Sainsbury's: Points for pet insurance

Thursday, 19 November 2009 12:00

Sainsbury's is offering double Nectar points to customers taking out its pet insurance plan, which it is currently promoting to people with small pedigree dogs.

So-called handbag dogs, similar to those owned by celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Geri Halliwell, are becoming more popular but, due to their breeding, are prone to hereditary diseases.

As a result, Sainsbury's said, during the first half of 2009 the number of claims its pet insurance business received which were linked to these animals was around 45 per cent of the total number it insures.

And Lucy Hunter of Sainsbury's said between 2006 and 2008 the number of these animals insured by Sainsbury's Pet Insurance increased by 41.3 per cent.

She added: "This included a 417 per cent increase in the number of Chihuahuas covered and a 248 per cent increase in the number of West Highland Terriers.

"However, because these animals are pedigrees, they can often suffer from certain hereditary medical problems that can require veterinary treatment, which makes it all the more important to have adequate pet insurance."

Double Nectar points are available to spend on shopping, online and in petrol filling stations for customers taking out Sainsbury's Pet Insurance.

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