT
Day 1	VSS CBC/Profile UA	$          0.00
Day 1	Sampling Fee	$       14.00
Day 1	Biohazard Fee	$          3.00
Day 1	CBC/Profile	$     100.20
Day 1	Medications	$       19.00
Day 1	VSS Exam Only	$          0.00
Day 1	OVSN SLP Exam	$       65.00
Day 1	VSS Soft Tissue	$          0.00
Day 1	IV Catheter	$       23.00
Day 1	Fluid Therapy	$       33.00
Day 1	Extension Set	$          7.00
Day 1	Anesthesia	$       69.00
Day 1	Large Suture Pack	$     168.00
Day 1	Suction	$       15.00
Day 1	Electrocaut	$       15.00
Day 1	Skin Staple	$       38.00
Day 1	ICU Cage Fee	$       82.00
Day 1	Intensive Nursing	$       22.00
Day 1	Medications	$       19.00
Day 1	Intensive Care Management	$       52.00
Day 1	Perisurgical Monitoring	$       51.00
Day 1	Technician - Anes	$       89.00
Day 1	Surgical Drape Pack	$       47.00
Day 1	Duragesic 100mcg	$     100.46
Day 1	Duragesic 50mcg	$       52.20
Day 1	Enterotomy	$     859.95
Day 1	Medications	$       19.00
Day 1	Fluid Therapy	$       92.00
Day 1	Medications	$       38.00
Day 2	Fluid Therapy	$       69.00
Day 2	Oral Medication	$       17.00
Day 2	Medications Inj	$       57.00
Day 2	Daily Cage Charge	$       41.00
Day 2	Intensive Care Management	$       52.00
Day 3	Daily Case Management	$       36.70
Day 3	Daily Cage Charge	$       41.00
Total		$  2,406.51

Paid internship summer 2009 at Embrace Pet Insurance

We have one intern chosen so now I'm posting about another. Come join us for the summer - it's going to be a blast!

 

is looking for an intern to join our summer program in our Mayfield Village offices (781 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village, OH 44143). Embrace Pet Insurance

 

If you are a new high school grad who’s off to college in the autumn or a current college student who is:

·         a tech savvy data hound – someone who’s good at detective work on the web and is detail oriented

·         someone who can pick up the phone and talk to people (no sales involved)

·         someone who is flexible and doesn’t mind the changing environment of an early stage company

·         a pet lover who is not allergic to cats or dogs (we have a pet-friendly office with frequent 4-legged visitors)

·         a reliable person who works hard

Then we are looking for you.

 

Here’s what you would get out of it:

·         $8/hr for a 40 hour work week June - August

·         work experience in a venture-backed early stage company that would be very hard to come by otherwise

·         a great resume addition

·         a valuable reference (assuming one was deserved!)

 

Please email your resume and a cover email on why you think we should hire you over anyone else who is applying to Laura Bennett lb@embracepetinsurance.com.

 

Looking forward to hearing from you [or forward to your friends/family who might know someone!]

Hello to my WorkSmark eMarketing webinar participants!

Welcome to Embrace's blog. Delighted to have you drop by.

As I mentioned in the Webinar, you can navigate around the blog using the left hand panels to give you an overview and of course there's the Lijit search box top right. 

Feel free to post any follow up comments or thoughts in the comments below and I'll be happy to address them if I can. And if you start a blog after the webinar because of the webinar, please post your link in the comments - I'd love to see what everyone gets up to.

Happy blogging!

PS. The presentation is below.

Embrace Pet Insurance Business Blogging Case Study - eMarketing Techniques Webinar

Foreign puppy shipping fraud continues

I haven't had a post on puppy fraud for a while now (sadly, it still continues though) but we recently got a new example of an email from a fraudster using the Embrace Pet Insurance logos so I thought I'd post it here in case you were scammed by these people.

For more details of the fraud, check out these other posts:
Email scam using Embrace Pet Insurance as a lure - bah!
Follow up on Online Scam using Pet Insurance - what you can do if you have been duped :(

______________________________________________________________________________________

Email details:

PET SHIPPING CUSTOMER DEPARTMENT
PET SHIPPING COMPANY
CUSTOMER DEPARTMENT

GOOD DAY SIR/MADAM,

HERE IS THE PET SHIPPING COMPANY ( PET HEALTH CARE) AND CUSTOM DEPARTMENT.

