Martin sheriff's office extends health benefits to workers' pets

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Martin sheriff's office extends health benefits to workers' pets
By Gabriel Margasak staff writer


STUART — The dog-eat-dog world of health insurance just keeps getting more expensive — for people and animals alike.

But Martin County Sheriff Robert Crowder and his pet-loving human resources manager, Juanell Prevatt Godwin, intend to take a bite out of the burden.

This week, the sheriff's office began offering employees voluntary health insurance on dogs, cats, birds and other pets.

By forming an insurance group, the sheriff's office was able to get a group rate with a 5 percent discount. Double-dog discounts for multiple pets are also available.

"I think it's a great thing," said Crowder, who is considering insuring his rambunctious young Rottweiler, Trekker. "The cost of taking care of pets is rising just like taking care of people. People's pets are considered family."

Employees will have to pay for the insurance themselves, and no tax dollars will be used, officials said.

"I know everybody here and they all have pets," said Godwin, who lost her two beloved Yorkshire terriers and her horse this year to age and illness. "We all love our animals."

The pet care package has already sniffed out interest from pet owners.

Karen Williams, 37, has five dogs, a cat and two fish.

"I was the first one to sign on the Web site and see how much it was," said Williams, the sheriff's human resources assistant from Hobe Sound. "I just had a vet bill that was over $100."

Williams' desk is adorned with pictures of her dogs — Hootch, Pinta, Willie, Ching and Laddie. She said they are a central part of her family. Many an outing is spent at sheep-herding competitions.

"Just routine stuff runs us $1,200 a year," she said. The monthly insurance premium "would help me budget it in. It is important."

Coverage for a 3-year-old cat in Stuart, without the group discount, would cost about $193 to $272 a year — $16.08 to $22.66 a month — depending on the plan, according to an online quote from the company.

The policy, through Veterinary Pet Insurance, can help pay for lab fees, treatments, prescriptions, surgery, accidents and other services.

Pets can even choose their favorite veterinarian.

Like people, however, pre-existing and hereditary conditions are not covered, and other rules apply.

Sheriff's officials said they didn't know if other area business participate in the plan, but some employees said local vets recommend the coverage.

The coverage is a growing trend, with a 125 percent increase in the number of groups participating in its voluntary employee benefits program in 2002.

The group discount will be a big help for sheriff's accreditation manager Wendy Puglis, of Port St. Lucie, who already insures her Shih Tzu, Bullet.

"It's wonderful," she said. "My husband and I don't have any children and we don't want any children. So essentially our dog is our child."