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Can you afford to keep a pet in retirement? Guest Blog Post from Compare-annuity.com

We have a guest blog post this month from Ryan Smith who is part of the content development team at Compare Annuity.

He writes about the pros and cons of keeping pets in retirement. We welcome your comments on this subject.

 

In retirement, many turn to pets for companionship. There are pets in around 46% of the UK’s households and the combination of having more time to care and look after them once you’re out of work as well as the companionship they provide means they really are man’s best friend. But as a retiree, like with a heavily reduced income, can you really afford to keep a pet?

How much will a pet cost you?

Taking into account vet’s bills, food, accessories and other costs such as kennels or catteries for the times you are away from home, the average lifetime cost of owning a cat or a dog stands at around £17,000. This is around £1, 100 per year for a cat and £1, 200 per year for a dog!

The average UK pension fund is worth around £36, 800, according to figures from the Association of British Insurers. A pension pot of this size, if converted to an annuity would pay a single man aged 65 a retirement income of just over £2, 250 a year, or approximately £190 a month. You can calculate your own annuity rate using a free annuity calculator online.

When you compare this to the average price of keeping your pet, it doesn’t leave much left in the pot for your own living costs. It’s also worth considering that the annual cost of keeping an animal could potentially rise at around 20 per cent per year, meaning your furry friend could be much more expensive to look after than you originally thought.

Reducing costs

Just like in every aspect of life, there are always ways of saving money when it comes to the care of your animal companions:

  • Buying food in bulk. This is always a good start, and a great habit to get into. While it’s a bigger initial amount to pay out initially, generally you may be able to save yourself around 50% – and your pets won’t know the difference!
  • Get insured. Vet’s bills can be one of the biggest expenses of keeping a pet. RSPCA figures show that almost 50% of pets will need treatment this year, at an average cost of £220. Pet insurance could save you hundreds of pounds over the pet’s lifetime. Remember to shop around though: online comparison sites will help you find the best cover.
  • Keep jabs up to date. While this may be expensive, and likely won’t be covered under your pet’s insurance cover, opting not to get vaccinated could mean a higher medical bill later down the line if a nasty illness occurs. Again, insurance may not pay out if an illness occurs that could have been vaccinated against.
  • Cut the Kennels. If you’re looking at holidays, you’ll need somewhere for your pet to stay too. Kennels can be extremely costly, and many don’t think about this when they start considering a break. Family, friends or neighbours may be willing to look after a pet in your absence, particularly if they also have pets and you can come to a mutual agreement for the next time they’re away.

Can you afford not to keep a pet in retirement?

Despite the costs of keeping a pet, the positives will likely outweigh the financial negatives the majority of the time. Owning a pet can have a positive impact on you both physically and mentally.

A Cambridge University study has actually found that pets can improve our general health in less than a month, with fewer headaches, coughs and colds reported, reduced stress and blood pressure, and even a lower risk of depression. They’re also essential for staving off loneliness, an occurrence that’s all too common in retirement and that can cause the same health degradation as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Cats and dogs are great companions and can make dark nights in front of the television seem a lot less lonely, even helping you to feel safer and more secure in your home.

Walking a dog will also ensure that you get out and about, keeping you active and even allowing you to meet other people. It’s even been proven that those pet owners over the age of 65 actually pay 30 per cent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.

 

While the costs can creep up, for many retirees pets can be essential. As long as you do your research, consider your costs and ensure that you are financially stable, sharing your retirement with a furry friend can make your golden years even more valuable.

Ryan Smith is part of the content development team at Compare Annuity, working with a carefully selected network of annuity specialists offering retirees free, no-obligation quotes and advice on annuities.

 

 

 

We look forward to welcoming you in store soon; remember we are open in our Bath store 7 days a week!

Any ideas and suggestions you have will be welcomed. You can follow us in many ways:

Facebook                Twitter             Pinterest

 We are now on Instagram! – notjustpets Follow us and see some fantastic photos!

We run regular photo competitions, quizzes, offers and promotions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so why not “like” or “follow” us today! 

Get in touch via any of the above, or via our website or email at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01225 461461. Or simply pop in, you’ll be welcome!

Love Your wildlife Day Round Up

This Valentines Day we celebrated by holding our Love Your Wildlife Day! We organised the day to help Rajapack reach their fundraising total for Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital.

We had a great range of cakes and treats for people to buy and had organised crafts for people to make. Mai is here modelling the really cool Bat Hat and Paper plate Hedgehogs! We had Hedgehog cupcakes, Welsh cakes and animal marshmallow pops! All very tasty.

 

We were also supported by Spike’s World with prizes for taking part in our Wildlife Quiz!

 Special guests from the Avon Wildlife Trust and the Avon Bat Group visited us to help raise awareness of local wildlife and how to get involved in it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harold the Brown Long Eared Bat was a huge hit with customers who visited the store. Many customers were pleased to see the nocturnal visitor who was camped out in our Garden room for the day.

