1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:04,240 Welcome back, pet parent. Today we're doing something a 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,280 little different for this show, but I promise it's going to be 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:11,920 worthwhile because so many of us, and I'm just like we all 4 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,720 knew this, but we actually have studies that show so many of us 5 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:20,760 are not prepared for what it actually cost to care for our 6 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:22,880 pets. And I think that's really been 7 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,840 super top of mind, especially in the last few years, because we 8 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:31,040 have all been really trying to figure things out with 9 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:34,560 inflation. And Oh my gosh, the numbers for 10 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:39,240 what things cost now versus how much income has gone up is just 11 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,760 insanity. And caring for our pets is 12 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:46,200 something I know you listening are it's all you want to do is 13 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,320 make sure you're taking care of your pet as well as you can. 14 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:53,440 So one of the things I know Isabel and I have talked about 15 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,040 it before on the weekly pet roundup. 16 00:00:55,040 --> 00:01:00,400 So if you caught the episode we did on pet insurance, this is 17 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,000 going to kind of tie in a little bit here. 18 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:08,680 So it's probably been 5 or 6 years maybe since I got a care 19 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,240 credit credit card. And I'm sure we all use credit 20 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,520 cards in different ways. Sometimes we use them when we 21 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:17,400 really don't want to have to use them. 22 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:22,120 But the way I use it literally for anything I need veterinary 23 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,040 care wise, but there are other ways that you can use it. 24 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:32,160 I set it aside and I only use it for veterinary expenses and I 25 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,360 also have a dedicated savings account for veterinary expenses. 26 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:41,000 But sometimes things happen. I have been there many, many 27 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,240 times and we're going to talk a little bit about that and some 28 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:47,960 of the things that we can do as pet parents to prepare. 29 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:52,240 One of those things being like actually understanding what the 30 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:56,320 lifetime of care can be for having a dog or a cat. 31 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:01,840 So today's guest is Jonathan Weinberg and he is the Senior 32 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:06,720 Vice President and General Manager of the pet and the Co 33 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:11,280 brand business at Synchrony, which is the care credit card 34 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,960 that I was just talking about. And he has a very extensive 35 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,680 resume and finance. I'm not going to bore you with 36 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,000 all of that because he's actually a lot more interesting 37 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,760 than his resume. He needs one to believe. 38 00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:26,400 Jonathan, thank you so much for being here with me today. 39 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,000 No, you, you don't worry. I, I, I'm happy. 40 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,000 I'm more interesting than than a piece of paper. 41 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,800 And you can see I got Maddie here and Maddie's my miniature 42 00:02:36,920 --> 00:02:39,560 will. She's 14 years old and she sits 43 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:43,560 with me all day during work and she sleeps for about 95% of my 44 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,760 meetings. So it's it's, it's also boring 45 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:47,920 in real life, but but it's important work. 46 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:50,920 Yeah, well, it is. You know, the world, the world 47 00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:54,600 needs to go around. And money is how we do that. 48 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,760 And it's, I know for a lot of us been an exceptional struggle in 49 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,800 the past few years. Maddie, much like my dog 50 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,440 Kimberly, who has been barking her head off as we have been 51 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:11,920 trying to record this episode. They don't have any clue about 52 00:03:11,920 --> 00:03:15,240 what money is or how it works or how we get through the world. 53 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,440 God bless them because I wish I could be like that. 54 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,640 I wish so much. But that just isn't the reality 55 00:03:20,640 --> 00:03:23,080 of the world we live in. And we're certainly not going to 56 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,880 get at all political here today. We really just want to talk 57 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:32,440 about what we can do proactively and when something happens. 58 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,520 Because I was reviewing some of the information that you sent 59 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,360 over and we'll get to all of that about specialty veterinary 60 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,520 care and the lifetime of care study that Synchrony put out. 61 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,720 But I would love to hear a little bit, Jonathan, about your 62 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,440 dog Maddie and some of the things because I know you've 63 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,440 been through a lot together. So I would love to hear a little 64 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,320 bit more about Maddie. Of course. 