ATTENTION:::[your name]

I MR MARK HUMPHREY,MANAGER IN CHARGE OF PET INSURANCE AT THE PETS TRANSPORTERS EXPRESS AGENCY PET HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE DEPARTMENT WISHES TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PUPPY FROM MR/MRS MARY TROTT IS NOW REGISTERED AND HAS BEEN CHECKED TO MEET THE INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION.ALSO,ALL HEALTH PAPERS ARE AVAILABLE AND THE PUPPY HAS BEEN CONFIRM AND ACCEPTED TO LEAVE MAINE TO TEXAS

GENERAL HEALTH WARRANTY

YOUR PET IS GUARANTEED TO BE HEALTHY, THAT IS TO SAY THERE ARE NO HEALTH PROBLEMS . HOWEVER FOR THIS WARRANTY TO BE EFFECTIVE, YOU MUST:

(1) TAKE YOUR PET TO A LICENSED VETERINARIAN PROMPTLY AND (2) NOTIFY US WITHIN FORTY EIGHT (48) HOURS FROM THE TIME OF SHIPMENT OF ANY MAJOR PROBLEM. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES HOWEVER WILL I BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY EXPENSES INCURRED BY YOU.

THE FLIGHT HAS ALREADY BEEN SCHEDULED PAID .THE PUPPY WENT IN FOR CHECK UP AT THE PET BAGGAGE DEPARTMENT AND WE JUST DISCOVERED THE FOLLOWING...

1:THE INSURANCE PAPERS FOR THE PUPPY HAS TO BE PAID BEFORE SHIPPING.WE REQUIRE THE INSURANCE COST FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PET ON THE FLIGHT IN CASE OF ANY PROBLEM AS THE PUPPY WILL BE TAKING A TRANSIT FLIGHT AT VARIOUS TERMINALS.THE INSURANCE COST IS REFUNDED WHEN YOU WILL BE PICKING UP THE PUPPY AT YOUR RECEIVING AIRPORT OR AT YOUR DOOR.THE INSURANCE IS VALID AFTER 12 HOURS FROM THE TIME THE PUPPY HAS BE DELIVERED.THE INSURANCE COST IS REFUNDED UPON PRESENTATION OF A VALID IDENTIFICATION PAPER OR A DRIVING LICENSE AT YOUR DOORSTEPS BY THE RECEIVER OF THE PUPPY.WE JUST NEED THIS INSURANCE TO COVER THE PUPPY ON TRANSIT.

2:PETS CHECKED UP.ALL PETS AND ANIMALS ARE CHECKED UP AT THE PET BAGGAGE DEPARTMENT PRIOR FOR SHIPMENT.A VET DOCTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND IT IS DONE TO ENSURE THE PUPPY HAS MET UP WITH INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS ON ALL VET CERTIFICATES AND HEALTH PAPERS.

WE SEE YOU HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN HER CRATE PAID.THATS GREAT!

SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET HER INSURANCE PAPERS RENEWED AND GET THE VET INSPECTION FEES PAID AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS DONE,THE PUPPY WILL BE SHIPPED TO YOUR ADDRESS.

-RE-FUNDABLE INSURANCE.........$300.00
-BILLING FOR THE TEST BY VET.........$20.00
-TOTAL.....................................$320....00 OF WHICH $300.00 WILL BE REFUNDED TO YOU UPON DELIVERY OF THE PUPPY AT YOUR HOME.

N.B(1)
WE WOULD NOT GET THE PUPPY SHIPPED OVER TO YOU IF YOU DON'T GET HER INSURANCE AND VET FEES PAID FIRST.

N.B(2)
THE MONEY WHICH YOU ARE GOING TO PAY IS GOING TO BE REFUNDED BACK TO YOU UPON THE PUPPY'S DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME.THE MONEY YOU WOULD PAY IS GOING TO BE 100% REFUNDED BACK TO YOU ONCE YOU RECEIVE HER.SO NO NEED TO BE AFRAID YOU WOULD RECEIVE YOUR MONEY BACK.

ONCE YOU ARE READY TO GET THE $320 PAID LET US KNOW.

MANAGEMENT

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you have paid money to these people, sadly it's lost forever - do not send any more to them.

