Meet Adele Pember and her trusty sidekick and the inspiration behind Dog Furiendly, Charlie. Charlie is a charming Jackhuahua who has not only stolen Adele’s heart but also accompanied her on countless dog-friendly adventures. Together, they’ve explored all sorts of fantastic places to stay, eat, and have fun, creating lasting memories and sharing their experiences with the wonderful Dog Furiendly community.
As a loving dog parent, the last thing Adele ever anticipated was for Charlie to face a life-threatening emergency. But life is full of surprises, and so are furry friends. This is the story of how pet insurance could have saved them thousands of pounds during a crisis and why Adele believes every dog owner should have it to avoid unexpected setbacks. So grab a cuppa, snuggle up with your furry companion, and join them as they recount this emotional rollercoaster of a tale.
The Festive Fiasco
Christmas is always a magical time filled with joy, laughter, and, of course, friends bearing gifts. It was during one such occasion that a dear friend of ours came over with a stocking for our beloved Jackhuahua, Charlie. As we excitedly opened the stocking to reveal the goodies inside, one particular item stood out: a hard plastic bone toy, perfect for a dog with a penchant for chewing. While I was busy catching up with my friend, I hadn’t realised that Charlie, the gutsy pup, had already begun enthusiastically chewing the bone, devouring the bright red plastic as if it were a festive treat. As I surveyed the remnants of plastic strewn across the floor, I couldn’t help but think, “dogs will be dogs,” and dismissed the mess as just another canine caper.
A Worrisome Night
That night, with my husband away for work, I found myself tending to a very unwell Charlie. He was being sick repeatedly, and my stomach churned with worry as I realised this was no ordinary tummy upset. After a sleepless night, I called the emergency vets, who advised me to wait until the regular clinic opened to save on costs, as the ensuing treatment would likely be expensive.
Racing Against Time
As soon as the clock struck 9 a.m., I rushed Charlie to the vet, my heart heavy with anxiety. After leaving him in their care, I sat in the car, tears streaming down my face, and called my husband. With a shaky voice, I tried to lighten the mood by joking, “Charlie’s decided to put a squeaky toy on the menu, but he forgot to chew his food properly!” In reality, I was terrified, as there was no guarantee that our little warrior would pull through.
A Costly Lesson
The vet soon confirmed our worst fears: the plastic toy had become lodged in Charlie’s intestines, requiring emergency surgery. To make matters worse, we had recently cancelled our pet insurance, planning to set aside money each month instead. As you can imagine, this decision turned out to be incredibly costly.
The surgery cost us a whopping £3,000, completely demolishing our new house fund. We were devastated, but grateful that our mischievous Charlie had pulled through.
Never Again: The Importance of Pet Insurance
In the aftermath of this traumatic experience, we learned a valuable lesson. We immediately reinstated our pet insurance, opting for the most premium plan we could find for both our dogs. We vowed never to gamble with their well-being again. Through laughter and tears, this harrowing adventure taught us the importance of pet insurance and the peace of mind it provides.
Embracing the Unpredictable
We now understand that life is unpredictable, and accidents can happen to even the cheekiest of pups. As pet parents, it’s our responsibility to ensure our furry family members have the best possible protection, so they can continue bringing joy, laughter, and the occasional bit of chaos to our lives.