We had a great fundraising game – The Penny Cover Up! – Everyone was carefully placing their coins to make the hedgehog picture look fantastic.

 

The Teddy Tombola was popular and everyone got to take a new friend home!

Staff and customers had a great day and managed to raise £20.86 to go towards Rajapack’s Hector Hedgehog Mansion fundraising! Here is Lee who was dressed up as a Scottish Wild Cat!

 

This amount has taken the total to the next level on the fundraising target of £350 which means Hector has now got his West wing extension!

 

We hope that Hector can reach his final total and live happily in his Hedgehog Mansion!

Let us know if you visited on the day and share your experiences! We look forward to hearing from you.

We look forward to welcoming you in store soon; remember we are open in our Bath store 7 days a week!

Any ideas and suggestions you have will be welcomed. You can follow us in many ways:

Facebook                Twitter             Pinterest

 We are now on Instagram! – notjustpets Follow us and see some fantastic photos!

We run regular photo competitions, quizzes, offers and promotions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so why not “like” or “follow” us today! 

Get in touch via any of the above, or via our website or email at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01225 461461. Or simply pop in, you’ll be welcome!

Love Your Wildlife Day – Saturday 14th February 2015

Not Just Pets is holding a Love Your Wildlife day to raise awareness and funds for Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital. Alongside the fundraising event held by Rajapack who are building the cardboard Hedgehog Mansion. The money raised from the Love Your Wildlife day will be donated to help Rajapack reach it’s £1000 target!

On Saturday the 14th February Not Just Pets invites you to the Bath St James Parade store to join in with the fundraising fun! 

  • There will be a fantastic cake stall with yummy wildlife themed cakes to buy including a chance to win a hedgehog cake!
  • A craft stall where you can make a hedgehog mask or a paper plate hedgehog for a small donation.
  • Looking to take a new friend home? There will be a special teddy tombola! 
  • Donate your small change to complete the penny cover up picture! There will be a hedgehog template that will be decorated with coins to make a fantastic picture. The money will go towards the fundraising.
  • Some fun facts and information will be displayed and arranged for you to learn about the wildlife in your garden or area that you can help preserve!
  • There will be special offers and money off wildlife products in store.

The Staff at Not Just Pets are looking forward to fundraising with you and hope that you enjoy the Love Your Wildlife day!

We look forward to welcoming you in store soon; remember we are open in our Bath store 7 days a week!

Any ideas and suggestions you have will be welcomed. You can follow us in many ways:

Facebook                Twitter             Pinterest

 We are now on Instagram! – notjustpets Follow us and see some fantastic photos!

We run regular photo competitions, quizzes, offers and promotions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so why not “like” or “follow” us today! 

Get in touch via any of the above, or via our website or email at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01225 461461. Or simply pop in, you’ll be welcome!

Keeping Pets Safe at Christmas Time

Here at Not Just Pets we think that Christmas is a wonderful time of year where you can spoil not just your family and friends but also your beloved pets. We have had our shelves stacked with fantastic festive treats for all animals but some of the special treats that we love to indulge in at this time of year are not so great for your pets!

Chocolate! 

There is always lots of chocolate around at Christmas time from advent calendars, tree decorations, selection packs, to tins and presents. These may prove too tempting for your dog and could lead to chocolate poisoning.

Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine which is similar to caffeine. This is what is poisonous to dogs. Different types of chocolate contain different amounts of theobromine, white chocolate the least and dark chocolate the most. In 25 grams of white chocolate there is minimal amount, in milk chocolate 44-64mg, in dark chocolate 390-450mg and in dry cocoa powder 800mg. 100-150mg of theobromine per Kg of bodyweight is toxic to dogs. So if a regular sized dog weighing 30kg eats 1kg of milk chocolate it is enough for a fatal toxic reaction.

Please seek veterinary advice if your pet dog eats any chocolate the sooner you seek help the better the outcome. 

If your dog is a chocolate fiend we sell a range of dog safe chocolate that will satisfy them! So while you tuck into your Chocolate Orange your pet dog could snuffle up their own!

 

Grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas. 

Many Christmas treats include these tasty ingredients, Christmas pudding, mince pies and Christmas cake! Grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas are all toxic to both cats and dogs. Cooking them does not change how toxic they are. Any quantity could be harmful so seek veterinary advice if accidental eating occurs. They would make your pet very unwell and this could lead to renal failure.

Bones and carcasses

Although it is tempting to give your pets the bones and carcass from the Christmas roast they could potentially harm your pet. The bones may be too small, sharp or splinter in their throats.

Party time – strangers, noises and fireworks

Alcohol

There are lots of parties, dinners and get-togethers over the festive season. We all know how alcohol can make us feel – the good and the bad – A drink may be left unattended and be accidentally slurped by a pet! Make sure they have plenty of fresh water available to them and are safely settled if you are having a party. This could help avoid any accidental drinking!

Parties

The best way to avoid your pets getting stressed by extra visitors is to prepare beforehand. Make sure you can put them in a quiet, stress free room with their bed, toys and maybe the TV or radio on.

