Quote from: Raven on July 18, 2026, 01:19:58 PMI stopped the Pet Insurance because of the rising cost and when it reached £40 a month I said Enough.  I had an old wallet so I started putting a tenner in it every week for Vet Bills, I never touched it for anything and it grew quite quickly. When Dageus had a bill I had the money sitting, but I still grumbled at the cost. 
Apart from the insurance going up every year, if I claimed then it would shoot up even more. 
Soooo, saving each week helped me and the insurance didn't get a penny.

I feel exactly the same as you about Insurance, Raven.

I have a separate account for Vet's fees which I always pay into each week.  Only thing is,  poor old Liffeys
monthly Cushing's meds cost a fortune  (around £125)  a month,  so there is never much left over in the account.

As you say,  if you make a claim on pet insurance, the buggers increase it,  and also can put clauses saying  they won't pay for the same thing if there is a next time,  and that is why I packed in the dogs insurance years ago.

Quote from: GrannyMac on July 18, 2026, 07:22:27 AMI'm going to see my youngest granddaughter in a show tonight, staying over at daughter's.  Glad it's not so hot, the little theatre they use isn't air conditioned. 🪭

Have a goodtime GM, if you're coming to Cheshire it's cooler here today too

Helluva bill Mups ! couldn't you get a second quote ?.  Having said that, we do like to see the same vet with out pets

Quote from: muddy on July 18, 2026, 12:51:01 PMCrikey
She must be going to my dentist which is called in fact My Dentist
My pet plan doesn't cover teeth does yours ?

I stopped the Pet Insurance because of the rising cost and when it reached £40 a month I said Enough.  I had an old wallet so I started putting a tenner in it every week for Vet Bills, I never touched it for anything and it grew quite quickly. When Dageus had a bill I had the money sitting, but I still grumbled at the cost. 
Apart from the insurance going up every year, if I claimed then it would shoot up even more. 
So, saving each week helped me and the insurance didn't get a penny.

I can't see it, when I enlarge it blurs, but I imagine it was lovely to see,  I've never seen a real owl. 
I've got a big stone owl in my garden Klondy I thought that would deter the pigeons but it didn't    I've got silver foil stuff from Temu and I've tied it on the fences, seems to be working - she says 

Muddy,  you say about Mungo drinking from your pond?   
I don't want to worry you,  but you should never let him to do that.

I have 2 bird births, and 2 drinkers,  for the wild birds,  but they are scrubbed out weekly,  and topped up daily.
I always find the Pigeons are the worst for crapping in the water.  They sit on the edge, have their drink, then turn round, crap in the water,  and then fly off!   Not very nice for the next one to drink from.
Fish a pooing in the water all the time,  and so is everything else who uses it.
I never let my dogs drink from puddles,  bird baths, or those bowls some shops leave outside for dogs.

Gertie used to drink from the bird bath, and got poorly,  and when I had a sample tested, she had E.Coli.

Lastly,  have a quick look at this:

Dogs should not be allowed to drink from garden ponds because the stagnant water is a breeding ground for dangerous parasites, bacteria, and toxins. Ingesting pond water can lead to severe gastrointestinal distress, liver or kidney damage, and even be fatal.

So do be careful with the old fella. 

I was rather thrilled .
He came for water 
I have a minuscule pond in my garden .
I would like a bigger one but it nearly killed me digging the hole for this little titchy  one .
Still the birds ( and my dog ) like to drink from it .
Yes Mungo ignores his Maison Cash water bowl ( it's ok Prince Harry is not coming round) so it should be safe .
He prefers streams and ponds but all the streams around here have dried up 

Quote from: Mups on July 18, 2026, 10:17:16 AMMorning all.    Cooler here too,  much better.

Waiting for the chap over the road to come and put one of those wire ball things in my gutter to help stop my water butt getting blocked with moss.  I've got a stocking over the pipe into the butt too.

My Gertie has got a loose tooth at the front now!  She doesn't seem in pain and still wanted her brekkie,  so I have booked her in to have it removed after the weekend.  Over £500 it will be for a teeth clean and an extraction of one of the little front line bottom jaw ones!!   

Crikey 
She must be going to my dentist which is called in fact My Dentist 
My pet plan doesn't cover teeth does yours ? 

Yes Raven & Mike,  it bloody well is disgraceful, I agree.    But what can I do ey,  I daren't pull the tooth out myself. 
Like Raven said,  often with those little front teeth that are all packed closely together, as they waggle it about,  it also loosens the one next to it as well!   
They actually quoted me £530 quid over the phone,  but if they do loosen more,  will I have to pay even more??

She is booked in for next Wednesday.  
I hate leaving my dog there and drive home with an empty car. 

Good God! Over £500! That's disgraceful

Quote from: Mups on July 18, 2026, 10:17:16 AMMy Gertie has got a loose tooth at the front now!  She doesn't seem in pain and still wanted her brekkie,  so I have booked her in to have it removed after the weekend.   Over £500 it will be for a teeth clean and an extraction of one of the little front line bottom jaw ones!!   

WOW, That's daylight robbery, Dageus had to have 3 teeth out 5 years ago. He went in for one and the Vet said the teeth either side of the bad one needed to come out as well. That cost £300 and I was angry at that price, I can't believe what you were charged.  No wonder people can't afford to have pets.
Poor Gertie, getting old for them is as bad as it is for us. Give her a hug from me.