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| Dogs
Trust Vetfone Service
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Dogs
Trust is concerned that pet health could be put at risk
as owners avoid vet visits to cut costs during the credit
crunch.
In response, they have teamed up with Vetfone to offer members
unlimited access to professional veterinary advice over
the telephone. As well as providing dog owners without insurance
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valuable
support and advice, the service will also potentially save money
for those dog owners who already have existing insurance in place.
Owners are advised on those occasions when their dog needs to see
the vet without delay and when perhaps a period of observation and
TLC is more appropriate, so giving them peace of mind.
Michael Maltby, Director of Vetfone, says:
“Four out of ten of the calls that we receive require
advice and reassurance rather than advising an immediate vet visit
is required. This means that by providing this additional service
we give a way to reduce the burden of unnecessary work on the vet
and its associated expense on the owner - a typical vet appointment
will cost at least £25 even before any medication is prescribed
(out of hours consultations will be considerably more).”
The Vetfone service is available to Dogs Trust members 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year. All calls are answered by fully qualified
& RCVS registered Veterinary Nurses who will be able to give
callers immediate advice on whether their pet needs to see a vet
and if so how quickly, as well as answering all those many questions
and worries that seem to arise when you want the best for your dog.
Clarissa Baldwin, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, says:
“We
would always advise people to get pet insurance if they can, but
do recognise that in these times of financial difficulty, many are
finding it a struggle to make ends meet. Just 29 per cent of dog
owners in the UK currently have insurance for their pets and we
are concerned that more will cancel their policies as belts are
tightened, particularly owners with more than one dog. The Vetfone
service is the perfect solution for people in this situation. It
gives them access to professional advice and can prevent unnecessary
(and expensive) trips to the vet.”
Join
the Dogs Trust membership scheme and enjoy veterinary advice and
support all for just £20 a year,
or £10 if you are 60 years old or over. The Dogs Trust Membership
benefits also include free third party insurance – up to £1,000,000
cover if your dog causes an accident, damage or injury to another
person, their property or an animal - a valuable addition for anyone
having to go back to the workplace and thinking of taking their
dog to the office with them.
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Scheme offers support for owners hit by credit crunch
• Save money by avoiding unnecessary vet trips
• Third party insurance cover included up to £1
million
• Over 70% of owners do not have any pet insurance
To join the membership scheme visit the Dogs Trust Membership
page. To find out more about membership visit their FAQs
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Calls to Vetfone, from a UK landline, are charged at the rate of
a local call. The cost of calls from a mobile will vary. There is
an excess of £200 per insurance claim in the UK or £500
excess for claims in the Republic of Ireland.
For more information Tel 020 7837 0006 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk
About Vetfone
Vetfone is a trademark of Vetsdirect Ltd. With its team
of qualified Vet Nurses working 24/7 across the whole of the UK,
Vetfone is the UK’s leading national provider of veterinary
advice. It provides veterinary support and advice services on behalf
of the UK’s leading pet charities. |
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