Michelle and Andrew first became pet parents in the spring of 2020 — shortly after the start of the pandemic. With shelter-in-place orders and lots of unexpected down time on their hands, they figured it was the ideal moment to get a dog. Though it was hard to find a puppy at this time, they settled on a black French Bulldog they named Pablo. (Like many of us, Andrew and Michelle had been spending a lot of time watching Netflix, and Pablo got his name from the series Narcos.) Pablo quickly brightened up Michelle and Andrew’s home with his playfulness and mischievous spirit — just the energy they needed during an uncertain time in the world.
Michelle was well aware of the health issues that are common for French Bulldogs, so she researched pet insurance providers before bringing Pablo home. “I made us do a policy comparison between the different carriers who offer pet insurance,” she explained. She also added that Andrew laughed at her for being so thorough with her research but Michelle works in the insurance industry, so she knew what she was doing!
So, how did they land on Fetch? The comprehensive coverage and customizable price were major factors. Michelle said, “We decided that Fetch was by far the most comprehensive. We liked the coinsurance, the deductible was super low and we liked the annual limit. We felt Fetch was the best.”
Pablo’s first emergency happened when he was just a year and a half. Michelle stepped out for an appointment and when she returned 30 minutes later, Pablo had vomited seven times and something was clearly wrong. It turned out that he had gotten into a bag of xylitol candy, which is toxic for dogs and cats. “When I saw the bag of candy, I realized what had happened and I grabbed Pablo and immediately took him to the emergency vet. [We called poison control and confirmed the candy had a high level of xylitol]. This was the middle of the pandemic, and it was terrible. I was sobbing,” Michelle recalled.
Michelle couldn’t go into the exam room with Pablo due to COVID-19 restrictions, which made her even more anxious — but knowing she had enrolled Pablo with Fetch brought some relief and peace of mind. She said, “Knowing that 90% of it was going to be covered, and having no idea how much this was going to cost was so reassuring. It was terrifying and awful, but knowing I didn’t have to worry about the financial aspect was incredibly reassuring.”
Fetch came through for Michelle and Andrew when Pablo had an accident, but the comprehensive coverage has also been incredibly valuable when it comes to behavioral therapy, prescriptions and more. When Pablo started showing signs of aggression and fear anxiety, Michelle and Andrew were able to get him the help he needed without worrying about the expensive bills. Michelle said, “The prescriptions and the [behavioral] services are very expensive — we couldn’t have afforded to keep Pablo if we didn’t have coverage for behavioral therapy. We have a behaviorist that’s covered up to $1,000 a year, and his meds for his behavioral issues are covered.”
Though Pablo has needed a bit more veterinary care than the average pet, Michelle and Andrew are prepared for whatever the future holds, thanks to Fetch’s extensive coverage. Michelle said, “The fact that behavioral services are covered is truly monumental. The fact that so many alternative therapies are covered, such as acupuncture and hydrotherapy, is huge. The other reality is that a lot of dogs have dental issues and we have not experienced that, but I feel very comforted knowing that Fetch has a comprehensive plan for dental as well. Andrew teased me doing a policy comparison prior to getting our puppy and now he says ‘It’s literally the best investment I have ever made.’"
The Dig, Fetch Pet Insurance's expert-backed editorial, answers all of the questions you forget to ask your vet or are too embarrassed to ask at the dog park. We help make sure you and your best friend have more good days, but we’re there on bad days, too.
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