Santa Barbara, CA native Mr. Craig Hitzelberger was uncertain his canine companion, a basset hound named Stub, would make it to his eleventh birthday this summer. Stub had just faced so many medical hardships over the past few months. When Stub was diagnosed with disc disease in the spring and facing an invasive surgery, his loving master prepared for the worst.

Good ol' Stub, back to health, looking about as happy as a Basset does!

Hitzelberger thought the surgery would be hard on a dog of Stub’s age, and he was reluctant to put him through it.  Fortunately, Stub was covered by pet insurance which provided Hitzelberger a variety of options to help rehabilitate Stub.
“The insurance covered the diagnostics, the medications and even Stub’s wheelchair,” said Hitzelberger.
That’s right, a doggie wheelchair! Hitzelberger’s pet insurer, PetFirst Healthcare, reimbursed 90% of Stub’s veterinary expenses after a $50 deductible, including a custom wheelchair to help Stub strengthen his back legs, and re-learn how to support his hind end.
“Stub was reluctant to use the chair initially, but after he tried it three or four times, he was a natural,” said Hitzelberger. “Now he doesn’t even need it. Thanks to pet insurance, Stub is happy and healthy and acts like a dog of eight or nine,” Hitzelberger added.
Hitzelberger has been a long-time believer in pet insurance. He’s insured all of his basset hounds since the early 1990s.  “Even when my veterinarian ‘ho-hummed’ about whether or not pet insurance was a good value for pet owners, I carried it on my dogs,” Hitzelberger said. “I’d much rather pay $30 or $40 per month to have the peace of mind knowing I won’t have to put my dogs down for financial reasons.”

And that’s what we are all about at PetFirst. We want you never to have to grapple with economic euthanasia, choosing between your pet’s very life and your finances. We want to help you and your pets continue to live happy, healthy lives together, and we are thrilled to have been a part of Stub’s heartwarming recovery!

Here at PetFirst, we value our policyholders and their pets above all else, and we want to extend special thanks to all of you that have made a difference in your pets’ lives by insuring them with us.  We want you to know we are dedicated to serving you, and working to make your interactions with us an unsurpassed experience.

Take a look at some photos from our 6 year celebration!

From left to right, David in sales, Tracy - Director of Compliance, Sam - CFO, Julie - Operations Manager, Katie - VP Marketing/New Business

Operations gurus Bill and Julie prepare delicious omelettes for the team! Thanks guys!

Ice Cream Cake!!

PetFirst's Senior Management Team: Katie, VP Mktg; Bill, Dir Ops; Brent, CEO; Sam, CFO; Wesley, Dir IT.

Out with the Puppy Mills

If you find yourself asking “How much is that doggie in the window?” then the next question you ought to be asking yourself is “did that doggie come from a reputable breeder, or a puppy mill?”  A puppy mill is  a commercial dog breeding operation that places a stronger emphasis on profits than animal welfare.  They’re characterized by cramped, inhumane conditions, and according to the Humane Society of the United States,many of the puppies bred in mills (between 2 and 4 million every year) end up in pet stores (as well as some on the internet and in newspaper classifieds.?

Numerous laws have been passed in multiple states in an attempt to crack down on these disreputable operations, but there’s a chronic lack of enforcement resources.  So instead, many US city lawmakers have turned toward a more recent trend of hitting the puppy mills where it hurts.  By banning the sale of puppies through retail pet stores, demand for their “product” becomes severely deflated, forcing mill operators to find new lines of work.  Tell us what you think about these new laws.  They are already passed in Albuquerque, N.M., and South Lake Tahoe, Calif., while other cities in Florida, New Mexico, Missouri and elsewhere are considering similar bans on the sale of dogs and cats.

In with Adoptions

The benefit of these laws is seen on the other side of the coin, with pet adoption.  There are millions of healthy cats and dogs euthanized each year in the US due to the pet overpopulation epidemic.  These laws help to alleviate the problem by focusing prospective pet owners on two choices: reputable (though often costly) breeders, or shelters and humane organizations.  In Albuquerque, since the introduction of the ban on pet store puppy and kitten sales, homeless pet adoption has risen 23%!  Organizations involved in animal rescue often only dream of such figures.

Some opponents of the laws say they would miss thecompromise that exists in the pet store shoppingexperience: no soaring prices found with breeders, and no crushing guilt brought on by the stares of hundreds of homeless pets in a large shelter.  With this in mind, Animal Humane New Mexico (AHNM), introduced a new type of shelter to offer the same sort of guilt-free shopping experience and fill that gap.  AHNM calls it their boutique shelter.  It’s well-kept and attractive, resembling a retail store.  Inside, select puppies from the larger shelters, many even pure-bred, are given the spotlight and the best chance for adoption.  And prospective adopters are given a very pleasant and less-stressful experience.

