Pet insurance in Massachusetts

Pets have a great life in the Bay State but there are many reasons why you should get pet insurance in Massachusetts

Your pet will have a great time in Massachusetts, a state that is home to some breath-taking beaches and numerous dog-friendly establishments. But all that fun comes with the need to protect your animal, meaning it's important to get pet insurance in Massachusetts.

Park life

In Peter’s Park, found in Boston, the state capital, your dog can run around the fenced park without a leash. Your dog’s tiny? No problem – there’s an area especially for them. Elsewhere, in Weston, the deceptively-named Cat Rock Park is one of the many places your dog can go (off-leash) for a walk and a swim. Be wary when you’re out in the open though: there are more than the average number of ticks in Massachusetts, so you’ll probably kick yourself if you don’t go with a pet plan that covers the diseases that ticks can spread. Anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Lyme disease can each land you with a bill of up to $2,500.

Top for cats

Though the state may be last in the country as far as pet parenting goes (a 2013 survey found that one in two people looked after a pet of some description), this is not reflected in the warmth and protection that the Massachusetts community offers your furry companion. It may be that the state is simply disproportionately feline-friendly – the same survey found that Massachusetts was near the top when it came to parenting cats. And they can’t help naming their parks after them.

Dog-friendly dining

Whether you want to keep your Labrador indoors or would prefer to have them in the open air, Massachusetts has a plethora of restaurants that would happily accommodate your pet. Cambridge Brewing Company in – you guessed it – Cambridge is happy to welcome dogs in the outdoor seating section; and The Black Cat Tavern (there’s those cats again) in Hyannis is happy to see dogs enjoying the patio. Just don’t be complacent about what your dog is eating from the floor; even something like parsley poisoning can lead to $400 of vet bills.

Be aware also that where there are beaches, there is open water. Dogs love to frolic in the ocean but Massachusetts does offer a home to some dangerous marine life. A lionfish can give a nasty sting to an unsuspecting dog, and insurance will help you minimise the potentially huge vet bill. (Lionfish can cause paralysis, a condition that can cost $8,500 to treat.) Jaws was shot on the island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, and it is not unheard of for great white sharks to visit these waters. An encounter with a shark could lead to an emergency operation, costing thousands of dollars without insurance.

Pet laws in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, as with many other states, it is against the law to leave your animal in a vehicle that is too hot or too cold. Not only would you be breaking the law if you did this, but a condition like heatstroke can cost you $5,000 at the vet’s.

Why get pet insurance at all?

At Petted, we sincerely believe that pet insurance is a must for all pet parents, whether you live in New York, North Carolina or Nebraska. It doesn’t matter if you’re a city- or country-dweller, if you have a Bull Mastiff or a Burmese, your beloved pet is at risk from injury, illness and inherited conditions – and these things can cost a lot of money to fix.

If you don’t have a very large savings account then you run the risk of either getting into a ton of debt (we’re talking tens of thousands of dollars in some cases) or – and we hate to think about this – not being able to pay for your pet’s treatment and having to either give them up or, tragically, have them euthanized.

So, for the sake of a few dollars a month, please buy yourself some peace of mind and your pet a healthier, more secure future. To find the best pet insurance policy for where you live, click here. We'll fetch you the perfect quotes in less than a minute.