65 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:59,200 Well, Maddie is a 14 year old, 14 1/2 year old miniature 66 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:04,600 poodle. And she is, is, is a very, you 67 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:08,640 know, worldly dog. She, she, she started living 68 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,920 with us from, from a puppy, you know, right away about, you 69 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:16,360 know, six weeks. But about 18 months into her 70 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:18,880 life with us, we moved to Hong Kong. 71 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,760 So she lived in Hong Kong with us for two years. 72 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:25,120 And then after two years, I got asked to move to London. 73 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:28,320 And so she lived with us in London, where I worked for five 74 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:32,000 years and then she was back in New York for a bit and now we're 75 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,960 based in Florida. So she's, she's been living in a 76 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:38,600 bunch of different places. She's also, she's been to I 77 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,600 think 13 countries. We have a little pet passport 78 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:44,080 for her. So she, she, she gets around, 79 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:49,480 but she really is, you know, my right hand lady and, and really 80 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:54,440 a great part of the family. But as a senior dog, you know, 81 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:58,120 she struggles with some health conditions, which are not 82 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:02,360 uncommon in, in, in, you know, for her breed, she has Cushing's 83 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,400 and she also has a mitral valve deficiency. 84 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:10,760 So she gets she she's, you know, has lived a great healthy life 85 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:12,560 so far. And, and there's things now that 86 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,840 we need to change, whether it be behaviors or, or certain 87 00:05:16,840 --> 00:05:21,120 treatments that she needs to do to continue to be a part of our 88 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:24,400 family for as long as we hope she can be. 89 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,360 And you know, with that also as as we're going to talk about 90 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,320 later, comes cost, But that's that's life these days, right? 91 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:33,480 It is. It really, really is. 92 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:37,600 And I'm curious because one of the things we talk about on this 93 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:42,280 podcast a lot is getting back to nature and bringing in holistic 94 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:46,240 modalities to care for our pets. Of all the places you've lived 95 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:52,240 and Maddie has lived. In my mind I'm thinking the 96 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:56,800 least access to like natural space she might have had was in 97 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,040 Hong Kong. But I don't know, tell like, of 98 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:01,440 all the places she's lived, where does she get the most 99 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:05,480 access to nature? In London is, is where she had 100 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,480 her most access. Hong Kong was great, but it was 101 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,160 very much you know, it's, it's, it's packed right. 102 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:15,520 And so she spent a lot of time and and real estate comes with a 103 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,720 very high premium and so she spent a lot more time on 104 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:24,080 pavement in London, which was incredibly dog friendly, right. 105 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,440 So she would, you know, she was a regular at the pub, you know, 106 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,600 she tried to get in with fake ID to buy. 107 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:31,760 They didn't, they didn't count dog ears for her to be able to 108 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,800 buy a beer. But in London, we lived very 109 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,640 near Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and she would be off 110 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,360 leash. And then it wasn't uncommon. 111 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:43,560 We would take her up to Scotland when we went there and she would 112 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:46,000 just run around. And so that was, that was 113 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,680 probably where she had her biggest opportunity to be in, 114 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,200 in, in nature. I'd say that came with a plus 115 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:57,680 and A minus because in, in Hyde Park in London, she would quite 116 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,280 often when we'd let her off her leash, she would then proceed as 117 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:06,120 quickly as possible to the nearest fox poo and rub her back 118 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,400 in it and she would come back and invariably we'd have to give 119 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:13,360 her a nice deep cleaning. I guess that that was her 120 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:15,680 natural instinct and you know, she just loved doing it. 121 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:18,920 It is. You should look into FMT, that's 122 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:25,320 we pay a premium for healthy poop these days. 123 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,920 OK, I'm going to look into it. But that was something that you 124 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,640 would always come back. And right when my wife would 125 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,200 take her on a walk, she'd come back to our place. 