The goal was to adopt out 45 animals in the first month. But instead, they placed 118 dogs and cats in new homes.  Adoptions have been so strong that AHNM is preparing to open a second boutique.  What would you think about having these kinds of shelters in your city?  Would you be more inclined to adopt a pet in need?  Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

If you’re ever looking to adopt a new pet from a shelter, be sure to ask about PetFirst insurance for your new friend!  PetFirst partners with hundreds of shelter groups to offer Adoption Insurance to every adopter.  At PetFirst, we believe that homeless pet adoption is an excellent way to bring a new, loving family member into your home and heart.

Visit your veterinarian and listen to their recommendations.  It may seem counter-intuitive.  How can I save money by scheduling annual or semi-annual vet visits?  Basic wellness care (which includes intestinal parasite and heartworm testing and vaccinations) are critical to keeping your pet healthy.  Follow your veterinarian’s advice about other wellness tests too.  If diseases are caught in the early stages, treatment is often more effective (and less expensive!).

Train your dog or cat.  Behavioral problems often lead to unexpected healthcare expenses. Foreign body ingestions, auto accidents and bite wounds can result in an expensive trip to the emergency clinic.  Obedience training and socialization classes can help prevent these problems.  Ask your vet for a recommendation in your community.

Have a financial plan.  Even though you may take all the proper precautions, accidents still happen and illnesses still develop.  Diagnosing and treating an unexpected accident or illness can cost hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars. Having a plan in place will ensure you don’t have to consider the cost when choosing the treatment for your dog or cat.  Your financial plan may include an emergency fund, a credit card or pet insurance.  The most important thing is to have a plan.

When trying to save money, it can be tempting to skimp on your pet’s healthcare.  Follow these suggestions to ensure your pet’s health doesn’t suffer as a result.

1. Become a fan of our Facebook page (if you already are, then super!) by clicking “like” in the facebook box on the right side of this page (you might have to scroll down to see it).  You can also visit and “like” our page directly at www.facebook.com/petfirsthealthcare.
2. Once you’re a fan, upload a photo of your pet that fits the theme: “Dog Days of Summer” No disrespect to Cat owners, it’s just a saying .  Kitty pictures are just as welcome!  Upload your best entry, because we will only count 1 photo per person.

And that’s it!  Once you’ve uploaded your “Dog Days of Summer” photo, you’ll be automatically entered in a random drawing to receive one of two $25 Visa gift cards.  And as a bonus, the person whose photo garners the most “likes” will receive the second $25 Visa gift card!  So tell your friends to come vote for your photo by clicking the “like” button!

If you have any questions, ask them in comments or on our Facebook wall!  The contest ends on Monday, June 21st, so get uploading!

Update: Today, Monday June 21st marks the Summer Solstice — the longest day of the year, and the official start of summer!  That means it’s the last day to enter your photos into our summer-kickoff contest.  We will announce a winner later this week!

Now there are around 17 dog breeds with naturally occurring short tails that appear docked, including the Welsh Corgi and the Rottweiler… But NOT the greyhound!

But don’t tell Takoda — you wouldn’t want to make him feel any worse after the poor 7-year-old greyhound got his tail slammed in a door so badly he had to have it amputated!  His owners tried to bandage him up, but it was to no avail.  By the time Takoda saw the vet, the tip of his tail had turned cold and begun to deteriorate.  The vet made the right call and removed the dying portion of the tail, and Takoda was well on the mend as a member of what is surely a pretty exclusive club of short-tailed greyhounds! Luckily for his owners, they were also members… of PetFirst, that is.  And just in the nick of time, too.  Takoda had only been covered for about a month prior to his accident.  It just goes to show that accidents do happen, and being prepared for them with a pet insurance policy can sometimes make all the difference for the life and health of your pet.

Total bill for Takoda’s amputation and care: $483.00
PetFirst Coverage Level: 90%
Less $50 Deductible…
PetFirst Paid: $390.26

1.	Cancer accounts for nearly 50% of all disease-related pet deaths each year. Source: Veterinary Oncology & Hematology Center
2.	Cancer is the #1 natural cause of death in older pets. Source: Veterinary Oncology & Hematology Center
3.	Dogs get cancer at roughly the same rate as humans. Source: AVMA.org
4.	One in four dogs die of cancer. Source: MorrisAnimalFoundation.org
5.	Over 50% of the dogs over age 10 will die of cancer. Source: DogTopics.com
6.	Just like in humans, cancer can occur in virtually any part of your dog’s body. Source: DogTopics.com
7.	Approximately 1 in 4 dogs develops a tumor of some kind during his lifetime. Source: AVMA.org
8.	The cause of cancer in pets, just like people, is largely unknown. Source: Veterinary Oncology & Hematology Center

Won’t you consider donating to the cause of Pet Cancer research?  Click here to find out how you can help, through The Blue Buffalo Foundation for Pet Cancer Research.