The PetAid scheme, the result of a seven year campaign by local activists, is now well and truly up and running. Based, and run through two established veterinary practices in the town, the scheme is set up to give support and assistance to those of us who have pets, and are on a low income. Unexpected bills, for any reason, can be absolutely horrendous. Imagine, horrible as it may be, your dog or cat, for instance, being involved in a road accident, or becoming seriously ill. As a much loved and cared for member of your family, you would of course want, and quite rightly expect, the best treatment. Have you thought how much that may set you back. It may never happen, but....

The PetAid service, unlike pet insurance cover, is absolutely free for those eligible. If your pet is sick or injured and requires treatment, often with insurance cover the policyholder may be required to pay the first thirty pounds or so. Not with PetAid, once you are registered, that is it; there are no hidden surprises. However, you must be registered before your pet requires any sort of treatment. Even if you are entitled to benefit from the scheme but haven’t registered beforehand, you will have to pay for all your animal’s treatment.

So it really is worth registering now, to save you a lot of hassle, money and possibly heartache in the future.

How to register in three easy steps!

1. Firstly, you must either be a homeowner or be a rent or mortgage payer.
2. Secondly, you must be able to prove that you are in receipt of one or more of the following state benefits:
   • Income Support
   • Job Seekers Allowance
   • Family Credit/WFTC
   • Disability Working Allowance
   • Housing Benefit
   • Council Tax Benefit
   • State Retirement Pension
   • Widow’s Allowance
   • Ask for an application form from your local PetAid practice (Inverness’s participating vets are Burgess MacDonald in the Crown or Alphapet at Carsegate Road). You do not have to be a client of the PetAid vets to qualify, you just have to register with them.
3. When you have completed the application form (don’t worry about filling in the form, help will be on hand, and any photocopying of relevant documents will also been done for you). All that’s left for you to do is to buy a £3 postal order, which assists PDSA with administration costs, and send it to: PDSA, Administration Centre in Sutherland. And that is that, everything else is taken care of for you. So get yourself along to your participating vets and register.

The PetAid scheme is there for you and your animal’s benefit, so use it or lose it.