126 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,080 She'd be like, no, you can't better or you're gonna get a 127 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:37,960 bath. I'm like OK. 128 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,600 Yeah, no, I get it. I would have to do that too. 129 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:46,080 So OK, she does have some issues that you have to manage and not 130 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,320 only do you have to manage those issues, but that comes along 131 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,520 with, and I know so many people get so frustrated about this, 132 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:57,120 but it it's very necessary to continue monitoring lab work, 133 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,440 especially when an animal or a human for that matter, is on 134 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,880 medications because there are a lot of side effects and we need 135 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:06,600 to mitigate that as much as possible. 136 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,320 So there is a high price tag for that. 137 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:14,360 And do you use care credit? I do and I and I use it, you 138 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:18,640 know, for precisely those kind of reasons. 139 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:21,720 Is the monitoring more than you know, OK, the initial 140 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,880 diagnostic, you know, probably cost money, but making sure her 141 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,480 levels are right with her cushions is very important. 142 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,640 So her cortisol levels to make sure that, you know, she's in 143 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,799 that, you know, healthy spot and, and is at the right place. 144 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,640 The other expense, which is not insignificant is I need to take 145 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:41,480 her to the cardiologist for her mitral bowel deficiency. 146 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,159 I'd say I take her about three times a year. 147 00:08:43,159 --> 00:08:46,000 And with that is, you know, it's, it's not even medicine, 148 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,200 right? It's, it's an EKG to see if her 149 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:53,760 heart murmur is getting stronger or if that, if that if her aorta 150 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,320 and, and the other parts of her ventricles and her heart are, 151 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:00,800 are weakening, right? And that takes a, you know, it's 152 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:02,440 like a four or five hour appointment. 153 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:04,960 And I, we make a little bit of a day of it, me and her, right. 154 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:08,040 And, and because we got to drive also about an hour for the 155 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,840 specialist. But yeah, I, I use, I use care 156 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,360 credit all the time. And then I just happened to have 157 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,760 to use it again over the holiday time. 158 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,920 I don't want to embarrass her on your podcast, but she had a 159 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:25,320 ruptured anal gland. We do, you know, treat them and 160 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,000 get them normally express, but she had to have, she had to go 161 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,280 in for a little bit of an emergency treatment over to 162 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:31,200 break. She's doing great now. 163 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,400 But that was something that as we'll talk about was completely 164 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:36,080 unexpected, right? You can't plan on that. 165 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:43,440 Yeah, well, I actually pulled up a quote from you and it's 166 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,800 called. It was published back in October 167 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:51,720 on Synchrony's website about how prepared we are as pet parents, 168 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:54,880 especially for the cost of specialty veterinary care. 169 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:58,400 And you said nearly 50% of today's pet parents 170 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,440 underestimate the cost of pet care. 171 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,920 And unexpected emergency care plays a big role in this 172 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,280 miscalculation. I I've been there. 173 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:11,360 I have, I've had so many, well, I've had so many pets and I 174 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:15,960 think, you know, we can certainly get lost in like the 175 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:19,480 cost of one pet can be astronomical, especially if that 176 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:24,440 pet has serious issues, whether they're genetic or, you know, 177 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,520 whatever else may be going on. We talked a lot about vaccinosis 178 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,400 and things like that here on this podcast, But the sheer 179 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:34,800 amount of pets that I have had in my life, I have been through 180 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:39,400 so much crypt orchid surgeries and resistant bacterial 181 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:44,240 infections. I have had a cat who got blocked 182 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:50,400 multiple times urinary blockages and I got him a a perennial 183 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:54,960 urethostomy surgery which in its own like just the surgery was 184 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,320 like 5 grand. I have had a cat in intensive 185 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:02,920 care for a week who went septic. Like there are so many things I 186 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:07,720 recently my most recent issue, which actually surprisingly was 187 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:11,440 not a huge expense for me, but I think that that comes with the 188 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,920 line of work I do now and, and caring for my pets a little more 189 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,040 naturally. But I did have to get him 190 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:20,920 diagnostics for osteosarcoma, which was out of nowhere. 