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Veterinary Pet Insurance Gives Pets New 'Wheels'
Veterinary Pet Insurance Gives Pets New 'Wheels'
Coverage for Carts Enables a New Generation of
Pets
BREA, Calif., June 15, 2004 -- Shotz may not have use of
his back legs, but he has his wheels. A seven-year-old dachshund
whose hind legs are paralyzed from a ruptured disc in his
back, Shotz had little hope of ever walking again. His owners
could not afford the surgery necessary to restore the use
of his back legs and were going to have him put to sleep.
Instead, Shotz was adopted by Vicki Stephens, director of
the Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) Skeeter Foundation, who,
with the help of Eddie's Wheels for Pets, gave Shotz a new
lease on life.
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Shotz with his cart
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In the past, pets suffering from paralysis due to a common
"slipped disc" had little hope of leading normal lives without
extensive neurosurgery. With few options to offer pet owners
and patients, many disabled animals were euthanized. Now,
a whole new generation of amazing pets are getting a second
chance -- with the help of products like pet carts and coverage
from Veterinary Pet Insurance plans to help pay for the costs.
"It's amazing what a little awareness has done for these
pets," said Leslie Grinnell of Eddie's Wheels. "Our carts,
which are literally wheelchairs for cats and dogs, have the
amazing ability to give pets a new life. Unlike humans, pets
have no sense of shame or frustration when it comes to rehabilitation,
so they adapt amazingly fast and within a short period of
time are completely mobile. Thanks in part to Shotz, Veterinary
Pet Insurance plans cover a portion of the cost of the pet
carts."
Shotz puts his wheels to work as a therapy dog with Skeeter
Rx Team, an organization funded by the VPI Skeeter Foundation
that prescribes the "Pets Not Pills" philosophy as a way to
positively impact human health when pets are taken to visit
people convalescent homes and hospitals.
"Society has an intensified relationship with our pets now
-- they are absolutely members of the family and we will do
anything to keep them healthy," said Vicki Stephens. "Dogs
like Shotz don't have any sense of self-pity or embarrassment
about their impairments, and so they are especially inspiring
to patients in hospital settings facing their own challenges.
Shotz is an amazing certified therapy dog whose physical challenge
only enhances his ability to be an effective therapy dog."
About the VPI Skeeter Foundation
The VPI Skeeter Foundation is a non-profit foundation developed
by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) to help validate and promote
the human-animal bond, perpetuate the positive effects that
pets have on human health and educate people about the immense
value pets can provide to society. For more about the VPI
Skeeter Foundation, visit http://www.skeeterfoundation.org.
To learn more about the Skeeter Rx Therapy Team, visit http://www.skeeterrxteam.org.
About Veterinary Pet Insurance
Veterinary Pet Insurance is the nation's oldest and largest
health insurance plan for pets. The company was founded in
1980 to help end "economic euthanasia" of pets and is committed
to making the miracles of veterinary medicine affordable for
all pet owners. VPI plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic
pets for medical problems and conditions relating to accidents,
illnesses and injuries. Optional vaccination and routine care
coverage is also available.
Policies are available in all 50 states and the District
of Columbia. Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance
Company in California and in all other states by National
Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company, in Madison, Wisconsin
and a subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. For
more information about VPI policies, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387)
or visit http://www.petinsurance.com.
VPI's parent company, Veterinary Pet Services, Inc., is an
SEC-reporting company whose stock is not publicly traded.
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