Fireworks 

Over the New Year rather than Christmas time people use Fireworks that can cause stress to cats and dogs.

We sell products that will help calm your pets during this noisy time.

We have Pet Remedy which can be used as a plug in or a room spray and is suitable for all mammals. We also have Adaptil for dogs and Feliway for cats, this comes in a room plug in and a spray also.

We also have a Calming spot on that can last up to a week. Available for both cats and dogs.

Decorations

Although some pets may like to shoot up the Christmas tree as soon as it is up, there should be no harm in them playing with tinsel and baubles just so long as they do not eat them! There are some other traditional decorations that can be harmful and these are the Christmas plants that we bring into our homes at this time such as  poinsettia, ivy, holly and mistletoe. Please make sure your pets are not able to nibble on these and seek veterinary help if an accident occurs.

Hopefully this blog has given you some information about what could potentially be a hazard in your home at this time of year. We hope that you and your pets have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and look forward to seeing you in 2015!

 We look forward to welcoming you in store soon; remember we are open in our Bath store 7 days a week!

Any ideas and suggestions you have will be welcomed. You can follow us in many ways:

Facebook                Twitter             Pinterest

 We are now on Instagram! – notjustpets Follow us and see some fantastic photos!

We run regular photo competitions, quizzes, offers and promotions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so why not “like” or “follow” us today! 

Get in touch via any of the above, or via our website or email at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01225 461461. Or simply pop in, you’ll be welcome!

It’s Christmas! 2014 News and Products

December is here which can mean one thing… Christmas! The best time of the year where we can decorate the store, get ready for Christmas and display all the favourite Christmas stock! We have been busy stocking our shelves with festive treats for all animals.

This blog will contain all the Cracking Christmas treats that we have in store for dogs, cats, and small animals as well as how we are preparing for the Christmas festivities.

We have decorated our Bath city centre store windows with a festive scene and a winter wild bird window.

 

 

Here is a shot of the wild bird window! As you can see it is a wintry scene with some very wild birds joining us… March of the penguins!

 

 

 

 

 

In our other window we have a festive party with a wintry scene. Father Christmas seems to be having some trouble on the roof!

 

 

 

We have a range of Christmas toys and treats for cats, dogs and small animals as well as all our usual toys, accessories and gift ideas.

 

 

Does your cat or dog look at you longingly for your favourite Christmas treats? Here in the Armitage range are dog and cat friendly treats including mince pies!

 

 

 

 

 

Small animals are not forgotten this festive season. We have some lovely natural festive treats, toys and accessories available for them to enjoy. Christmas stockings also available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 What special doggy wouldn’t want to wake up to these special gifts on Christmas morning! A fantastic pudding outfit, a festive dog friendly cracker, a soft reindeer toy and a lovely bed. We have a range of festive costumes, coats and jumpers for dogs of all sizes. We have plenty of beds in our Relaxing room downstairs where you can try out the beds! We stock a wide range of colours and sizes.

 

There are plenty of special gifts and toys for our festive felines! Doesn’t this igloo bed look warm and cosy?

Festive toy balls, tinsel wise and danglers as well as a festive stocking just for cats!

Billy+Margot have these fantastic Luxury Christmas crackers for dogs! They look fab, just like the real thing, only these do not have a bang inside so are great for dogs!

They do include a joke, a hat and a packet of treats, antler or bone.

 

 

We have had an extra helper this year in the Bath city centre store in the shape of the Christmas Bear who likes to share! He helped us by promoting Christmas discounts on Facebook and Twitter!

Here he is helping Mike out on the till!

Helping himself to the Billy+Margot crackers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Measuring dogs up for warm coats to keep them warm on their festive winter walks!

Promoting the Natures Menu and Lily’s Kitchen products that we stock, by trying to make Christmas trees out of them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making snowflakes out of wild bird food!

Here he is making friends with the goldfish and looking very comfortable with the festive Vet Bed we have in stock. Is this the Princess and the Pea? No! It’s the Christmas Bear deciding which colour bed he likes the most!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you are going away over Christmas? Do you have anyone to free to care or your pets? If the answer is no then give the store a call! Our Pet Hotel has spaces available for small animals, birds and reptiles.

In our Bath city centre store we have spaces available over the festive period! Staff will be in store over the Christmas break so your pet will be cared for everyday, including Christmas day!

We are open all the way up until the 24th December Christmas Eve should you or your pet need anything in our stores. All your pet needs will be sorted over the Christmas period. Contact us if you have any questions or queries.

We look forward to welcoming you in store soon; remember we are open in our Bath store 7 days a week!

Any ideas and suggestions you have will be welcomed. You can follow us in many ways:

Facebook                Twitter             Pinterest

 We are now on Instagram! – notjustpets Follow us and see some fantastic photos!

We run regular photo competitions, quizzes, offers and promotions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so why not “like” or “follow” us today! 

Get in touch via any of the above, or via our website or email at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01225 461461. Or simply pop in, you’ll be welcome!