Related Posts:
Email scam using Embrace Pet Insurance as a lure - bah!
Follow up on Online Scam using Pet Insurance - what you can do if you have been duped :(

10 Things You Can Do To Have The Best Pet Insurance Experience Ever

Now that you have bought your Embrace pet insurance policy, here are 10 activities you can do to make your pet insurance experience a productive and . 

1. Memorize the Embrace phone number on your cell phone
   800-511-9172 You never know when you'll want to call in with questions
2. Print out 2 copies of your personalized Claim Form
   Put one in your car's glove compartment and take one to your veterinary clinic and ask them to put it in your file. That way, it's one less thing to think about during a health issue.
3. Print out your Orthopedic Waiver Form
   Coming soon to an Embrace policy near you - a form to record the veterinary exam that can reduce the 6 month waiting period for orthopedic issues down to 14 days. Currently, we have a 6 month waiting period for cruciate ligament issues and your vet can examine your pet and write a note saying there are no issues with your pet's knees - there's no form needed for that.
4. Read your terms and conditions!
   I know, this is so obvious, why should I even mention it but my experience is that only 1 in 10 pet parents actually read their policies. At the very least, check your information is correct and your policy is what you asked for. Then read the rest of the policy; understanding of your terms and conditions will make for a much better pet insurance experience. 
5. Call us with your questions
   Here's the number again 800 -511-9172 (of course, it's already on your cell phone, right?) Now that you've read your policy, you probably have questions. What better time to call than now to get those questions answered. You really don't want to be getting the answers from the lobby of your local emergency vet clinic.
6. Have your Embraced pet checked up by your veterinarian.
   Not only is it a good idea, particularly if you don't have much health history for your pet (makes your first claim go faster if you have something to fax in), but you can get the Orthopedic/Cruciate Waiver check out of the way. And you can get them to do task number 8 below. Woohoo!
7. Tell your veterinarian you've Embraced your pet
   Let your vet know you have Embrace pet insurance and that it covers hereditary conditions, chronic conditions, and pays based on their vet bills, not on a benefit schedule. She or he might be surprised that such a thing exists! 
8. Fax in your pet's health history
   800-238-1042 (it's on your claim form too - the one you are going to put in your pet's file, right?) This will make your first claim go faster. Specifically, ask your vet to fax us your doctor's hand written notes for every vet visit you pet has made, including routine visits and for every vet including one-off visits to other clinics. If your pet is older than 2 years old, start with the last 2 year's worth of history.  
9. Maximize your discounts
   We offer discounts for spayed/neutered pets (5%) and microchipped pets (another 5%) so if your pet wasn't spayed or neutered and/or microchipped when you signed up for your insurance but that changes, phone in (remember the number?) and let us know - you'll need the microchip number for that discount. We'll drop your premium immediately.
10. Set up your own pet health savings account
    Your Embrace pet insurance policy has a deductible and copay component to your policy. So to be financially prudent, you might want to set up a small fund to cover your annual deductible and copay. For example, if your annual deductible is $200 and your copay is 20%, you will be paying the first $200 of a claim and then 20% of the total thereafter. On a $500 claim, that's $260 out of pocket and on a $1,500 claim (about what an inexpensive cruciate repair costs), that's $460.
11. And bonus points - send us photos of you and your Embraced pets. We love the cute and fuzzies and you might see them on this blog one day!

For the experienced Embraced pet parent, any other suggestions come to mind?

Gratuitous Embrace articles and a Free Webinar

First, a couple of gratuitous mentions of articles highlighting Embrace, the first being "In the Doghouse", an article on the Lloyd's of London website covering heriditary conditions in purebred dogs. With the recent controversial stance by the BBC not to show Crufts, the 118-year old dog show (equivalent to the Westminster Dog Show here in the US), the article talks about different costs for different breeds with a few quotes from me.

The second is an interview I did with Dr. Janet Tobiassen over at the About.com Veterinary Medicine site talking about Embrace and our pet insurance product. Check it out - I'm sure you'll learn something about Embrace you didn't know before.

And finally, join me for a free webinar I'm presenting on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT. It's a business blogging case study based on Embrace Pet Insurance and is kindly being hosted by Worksmart Emarketing, based here in Cleveland. Do come and join in the fun.

Pet-related Small Business Trends 2009

It's official! Anita Campbell, has posted the detailed Pet Industry Trends for 2009 that I write every year over on her Small Business Trends blog. It's from a small business perspective, a topic dear to my  heart.

