Does anyone have it? I was reading on a vet site and looked at one they use and it surprised me what good value it is. When our last cat got unwell his op was about €300, would have been nice to have some of that paid, it also looks like each year you can get preventative things that are similar value to what you pay. Perhaps a catch?
What do you guys think? I’m also looking as when I find a dog that suits I think it would be a no brainer to have insurance.
Thats santevet
Used to in the UK, but - as with all insurance - the price rose every year even without any claim.
Now (at 11) the cat is too old, which tells me a lot about how insurers operate! I suspect it’s like those “extended warranties” that are so popular (with salesmen). There is always going to be a limit to how much they’ll pay out, as the screen shows. It certainly looks cheap.
I’d rather put a monthly amount into a savings account.
But each to her own!
We don’t bother and are ethically opposed to pet insurance. The only people it can possibly benefit are the insurers, and it is they that make the profit. And countries where pet insurance is a thing, like the US, end up with astronomical vets fees. They know costs are covered by insurance so no pressure to make them affordable.
Have a separate savings accounts/wallet/whatever and put a bit aside a month. You will most likely end up better off.
Look also at the small print as many only go up to 8 years old and have lots of exclusions.
And don’t get a pet that has been overbred and will have health problems like flat faced dogs.
I really appreciate the restrained, cautious, welfare of the animal driven approach,shown by the vets we’ve used in France, who appear reluctant to support expensive operations and treatments. In complete contrast to many vets we’ve used in the UK. One major reason for the difference is the widespread coverage of pet insurance in the UK, unlike in France.The other reason is the major expansion of financially driven private equity (PE) owned vet practices. They are of course delighted if clients have pet insurance. ££££££! Long may France continue to shun both pet insurance and PE ownership, although unfortunately the latter is creeping in, especially in affluent urban areas.
I agree with @Porridge and @JaneJones . We simply set aside what we might have paid in insurance. After many years of doing this, we are not out of pocket at all.
What surprised me when we looked at pet insurance is that the annual amount you can claim is capped at something quite low. My friend in the UK has a non-cancellable policies and has claimed quite large amounts over the years.
An important point! We have deliberately gone for the vet owned practice here.
Oh goodness no, I’d never do that! I grew up on a farm with working dogs, A blue cattle dog (blue heeler) was our pet, then there was the kelpies, the collies and all the ‘mongrels’. 
The family is now onboard with a dog I can’t afford to drop €1500-2000 on the cocker-poo that we want. I also feel that there are so many dogs that need a home. It’s tricky. I know what we need:
I’m just putting it out to the universe and hope the right dog will need us and find us.
Why not put it oit to the SPA and see what turns up? There are caniches, so might find a caniche cross. This little one looks quite cute.
Ihttps://www.la-spa.fr/animal/xan-770177/
He is cute! So far away to be an option though! Here the Bergerac one has shut and PX seems to only have big, difficult sounding dogs. I’m hoping that if I put it out there’ll be some normal dog who’s owner is moving / can’t manage due to age or something.
Then there are real rescue ones but as our first family dog it concerns me what behaviours they may have, hence seeking a private dog or at least knowing they’ve come from a family even if through a shelter.
This little one is so sweet
If you like particular breeds of dog, there may be adoption sites you can look at. The only one I know about is for Cavalier King Charles but I imagine other breeds do the same. Asenack are national and they seem to be quite busy.
Bergerac has shut? 
Are you sure? When I collected Hades last year it had moved from that place opposite the supermarkets to a different one further out towards the bypass.
I have had hundreds of dogs in my life, well, it seems like that, and only once had rip off pet insurance. That was my beloved gentle Rottweiller, Boss (pic top left) who was required by stupid law to have it.
I have always had larger, older dogs and once for fun asked for a quote, refused because too old.
BTW with Boss the law required him to have 3rd party insurance because it isn’t automatic on the house insurance with category dogs. Aviva refused so did others but I finally found one I think call ECF, or H. They agreed but only if I took out normal insurance as well € 25 per month. When I looked at it the bit I needed was only €5, the rest was the enforced general insurance. I didn’t bother next year because I knew full well he wouldn’t get out and wouldn’t bit anyone. He was so sweet that a cat that wandered into the house one summer, was able to touch noses with him before turning and leaving the house in safety. 
BTW, I then dumped Aviva for their stupidity. 
Please be very careful about ads for dogs, especially from abroad. They are often scams, with dogs with multiple problems that have been bred in puppy farms. Soft hearted D got one which cost a fortune in vets bills and died.
Absolutely, there are a few associations that are bringing them in from Romania and Greece, I just feel too much risk / unknowns when I have a kid, a cat and picking up my 6 new hens on Saturday (adoption ones to save them being killed 
). I meant private as in word of mouth locally would be my ideal. ‘Old Mrs Henri is moving into the ephad and can’t take her 2 year old cockerpoo’ type scenario!
There’s one on FB but don’t use it so can’t see it!
Oh my look who I’ve found :
https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/animaux/3225813130
Or this guy but he looks quite big, but so sweet 
https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/animaux/3222630336
Oh maybe they just temporarily shut during the move. I’ll have another look.
I could be biased but to guard against things like puppy farms, etc, as Jane mentioned, I would try to stick to breed clubs. The Cavalier one I linked to gives you the dogs’ medical history and they seem to assess their little personalities while they’re with ‘Ton ton et Tati’. They often come from owners who can’t cope for various reasons.
This is it on the right just before the bypass coming from the old place. There is a board outside but the SPA is round to the right inside the gate towards the back.
I haven’t been in, I only used it as a handover place for Hades.
51 Bd Albert Claveille, 24100 Bergerac
Get there:1 hr 24 mins
Phone: 05 53 73 40 95
Closed · Opens 2 pm
We each have our own opinions, but to me a Cavalier is one of the most overbred and unhealthy dogs around. The breed clubs are only making minuscule efforts to address the problems - not just cavaliers but all breed clubs. DId you know that Norway has banned their breeding for health concerns?
And to get a pure breed is very expensive from new. Yes one has to take care, but a pre-loved dog can be great. So yes breed rescues could be an option for you.
I agree most wholeheartedly with all that. 
Yes, some Cav breeders have been irresponsible. We’ve bought twice and have been careful about the breeders’ ethics. We’ve been lucky both times, I suppose.
The link to the website was more about showing what responsible adoption organisations can look like, rather than adopting an unknown from the SPA.