191 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:24,280 And you know, I didn't know until he broke his lung, right? 192 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:29,160 So it's just been like you learn, you live and you learn. 193 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,960 And as we were talking about on the like pre podcast eating that 194 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:37,320 we had, you were talking to me about how many new pet parents 195 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:41,480 we have, like people who they are just getting their first pet 196 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,520 ever. And possibly with the pandemic 197 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:47,880 that kind of exacerbated those numbers, what they would 198 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:51,720 normally be in a generation because we were all at home and 199 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,320 like, what are we going to do? I'm lonely, get me a pet, right? 200 00:11:54,360 --> 00:12:00,160 So just understanding what it actually cost to care for a pet. 201 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:04,400 And I have to say, I would say your numbers are on the low end, 202 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,520 but I think that's because I, you know, work with people who 203 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,600 do care for pets more holistically and that can be 204 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:14,160 more expensive. But I'm just wondering if I'd 205 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,720 love to talk about that. Yeah, I think it's a couple of 206 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,320 things. I think also, Jessica, there's a 207 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,200 different level. There's a spectrum of care and 208 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:23,880 then there's the level of, you know, bonding that certain pet 209 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,080 parents have with their pets, which you're probably on a 210 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:29,120 different level of as you. That's not judging. 211 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,520 It's not, you know, it's just the way that is central and your 212 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:33,560 family is maybe a little bit different than than than other 213 00:12:33,560 --> 00:12:35,000 people. Same thing with me and Matt. 214 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:38,000 She, she, you know, we all work for her here, right? 215 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:41,440 I would have been retired years ago, but he's just tough. 216 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:45,200 But listen, I think a couple things starting with the first 217 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:50,560 time pet parents, yes, I think a lot of people got pets at a 218 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:54,040 accelerated rate, you know, than than normally. 219 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:58,040 And so we saw that population grow and they they are not 220 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:03,320 prepared for what you know, usually you learn after your 221 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:05,600 first pet, you know, not you learned all you know how to 222 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:07,400 teach them, how to train them better. 223 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:08,520 How do you teach them how to sit? 224 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,200 How do you, you know what you know, what food do you you might 225 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,000 want to be better AT? And then the other thing is you 226 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,040 learn about expenses and how much it actually costs. 227 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,600 And so we're having a much larger population of the pet 228 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:22,560 parents that don't have that first time experience. 229 00:13:22,560 --> 00:13:27,400 That's number one. Number two is that when you 230 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:31,840 think about the expense and the kind of the health of a pet, 231 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:34,040 yeah, you have like, OK, starting off in the beginning 232 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:37,240 when you get them and whether, you know which vaccines and, you 233 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:40,480 know, whatever you decide to do as a pet parent does the startup 234 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,480 costs tend to be higher, You know, getting your whatever it 235 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:45,360 is, a crate, the dog bed, all that stuff. 236 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,040 The first year tends to be high. Then you tend to you know go 237 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:52,920 down a little bit years 1234 and then they start getting going up 238 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:54,880 because that's when dogs start to age. 239 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:58,000 And depending on the breed in particular, but certainly the 240 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,720 larger ones at a more accelerated rate, maybe some of 241 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,520 the snub, those ones start to have breathing difficulties at 242 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:07,360 that point. And so we're now starting to see 243 00:14:07,560 --> 00:14:12,040 that age come from the pandemic. Pet boom is now starting to hit 244 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:13,840 also. So people need to be prepared 245 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:15,760 even more so. And then the third factor, which 246 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:19,400 we talked about is just costs have gone up, number one, and #2 247 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,280 savings have gone down. So when you put those two things 248 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,320 together and with that, you know the financial piece of it with 249 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:27,800 savings going down and costs going up and then the other 250 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,080 elements, yeah, it's a very important topic to talk about at 251 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:34,080 this time. Well, and the other thing that 252 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:45,120 this particular blog post says is that 80% of pet parents are 253 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:50,760 worried about the potential cost of veterinary care as much or 254 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:55,960 possibly more than the outcome of getting or not getting the 255 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:58,920 care, which is never a place we want to be. 256 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,640 But it's the reality of the world we live in and and where 257 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:07,320 we're at. And I know that in one hand we 258 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,560 think, oh, that that poor animal isn't getting the care they 259 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:12,480 need. On the other hand, it could be 260 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:15,640 that animal being relinquished to a shelter or a rescue. 