Tag Archives: The Warehouse

The Greyt New Zealand Caterpillar Craze

Posted on July 4, 2016 | 6 comments

As you know, Izzy is a greyhound. And as a devoted greyhound owner, I belong to several Facebook groups dedicated to greyhounds. One is the Greyhound Collective, based here in New Zealand.

Early last week, a fellow owner posted that their hound loved their large stuffed caterpillar from The Warehouse (the New Zealand equivalent of Walmart) and – coincidentally – they were available at the annual toy sale for 50% off (so $40 compared to $80)…

The caterpillars being sold by The Warehouse are 250 cm long

…and so started the Greyt New Zealand Caterpillar Craze!

I slept on it overnight and then decided Izzy should have one. I ordered it online and then emailed my friend Marie “I’ve just bought Izzy one of those caterpillars.” Marie wrote back “So did I, for Ben” Gosh, I thought – we are good dog mothers…

And then another one and another one posted on The Greyhound Collective. Their hounds were also reveling in their new colourful friends. It’s been like that all week (and the sale is still going). More and more New Zealand greyhounds are loving their warm and cuddly friends. It’s winter here and greyhounds feel the cold. A caterpillar makes a greyt friend on a cold winter’s day…

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So enjoy these snaps of our Caterpillar Craze…can you spot Izzy?

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

6 Comments

Posted in Dogs

Tagged caterpillar, Facebook, Greyhound, greyhounds, The Warehouse, Walmart

The Warehouse – another example of dogs in advertising

Posted on January 14, 2016 | Leave a comment

My business is a member of the BizRewards program by retailer The Warehouse/Warehouse Stationery.

Today, like most weeks, a sales flyer popped up in my inbox. To my delight, it has a dog theme:

Never underestimate the appeal of a dog in your advertising.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

My advice on buying pet insurance

Posted on August 21, 2012 | 4 comments

Vets tell me that one of the hardest things they are asked to do is to euthanise a dog that could be saved by surgery or medication. The catch is that the owner cannot afford it. This problem has, in more recent years, been called economic euthanasia because the main deciding factor is cost.

Whilst some vet practices may be able to work out payment plans for customers, many are reluctant to do so because they’ve been burnt by customers who have not paid in the past. With more expensive treatments and medications available, vet practices are less likely to be able to afford the extension of credit.

We are lucky in New Zealand that our range of pet insurance choices is greater than ever before. I notice that The Warehouse is advertising a pet insurance product and that is excellent for dog owners and the sector as a whole (including the competitors) because it raises awareness of pet insurance.

Purchasing pet insurance is a serious decision.

Uptake of pet insurance in New Zealand is relatively low. At least one consumer organisation has advised owners to set aside funds in a designated savings account rather than buying an insurance policy because the insurance is likely to cost more over its term than any benefits that are paid out. Of course, we’re also told that our level of household savings is low. And interest rates are hardly likely to grow your savings to the size you will need for a major operation. Where to start?

My advice is to think about your household budget and be realistic about how much money you can pull together if your dog becomes unwell. Is your dog worth more to you than this amount? If so, then start considering insurance that will fit your budget.

An internet search will quickly give you articles on things to consider when buying pet insurance. The insurers themselves will give you information on why their policy is ‘best.’ Just remember that insurers are also in the business to make money, so you need to understand their policies and exclusions and the premiums you will need to pay.

Always read the policy document first. Then ring and ask questions. Your first test of the insurer is to see how quickly and courteously they respond to you. Don’t stop asking questions until you are satisfied that you understand the finer details. Finally, follow up with the company to confirm the answers in writing before signing up. Keep a file just in case you have a dispute later on.

Pet insurance, like other insurance, is there to help you manage the risk if something bad should happen. The policy may never pay for itself. That’s not the goal. The goal is to be able to afford medical care for your four-legged loved one.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

4 Comments

Posted in dog care

Tagged economic euthanasia, Internet, medical care, pet insurance, The Warehouse

The sale of Ellenco to Southern Cross – a positive for pet owners

Posted on March 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

Southern Cross Benefits Ltd announced this week that it has purchased Ellenco Pet Insurance. Although some may lament the loss of a ‘mom and pop’ operation that has operated for 22 years, I think the ownership transfer is a good thing for New Zealand dog (and other pet) owners. Why?

Only 8% of dog owners in NZ currently have pet insurance (according to the NZ Companion Animal Council’s Companion Animals in NZ survey, July 2011)
The Southern Cross Healthcare Group, of which Southern Cross Benefits Limited is one company, is the largest healthcare insurance provider in NZ
Ellenco’s owners could not afford to put up the $3 million bond required by new legislation and its previous bond of only $500,000 was a potential risk to policy holders
In my opinion, Southern Cross is a trusted brand in NZ and should encourage more pet owners to seriously consider the purchase of insurance
Southern Cross has acknowledged that surveys of its clients have shown that there is interest in pet insurance – so an audience that hasn’t been reached so far by insurance providers is aware of the benefits of pet insurance – but hasn’t had the confidence yet to buy a policy
Southern Cross Benefits Limited has an A+ (Strong) financial strength rating from Standard & Poor’s, is a Registered Financial Service Provider, and is a member of the Insurance & Savings Ombudsman’s Disputes Resolution Scheme

Insurance, like other business markets, matures over time. This is a huge step for NZ in its recognition of the importance of pets and the associated costs of their healthcare.

Another big step in the pet insurance market here was when The Warehouse started offering Petplan insurance, furthering the marketing of pet insurance generally through a very popular retail outlet.

In the words of Ian MacPherson, CEO of Southern Cross Healthcare Group, “Pet insurance is a natural extension for Southern Cross. Many New Zealanders count their pets as part of the family. However, currently very few owners have pet insurance, meaning they are exposed to what can be very high bills should their pet be affected by an unexpected illness or injury.”

It is important to note that the policies of all pet insurance providers in NZ have coverage of some sort for complementary therapies. Read my pet insurance fact sheet for more details.

Footnote: Credit must be given to the founders of Ellenco, Rodger Cox and Jenny Ellenbroek. Ellenco was the first firm to offer pet insurance in New Zealand, others have followed. Many policy holders have benefited from the coverage of their company’s policies. Alas, time has caught up with the small Christchurch-based operation.

The Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2010 required insurers to put up higher bonds and the small firm could not afford this change. Policy holders are lucky that the owners negotiated with Southern Cross for the purchase of the firm’s policies. Until operations are transferred to Hamilton in 2013, there will be no change to Ellenco’s policy provisions.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand