On October 22, 2009 in Pittsburgh, The North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) announced that Heimdall, a much beloved deaf Great Dane is the winner of the 2009 North American Favorite Pet Story.
Meg Wittenmyer is a member of the Houston and Denver Great Dane Rescue Groups, and she and her husband first took Heimdall only until she found a good home for him, but Heimdall quickly found his way into thier hearts. Heimdall would gently approached his new owners and softly laid his head on their shoulder and he pretty much got whatever he wanted. Yes, they spoiled him quite a bit, but he returned that favor a hundredfold with all the love and devotion his 145 lb. body could give.
In Nov. 2008, they took Heimdall into their regular vet for a persistent cough, but what began as an upper respiratory infection progressed to recurring pneumonia to bacteria, that mutated each time the veterinarian tried a new antibiotic.
Like many pet owners with pet health insurance, these folks had been paying premiums for a long time without actually making a claim. However, within the space of six months, all their expenses and efforts were repaid in ways they had not imagined.
The primary veterinarian and the pet owners searched out a fine respiratory specialist, Their optimism turned into months of trying one antibiotic after another, included countless lung x-rays and three bronchoscopes. At one point, the pet owner was paying over $300 a day for the special antibiotics, as Heimdall was fighting both staph and e-coli bacteria which had settled in his lungs. It was at this point that the pet owner realized the value of not only having pet insurance, but the added drug and dental benefit they decided to purchase as part of their coverage.
Between November 2008 and May 2009 their pet insurance company had paid their policies maximum annual benefit of $10,000. The pet owner said that "not only did they pay the bills we submitted in a timely manner, but we knew that the staff of the pet health insurance company cared as much about what happened with Heimdall as we did."
Very sadly, Heimdall passed away last month, as the pet owner shared this story and she sincerely wanted everyone to know that if your pet is important to you, then pet insurance should be just as important. "We would have done anything to get Heimdall the treatment he needed and having insurance meant not having to take out a second mortgage or even selling our house, but more importantly, gave us many extra months with our beautiful baby boy, which really is priceless. It's just that simple."
A special donation will be made in Heimdall name to the Houston and Denver Great Dane Rescue Groups. Also, the family will receive a special award of $500.00 for pet related purchases and veterinary care.
About The North American Pet Health Insurance Association
Founded in 2007, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association is committed to educating and promoting the values and benefits of pet health insurance to North American pet owners, the general public, and the veterinary industry. September is National Pet Health Insurance Month. Pet parents can enter their stories, pictures and favorite veterinary practices for special prizes and an educational grant for the veterinary care provider. To learn more, visit our website at http://www.naphia.org.
