For many years, when a family had a pet it was usually a dog or a cat. Occasionally there was a bird or a snake involved if things were really crazy. Now, the number of exotic pets across the country has grown exponentially. People are bringing all kinds of animals into their homes like wild cats, monkeys, or large lizards.
This can be an exciting endeavor for people to go on but it also comes with a lot more risk than a typical pet does.
As an insurance producer, it’s important to be prepared to help your clients be as protected as possible (no matter what they have going on!). Read on for the best tips for owning an exotic pet that you can pass on to your clients!
Complete Extensive Research
Most people have a basic understanding of how to get and take care of a typical pet, like a cat or a dog. There’s a lot you can just figure out as you go without a lot of harm to you, the animal, or your property.
This isn’t necessarily the case with an exotic pet. Every person considering getting an animal like this should do extensive research so they know exactly what they’re getting into. They should learn how to get an exotic pet, what types of food they eat, how they like to spend their time, and how long their lifespan is just to start.
It’s also helpful to look into exotic pet law and pet licenses to see what they’ll need to do to be compliant when owning this type of pet.
The more your client knows about the animal, the better the situation will be.
Create a Care Plan
With all of this gathered knowledge, they can form a concrete care plan for the new pet. It’s especially important to figure out how they’re going to feed the animal since this is one of the top priorities of pet ownership.
The care plan should also include plans for giving the animal exercise if necessary, how hygiene practices will happen, and who will be the main caregiver.
No detail is too small to consider before looking for exotic pets for sale!
Find a Veterinarian
A key piece to putting together that care plan will be finding a veterinarian who has the knowledge and skill to see your animal.
Every pet should be seen at least annually by the vet to make sure they are healthy and get all of the preventative care possible. But exotic pets may need more frequent visits. These animals tend to have a wider variety of problems, including extended illnesses.
Not every vet will have the capability to see such animals, so finding one ahead of the purchase is key. The last thing anyone wants is to be scrambling to find someone once the animal is sick and it’s crisis mode.
Fund a Savings Account
Because an exotic pet requires so much more than a typical one, it’s helpful to have a savings account set up just for them. This money can go towards covering unexpected vet bills, housing needs, or larger food costs. Having this money set aside is a great way to make sure the animal will always get what it needs.
Setting aside just a little extra funds at a time can add up to make a huge difference in feeling secure bringing a new animal home.
Secure all Facilities
Obviously, one of the most important exotic pet tips is to create a safe environment for the animal to live in. This will also ensure that the family will also be safe as well. It would be terrible to bring home an animal unprepared and then have it get away or cause damage to the property.
Talking with other exotic pet owners can help to create a solid environment where the animal can thrive and everyone can be as safe as possible.
It’s also a good idea to test out the area while keeping a very close eye for the first few days with the animal. This will allow you to notice any vulnerabilities and have the chance to fix them before an issue arises.
Get Exotic Pet Liability Insurance
No one ever really knows what bringing home any animal is going to be like. They can be very unpredictable and destructive in any circumstance. This is even more true when it’s an exotic pet that has a more wild nature than others. This is why it’s so important to have exotic pet liability insurance as soon as the new pet comes home.
Prime Insurance Company offers this type of insurance to provide coverage for things like third-party bodily injury or third-party property damage. It can also cover the costs of the policyholder’s legal defense if a case goes to court.
Insurance coverage is also very important in case there is a pending lawsuit that needs to be handled regarding the pet. They’ll have peace of mind knowing they’re protected for a worst-case scenario involving their animals.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to insurance and making sure all of your bases are covered.
Tips for Owning an Exotic Pet
Bringing a more wild animal into a home is a big decision but following these tips for owning an exotic pet can help make the transition easier. One of the best things you can do is try to help your clients get ready for such a major change.
The key is to do the work to make sure a home, the surrounding environment, and the people involved with the pet are safe and secure with the new animal. A little prep work ahead of bringing the animal home will make the whole process much smoother and way more enjoyable for everyone.
When you have clients who need exotic pet insurance, contact us to write a policy!