261 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:20,760 And those, those services also, they need support. 262 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:25,200 They need help. They're always over full over 263 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,160 their limit on what they can handle and what they can take. 264 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:33,360 It's just, it's, it's sad and I know it. 265 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:40,280 Also, I think I, I wouldn't be doing a, a service to my 266 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:43,200 community, especially with all of the veterinarians that I'm 267 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:47,880 fortunate to to be friends with and even some who mentor me. 268 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:52,960 It puts a strain on the veterinary profession. 269 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,360 Everybody in the weather it's a veterinarian or a tech or 270 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,880 whoever else. Because we are seeing that I 271 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,080 think they have actually surpassed the air traffic 272 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,160 controllers as the profession with the highest suicide rate. 273 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,120 They are overworked, they are burnt out, and they get yelled 274 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:14,600 at and cussed out and crapped on all day long from people who are 275 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:18,760 like, you know, angry with how much it costs. 276 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,840 And it's really not the veterinarians fault. 277 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:23,480 They're literally trying to stay afloat. 278 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:25,680 They're not becoming millionaires doing what they do. 279 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:29,480 And so I think it's important to bring that piece in when we're 280 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:32,120 sitting here talking about how expensive it is. 281 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,480 Absolutely. I think you're absolutely right. 282 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:39,240 The costs are not high arbitrarily right, right. 283 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:46,400 I think that there is a people who work, whether it's vets or 284 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:49,880 vet tax, need to earn a living wage and they are, they bear of 285 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:51,800 a brunt. They are, you know, but people 286 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,600 that you know, speak pet, if you will, and know how to diagnose 287 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:58,440 and, and make sure that our our pets are being cared for. 288 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,640 And I think that's a very important equation to it. 289 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:05,800 I think that you have a stat that that I have in, in, in that 290 00:17:05,839 --> 00:17:09,520 release that you that you that you read was that four to five 291 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,079 pets in their lifetime will experience an emergency. 292 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:16,560 And that 80% of those pet parents are as worried about the 293 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:20,040 outcome as they are on the cost. And you're absolutely right, it 294 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:23,280 is that's an unhealthy equation, right? 295 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:25,920 What you have over there, you know, people should be focused 296 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:27,359 more. Should it shouldn't have to 297 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,520 focus on what this is going to cost me you especially when 298 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,920 you're going through it. Yes, there's cost to doing all 299 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:37,760 this stuff. And so it's very important that 300 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,960 we try to find a way to get people to be prepared so that 301 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,520 when that pet is having an emergency and when you're 302 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:47,720 stressed in that vet clinic or wherever you are, we're having 303 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:49,680 where where this is taking place. 304 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:53,400 You're not focusing solely on the health and well-being of 305 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,200 that family member as opposed to the cost. 306 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:58,880 OK. So some of the other statistics 307 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:03,440 that I saw in the lifetime of care study that Synchrony came 308 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:08,200 out with, which is just full of incredible information. 309 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:13,680 And I actually, I want to show or I want to talk about the one 310 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:15,880 year cost of pet ownership because that's where I was like 311 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:22,760 really that's all. But for a dog, it spanned $12170 312 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:31,120 to $28103.00. For a cat 961 to 24/7 2487. 313 00:18:31,360 --> 00:18:34,760 Excuse me. And I'm over here like, how do I 314 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:39,120 get down to these numbers? It's not going to happen for me. 315 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:46,560 But in the same study we're looking at, where is the 316 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:48,080 statement? Let me find it again. 