Co-op Insurance’s new pet insurance is now available to purchase at Quotezone.co.uk.

 To help make adoption more affordable, Co-op Insurance includes an introductory discount on policies for those insuring a pet from a recognised animal charity or rescue centre – 7.5% for Co-op members and 2.5% for non-Co-op members.

 Over the past year, recurring lockdowns and the subsequent change in lifestyle, has seen a surge in pet ownership, with 3.2 million* UK households acquiring a pet.

 Although YouGov** research shows that 91 per cent of Brits looking for a pet would consider adopting from a rescue centre, 29 per cent are deterred as they believe they would be expensive to insure and care for.

 Carl Sharples, Head of Sales and Marketing at Co-op Insurance, said: “Deciding to adopt a pet from a rescue centre is so rewarding. Since the pandemic, we’ve all seen how important rescue homes can be for animals, so we want to do what we can to make it easier for an animal to find a loving home.’’

People’s lifestyles have changed dramatically throughout the course of the pandemic and are still changing, so it’s important that potential pet owners take their time and do their homework on this important decision – each breed has a very different set of requirements and characteristics which need to fit well with the household. 

 YouGov figures also reveal that 12 percent of consumers regret their pets and would consider leaving an unwanted pet at a rescue centre, with 160,000 of these already having been given up***. Not only that, but rescue centres are bracing themselves for another 77 percent of ‘pandemic pups’ to be given up this year.

 The RSPCA shared data with Quotezone.co.uk which shows that the number of French bulldogs being abandoned or relinquished is up a staggering 1,567%.

 Greg Wilson, Founder of pet insurance comparison website Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “This is the first time we’ve featured Co-op Insurance pet insurance and we’re proud of its support for rescue animals and value for our customers.

 “With the cost of living reaching a ten year high and rising, it’s never been more important to have a quality pet insurance product to safeguard finances and make sure that animals get the best care.

 “This product from Co-op Insurance, aims to support those who choose to rescue their animals with discounted premiums, which hopefully entices more owners to consider adoption.”

 There are lots of rescue charities, like the RSPCA, who take in all sorts of animals including purebreds, as well as rescue organisations that specialise in specific breeds, so there is plenty of choice available.

 Co-op Insurance’s new pet insurance provides cover for pets over 8 weeks old, as well as access to unlimited video consultations with fully qualified veterinary surgeons 24/7, 365 days a year as standard, as well as dental and farewell cover (subject to terms and conditions).

 Quotezone.co.uk is one of the leading insurance comparison websites in the UK, helping over 3 million users find a more competitive deal on their insurance – including specialist pet insurance products such as puppy insurance, older dog insurance, kitten insurance and cat insurance.  

 The new pet insurance product will be delivered with partner, Markerstudy Broking, a division of the Markerstudy Group, which will provide end-to-end administration for the Co-op Insurance pet brand.

 Notes to the Editor:

*PMFA, 2021

**YouGov research carried out for Co-op Insurance – All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2000 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 16 – 17 December 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

***Dogs Blog research, January 2022

^Excluded breeds: Any dog that is a/or is crossed with an Aladseer, American Bulldog (unless your purchased your policy before 5th January 2022), American Bully, American Pocket Bully, Australian Dingo, Cane Corsos, Dogo Argentino/Argentinian Mastiff, Fila Braziliero, Irish Staffordshire Bull terrier, American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa/Tosa Inu, Perro De Presa Canario, Pit Bull Terrier or any dogs listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and The Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) order 1991 or Dangerous Dogs (amendment) Act 1997 or any subsequent amendments.

^^ As long as the animal is over 8 weeks old. No maximum ages apply. 7.5% introductory discount for a Co-op Member (2.5% for non-Co-op member) if a pet is adopted from a recognised animal charity or rescue centre. This introductory discount applies for the first year only and is subject to minimum premiums. T&Cs apply.

 About Quotezone.co.uk:

• Launched in 2005, Quotezone.co.uk has grown to become one of the UK’s leading insurance comparison platforms. An early pioneer of price comparison systems, the Quotezone.co.uk platform continues to use proprietary comparison technology to help millions of people find better deals on their insurance each year.
• Quotezone.co.uk’s parent company, Seopa, was founded by the Northern Irish entrepreneur, Greg Wilson, in 2003.
• From its headquarters in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Greg Wilson, CEO, and Ian Wilson, Managing Director, have grown the company to more than 50 team members spread across two European offices.
• The company has been recognised with six Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards, and has been awarded a Deloitte Best Managed Company Award each year for the past five years – now a Gold Standard Best Managed Company since 2020.

 About Co-op Pet Insurance:

Co-op Pet Insurance enables customers to insure dogs and cats over 8 weeks old. Co-op Members will get a 7.5% introductory discount off their premium for adopting a pet from a registered animal charity or rescue centre and non-members will receive 2.5% discount. With the new scheme by Co-op Insurance, customers are offered unlimited video consultations with fully qualified veterinary surgeons 24/7, 365 days a year as standard, and dental and farewell cover is also included (terms and conditions apply). Co-op Pet Insurance offers the UK’s highest lifetime veterinary fee policy with £16k of cover per pet, per year***. There are also no extra charges for paying monthly. T&Cs apply.

 About Co-op:

The Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives with interests across food, funerals, insurance, and legal services. Owned by over 4 million UK consumers, the Co-op operates 2,600 food stores, over 800 funeral homes and provides products to over 5,100 other stores, including those run by independent co-operative societies and through its wholesale business, Nisa Retail Limited. Employing over 63,000 people, the Co-op has an annual turnover of £11.5 billion. As well as having clear financial and operational objectives, the Co-op is a recognised leader for its social goals and community-led programmes. The Co-op exists to meet members’ needs and stand up for the things they believe in.

 About Markerstudy:

Markerstudy Group of Companies, headquartered in Kent, was established in 2001. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021, the group has more than 3,500 employees and holds an Investors in People Gold award. As the UK’s largest MGA, Markerstudy Insurance Services Limited supports over 1,000 broker partners and in excess of 3m policyholders with a wide variety of insurance services. In 2020, the group became the UK’s 6th largest motor insurance provider following the acquisition of Co-op Insurance’s underwriting business and commenced a 13-year partnership to provide home and motor insurance products under the Co-op brand. The Group’s portfolio includes the Markerstudy Broking division, which comprises a number of brands including Brightside Insurance and Insurance Factory – one of the UK’s largest affinity based insurance intermediaries for pet insurance. Also under the group umbrella are Auto Windscreens, VisionTrack and Vision Vehicle Solutions and brands Geoffrey Insurance and Zenith Insurance.