Rouky

Walking home from the Fete du Citron I saw this lovely dog asleep under a table. He posed with his special training lead but later his owner removed it for photo but then he wouldn't keep still. A lovely dog and active like many Brittany Spaniels.

Rouky is 2 years old and was on holiday in Menton from his home in Belgium.

Building an Outdoor Dog House

If your house is not spacious enough to accommodate your dog, you can think of building an outdoor dog house. As the owner, it is your responsibility to ensure your pet’s security and comfort. Your pet may not live peacefully if it doesn’t have a spacious, safe and weather proof shelter. Many dog owners feel that building an outdoor dog house is an expensive affair and it takes a lot of effort as well. 

In reality, building a dog house is not as difficult as you think. It is neither so expensive that you can not afford it. With a little planning and some useful tips, you can easily build an outdoor dog house.

Let us have a look at the outdoor dog house options.

Pre-planned dog house: Giving a shelter to your dog is not enough if the shelter is so small that your dog can not move freely. You should have a pre-defined space in your garden or yard where you can build the dog house. Measuring this space will help you to avoid buying excess material. You can also buy a pre-made dog house depending on the measurement. An ideal shelter should be 20-30 feet in length and 10-20 feet in width.

Dog House made of Nylon Panels: Nylon is one of the most cost effective materials you can use for your dog house. You can build the walls as well as the roof with nylon panels. It is an ideal material for weather proofing. Moreover it gives your dog an airy living area since nylon is breathable.

Affordable Materials: Building a dog house with iron or steel can be an expensive affair you can opt for some alternative materials like wood, chicken wire and PVC to build nice and sturdy outdoor dog houses.

Setting up a dog house is not very difficult. You can do it yourself instead of hiring professionals. This will save you a good deal of money.

Pepsi the Ratter

Pepsi has been fixed to a post alongside her owner whilst the family watch the Corso (parade) at the Fete du Citron in Menton.

She's ten years old - her owner told me she's a good ratter. She lives in the Luberon, a beautiful part of Provence.

Emmie at the Corso

Two year old Emmie was having a lovely time at the Fete du Citron parade on Sunday. Lovely alert Yorkie and proud owner.

They come from a village in Normandy called Sainte Mere Eglise. The village was made famous by the paratrooper John Steel and by the film "The Longest Day". John Steel managed to land on the church and his chute caught on the steeple. He hung there for two hours while the fighting continued on the ground before being cut down by the Germans, taken prisoner and later released by the Americans.

Real-Life Examples of Pet Insurance Claims

Heather Reynolds is a pet lover and internet journalist at Trupanion, North America’s fastest growing pet insurance provider. Trupanion offers a simple, customizable pet insurance policy with no payout limits and 90% coverage of veterinary bills. Enrolled pets receive lifetime coverage for diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications if they get sick or are injured, with no incident, annual or lifetime limit.

 

The fact is that one in two pets will suffer from a major healthcare crisis in its lifetime and with veterinary medicine becoming more advanced every year, it is getting more and more expensive to treat these health issues. We must figure out a way to pay for these healthcare crises, and if disposable income is lacking, pet insurance can help.

Unfortunately, too many times, pet owners bet on the hope that their pet will be one of the lucky ones, and only look into pet insurance once their pet has developed an emotionally and financially draining condition. At that point, it’s too late to insure against that condition, as it would then be considered pre-existed. Insuring early and before any health issues arise is the most beneficial time.

Still not convinced? The best way to see the value of pet insurance is to learn about real-life situations that have benefited from the pet being insured. The following are some cases we have seen here at Trupanion, a pet insurance provider.

Coyote Attack

Evan, a 4-year-old Whippet had an unfortunate run-in with a coyote which left him with many wounds. He had to undergo surgery. The total veterinary cost was $1,150.26. After the exam fee (which Trupanion does not pay) and the 10% co-pay, Evan’s owners were reimbursed $947.93.

Hit by Car

Coffee the Sheltie was hit by a car, which resulted in a broken pelvis and a ruptured bladder. He had to visit his veterinarian several times for treatment, which included surgery. The total veterinary cost totaled $8,111.63. After the exam fee and co-pay, Coffee’s owners were reimbursed $7,075.47.

Pheumonia

Colby, a 6-year-old Siberian Husky, made a trip to the emergency veterinarian due to persistent pneumonia. He received radiographs, fluids, medications, and anesthesia for an endoscopy. The total veterinary cost equaled $1,651.36. After the co-pay (the exam fee was waived by the vet), Colby’s owners were reimbursed $1,486.22.

Osteochondritis Dissecans

This condition occurs when the cartilage of the joints becomes detached from the bones. Reggie, a Chocolate Labrador Retriever, was diagnosed with OCD on his right leg. He received treatment that included surgery, medications, and a sling for recovery. The total veterinary cost was $2,516.57. After deductible and co-pay, Reggie’s owners were reimbursed $2,245.11.

In each of these instances, the owners of these pets were able to quickly agree to expensive veterinary care without worrying about the cost. None of these pet owners intended for their pets to become so sick or injured, and many of the conditions couldn’t have been prevented.

The best intentions to keep our pets safe can only protect them so much. Chance and misfortune sometimes intrude. Pet insurance can help guard against these intrusions.

Do you have pet insurance? What has been your experience?

Foxy Roxy

Roxy is only eleven months old but already knows how beautiful she is. In the main photo she looks as if she's hatching a plot to steal all the dog biscuits - but of course she wasn't. She was quite shy with the big dogs until she got used to them but later shared a bed with a Labrador.

Roxy lives in Monaco.

Niky

Look at this adorable confident little Pomeranian. He's called Niky and he's 4 years old and lives in Monte Carlo. I met him walking along by the yachts in Port Hercule.