Have you seen people with those snarky bumper stickers that says the more people I meet the more I love my dog? Well I love to see those. Why? Because pets truly enrich our lives, our children’s lives.

I grew up with pets; as a small girl I had cats and we had the family dog. He passed at the age of 15 when I was 18 and about to leave for college. Since then and upon meeting my husband we agreed we always had pet in our home. We brought home to complete our family our first dog, as a couple, almost 11 years ago a snorty, scrunchy face, wrinkled little ball of love. Our English Bulldog Diesel. Poor Diesel was growing lonely so in October of that year we brought home a floppy eared, droopy eye, sad face little beauty named Daisy, our Basset Hound. The two of them were like peas and carrots and were our perfect family.

Even when we found we were pregnant, we knew these two animals would be of a great temperament for our children. Loving, kind, easy to care for (no excessive grooming or what have you) and of course, we were not worried about them with our children. But what we did not expect was to put down each of those dogs in different stages before bringing children into our home.

As poor luck would strike us, one month before Grant was due, The Chad and I had to put down Diesel due to rapid spread of cancer in his lungs as well as ruptured disks in his back causing him moments of paralysis if not permanent paralysis. This was no life for him and we went with the most humane decision.

Poor luck struck us again as well before Mother’s Day of 2007 where we had to put down my beloved Basset, Daisy. Sudden onset of paralysis due to a ruptured disk caused us to make the same gut wrenching, heart breaking decision that still brings sadness and tears to our family.

But not every story is as humane as ours. Families often do not consider the temperament of an animal or the time, love, and care that goes into caring for a pet. After both incidents with our dogs we invested in pet insurance for our current English Bulldog Ginger. I am a HUGE advocate for pet insurance now because if we had pet insurance I would be singing the praises of my two deceased dogs and how they both could walk again. Even though I am not, I will say that pet insurance is a FABULOUS investment as a pet owner.

As part of the National Kids and Pet Day I am helping to spread awareness about the care, love, and enrichment of pets in our lives and our children’s lives. Furthermore, I am helping to spread the word about Kroger’s pet insurance offerings and great pet advice:

• Overview of Kroger’s pet insurance offerings:
  • Offered through PetFirst, Kroger pet insurance policies cover routine care and medical procedures for dogs and cats, and is available at more than 2,400 stores in the Kroger family including City Market, Dillon’s, Fred Meyer, Frye’s, King Sooper, Owen’s, Pay Less, QFC, Ralph’s and Smith’s. In addition to being available in-store, Kroger’s pet insurance can be purchased online at http://www.krogerpersonalfinance.com/pet-insurance/. Kroger’s pet insurance works at any veterinarian nationwide, with reimbursement typically occurring within two weeks. Coverage starts as low as $9.95 per month and right now, individuals who purchase online can save $10.

• Family Friendly breeds:
  • Cocker Spaniel – These lap dogs are sensitive and sweet and enjoy the attention of children. Cocker Spaniels are obedient with training and friendly around people.
  • Pug – This affectionate breed loves being part of a family. Outgoing and mischievous, they make playful companions for children.
  • Golden Retriever – Similar to Labs in personality, Goldens are mild mannered and enjoy being around families and other people. These dogs are easy to train are gentle with children.
  • Basset Hound – This breed is good with children of all ages. They are known for their docile nature and gentleness. Their long backs need to be supported when they are picked up, and an eager child can accidentally injure them.

• Tips parents can teach their children regarding safe pet play:
  • Teach your children to pet softy, stay away from food dishes, toys and bones, and not to startle your dog or cat when it is sleeping.
  • Keep babies and toddlers at a level higher than your dog. Dogs perceive height as representative of their hierarchy. Keep your children off the floor when the dog is in the room.
  • Don’t give your dog toys that resemble your children’s toys or clothing. Stay away from fabric stuffed dog toys that resemble your child’s stuffed animals.
  • Involve your child in your dog’s care. Even just the presence of your child in the same room while your dog is receiving his favorite things or activities can help build a positive association to children.

As part of this promotion Kroger has offered to giveaway a $20 gift card good for any Kroger brand stores. All you have to do is tell me what kind of pet you have. An additional entry would be to tell me what you think about pet insurance and whether that would be something you would invest in, or something you feel is too frivolous.

All additional entry options such as Tweets, blogging, and so forth.

CONTEST ENDS May 6th

“For helping raise awareness of National Kids & Pet Day I was provided with a $20 gift card to spoil {the pet in my life} and a $20 gift card to giveaway to a reader so that they could do the same by the Global Influence Network and the Kroger Co. The thoughts and opinions here are my own.”