In the meantime, here is a summary for you, just in case you didn't have time for the full version.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Pet-related Small Business Trends 2009

Question: is the pet industry recession-proof as many say it is? Answer: 2009 will prove out whether or not pet owners spend on their pets through thick and thin.

The overwhelming pet-related trend in 2009 will be value for money – spending more thoughtfully and spending less. 2009 spending will level off as pet owners pay more attention to their budgets. The top ten trends are:

1. Pet parents will spend, but more thoughtfully than in recent years

Spending on pet supplies and over-the-counter medicines was projected to increase 5.1% in 2008 from $9.8 billion to $10.3 billion according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) but before the recession announcement. We would not be surprised to see more modest increases in the range of 2% in 2008, continuing on to 2009.

2. Pet services for pets continue to grow

There’s a reason Wal-Mart is testing grooming in its stores and expanding its pet aisle – pet parents are spending good money in this area, even in a recession. More than $3 billion dollars will be spent on pet services in 2008 according to the APPA, which will likely continue to grow in 2009, but at a lower rate than in prior years.

3. Dog’s Star on the Rise for 2009?

The number of cats in the US have long dominated dog numbers (according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are more than 72 million pet dogs in the U.S. but nearly 82 million pet cats). Will the new First Dog inspire people with dog allergies to reconsider bringing a dog in-house?

4. Growing interest in pet health care

Pet parents are taking control of their pets’ health care as they do their two legged children. Technology from the human world continues to make its way into the veterinary tool kit including non-invasive surgeries, human medical devices and services being applied to pets. Pet lovers want, and are demanding, the same treatment options for their pets as they can get for themselves.

5. Pet insurance edges towards the mainstream

We estimate the size of the US pet insurance market to be $271 million in premium in 2008, up from approximately $220 million in 2007 (a 23% increase) and we expect 2009 premium to reach $328 million. We project that the market will grow to $500 million by 2012.

6. Hybrids take center stage

Not just popular for cars, recent years saw the popularity of hybrid dogs grow rapidly. As predicted last year, 2008 saw the growth of the puppy farm hybrid to take advantage of the inflated prices people are paying for these dogs. 2009 is only going to get worse in this respect.

7. Increased competition from larger players.

Larger companies are beginning to recognize the economic potential of the pet industry. Target and Wal-Mart are both expanding their pet selection and using pets in their advertising.

8. Large companies hold off buying smaller just when the prices are right.

Some might say that right now is the perfect time for consolidation in the pet industry because of the incredibly low valuations but don’t expect much to happen in the first half of 2009.   

9. Increased online sophistication from new pet-related businesses in ecommerce, design, and usability.

In 2008, a whole slew of new “WebMD for pets” websites appeared, such as WebVet, PetMD, and PetDoc, and we’ll see them battle it out for the lead position in 2009. Newer players are more sophisticated in design and ecommerce, reaching their target audience via web-site usability, search engine optimization, paid search, and word of mouth marketing.

10. Pet-related blogs continue to grow their influence.

The power of pet-related blogs really showed up during the pet food recall in the middle of 2007. Blogs such as Pet Connection, Pet Sit USA and Dolittler continue to provide high quality commentary on all aspects of pet news and issues.

And one final bonus trend that indicates the direction of pet health …

11. The divergence of the veterinary clinic

On the one hand, the advent of advanced human medical tests and treatments in the pet world has led to the growth in private specialty clinics. At the other end of the spectrum, there is good money to be made by a single veterinarian in a practice focusing on pet wellness, without the need for fancy equipment and more than a handful of support staff. We predict this divergence between wellness and accident/illness care in veterinary clinics will grow noticeably over the next five years.
______________________________________________________________________

So there you have it - what do you think the pet trends of 2009, 2010 and beyond will be?

Sneak peak at the 2009 Pet Trends

I have to keep this short (big day tomorrow) but if you are interested in a sneak peak at the 2009 pet trends coming up, here's a story on some off-the-top-of-my-head comments to journalist Darcy Lockman made on the subject a month ago in her article A Dog-Centric Look Back at 2009.

The biggest trend Darcy thought for 2009?

But what is Bennett's biggest prediction for 2009? She thinks the popularity of adopting a shelter dog will skyrocket. "Shelters and rescues will be the big thing after the Obamas move into the White House. Everyone will want to say, 'I got my dog from the same place the president got his.'"

What do you think?