Business View Magazine | July 2019

80 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JULY 2019 Pethealth representatives handle over 250,000 lost pet related calls and help to reunite over 3000 lost pets with their families each month.” The 24PetWatch Lost Pet Recovery Database has 14.5 million pets on file. Those registered pets have a better chance of being reunited with their family should they go missing. “If you find a lost pet, bring it to a veterinarian or call your local animal shelter or municipality. They will provide you with a location where you can bring the animal in to be scanned for their microchip,” Cole says. “Most veterinarians and shelters have a microchip reader at their location. They’ll scan the animal and contact the lost pet recovery service provider, like Pethealth. Once they call us, we leverage the contact information we have on hand, and we connect the person who has the pet with the pet owner.” In addition to veterinarian offices and shelters, Pethealth has equipped Petco retail stores with scanners, so found pets can also be taken to many Petco locations across the U.S. to be scanned for their microchip. In addition to lost pet services, insurance is another way that 24PetWatch supports pet parents in the care of their pets, currently insuring over 120,000 pets across Canada and the U.S. According to Cole, approximately two percent of pet owners have pet insurance, while the cost of veterinary care has risen by 11 percent since 2017. This is concerning, since medical costs are one of the primary reasons pets are surrendered to shelters. “To address this, pet insurance is evolving and getting simpler for pet parents to understand and use,” she says. “There are now more options available to meet a broader range of income levels. Through partnering animal welfare organizations, 24PetWatch offers a complimentary 30-day trial of insurance, providing up to $3,000 of coverage to newly adopted dogs and cats. Flexibility in coverage options coupled with a complimentary trial period help pet parents recognize the benefits of insurance and how it can support them in managing costs to keep their pets healthy and cared for.” Cole gives credit to U.S. underwriter Crum & Forster and Canadian underwriter Northbridge,