Despite the recessionary conditions squeezing the purses of Brits up and down the country, pet owners should not cut back on insurance when trying to save on their expenditure.

Debbie Connolly, founder of animal behaviour consultant SafePets UK (www.safepets.co.uk), explained that pet insurance is a must.

"The internet is full of stories of people leaving pets to suffer or dumping them because they need treatment. Nobody ever wants to have to put a pet to sleep because treatment is too expensive," she said.

As a result, many perfectly curable pets have to be put down. Although this is better than them being inhumanely dumped, getting pet insurance coverage is the best way to help your animal's survival.

Many people are unaware of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), which helps people on benefits get coverage for their pets. Many vets also try to make animal care more affordable through weekly instalment schemes.