Based on what I've read and experienced, if you live in the U.S. you should NOT get pet insurance (Canadians seem to have better luck with theirs). Pet insurance does not help in an emergency because you still need cash on hand to pay the vet, and you will not be reimbursed by the insurance company for several months, after you've spent way too much time collecting and sending paperwork, sitting on hold on the phone, staving off collectors for the bills you didn't pay in order to pay the vet, and experiencing increasingly high blood pressure and headaches from the frustration of it all. In the end, if you are reimbursed at all, it will be a fraction of what you expected. Do NOT believe what these insurance companies write on their web site and in the enrollment materials--it is nothing like reality. I have never seen a company that was so different from what it said it was than Veterinary Pet Insurance. In any other industry there would be a class action lawsuit in no time, but I think we dog nuts don't have the time or money for such a thing. On the other hand, if you do a forced savings account, you will have money on hand to pay the vet at the time of an emergency. Even if it's not the full amount, vets are usually willing to work out short-terms payments, or you can do the health care credit plan to pay off an emergency. You won't have headaches and hassles--you will be in total control. So set up a separate savings account just for pet medical bills, and if you work for a company, have money automatically deposited into that account before you even get your paycheck. It may be hard to keep your hands off this account, but just remind yourself how important it is. It is worth it for your dog's health and your own! Alice Madar [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sedona, AZ