Thai dogs to get life insurance (PerthNow)

[Swiftwind]

Thai dogs to get life insurance
Original article: PerthNow

THAI dogs are now eligible for life insurance, under a new policy that offers payouts to owners if their pets die, a veterinarian said today.

About 2,000 dogs have already been granted life insurance policies since the program began last year, veterinarian Sombat Pipattanamatha said.
Locally bred dogs can receive coverage worth up to 10,000 baht ($A344), while foreign pedigrees can get up to 500,000 baht ($A17,000), he said.
"Dogs are now like family members, and we think they should be well cared for,'' Sombat said.

Sombat, who consults with the company that developed the policy, said he is now working on plans that would provide benefits to dogs in non-fatal accidents and that would cover injuries to humans in dog attacks.
Pet insurance is available in other countries, but the idea of providing high-end services to animals is gaining popularity in Thailand as the growing middle class spends more on dogs with fancy pedigrees.