317 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:54,400 Like $250 I think it says. Is the area where it begins to 318 00:18:54,400 --> 00:19:00,000 stress people, right? So 25% of pet parents, a $250 319 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,800 emergency is enough to create financial stress. 320 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:09,480 I think is, is, is, is that stat and everyone, everyone has 321 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:14,520 different savings and incomes and economic profiles, right? 322 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:18,880 And backgrounds, $250 is not what it used to be. 323 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,600 And that's, that's a scary number for it to cause stress 324 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:28,120 because even that isn't going to get you that much nowadays in an 325 00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:30,680 emergency, in a vet. And so that, that's, that's, 326 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,480 that's a scary number. And, and I think, you know, 327 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:35,760 we're going to, we're going to be refreshing this study, I 328 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,400 believe this year. And so I, I, I wouldn't be 329 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:43,440 surprised about number jumps in a not insignificant amount, but 330 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:45,160 I, I, I don't know the results yet. 331 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:51,280 Yeah. Well, and I know for my pets, I 332 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:56,760 spend a whole lot more upfront with them. 333 00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:00,120 And that's one of the things we talk about a lot on this podcast 334 00:20:00,120 --> 00:20:05,400 because it is very difficult when we have somebody sitting in 335 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:09,120 front of us going, I can't afford to do XYZ. 336 00:20:09,120 --> 00:20:12,360 And I get it. Like I totally understand. 337 00:20:12,360 --> 00:20:15,560 I've been there. More times than I would like to 338 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:19,640 count or go back and remember and the The reality is 339 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:25,920 prevention can get us so far. I mean, obviously it can't ever 340 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,400 guarantee us anything. We live in a toxic world. 341 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:34,200 There are genetic things that we have to account for, but one of 342 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:40,240 one of the reasons that I have care credit is because it's so 343 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:42,280 versatile. And I certainly don't want this 344 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:44,680 to sound like a commercial for care credit. 345 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:47,560 But obviously that's what we're here to talk about is being 346 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:53,640 prepared and having something to kind of ease that stress, ease 347 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:57,640 the anxiety that you have. And I will say for me, it has 348 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:03,040 used that anxiety after having been through so many multi $1000 349 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:09,720 specialty vet bills to know that OK, even if I don't have this in 350 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:14,240 my savings account right now, I have this card that's going to 351 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:18,000 help me get through this and I'll figure it out on the other 352 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,560 side because that's what my pet means to me. 353 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:24,760 So I don't know if there are any other statistics that we want to 354 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:26,720 talk about. I have plenty of them pulled up. 355 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,600 I'm sure you do too. But that's kind of, you know, 356 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:33,720 the, the prevention and the anxiety, like reducing that 357 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:37,280 anxiety. That's where I I'm kind of my 358 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:39,520 mind circles back around to all the time. 359 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,200 Yeah, I think there's a couple things you hit on whether it be 360 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:44,280 just now or when we started off right. 361 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:47,680 You talked about that you have a care credit card, but y'all talk 362 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,000 about having a pet savings account, right? 363 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,840 The little bit you I know you had another guest on talking 364 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:55,960 about insurance. I used to care credit, I used to 365 00:21:55,960 --> 00:22:00,600 own pets best insurance and now we're a large, you know, we're, 366 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:04,320 we have a partnership with independent pet holdings, which 367 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:08,480 also owns Embrace and ASPCA and and some other Figo spot, a 368 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,560 bunch of other insurance brands and pumpkin. 369 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:14,640 And so, you know, we have, you know, I have some, you know, 370 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:17,240 kind of experience in that space as well. 371 00:22:17,360 --> 00:22:21,200 What I'd say is there's, there's not going to be 1 fail safe 372 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,440 solution. So it's a matter building a 373 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:27,280 quilt, work of things or a bunch of different layers of defense 374 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:30,240 to help you be prepared. I think listen, budgeting is 375 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,120 very important, right? So budgeting for what you need, 376 00:22:33,120 --> 00:22:35,680 which is a big reason why we did this lifetime of care study 377 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:38,880 because we wanted people to know it wasn't to scare people, a lot 378 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:41,040 of people at first when we released this, you know, we're 379 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,720 talking almost 2 1/2 years ago now, right? 380 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,680 I believe the initial study, everyone's like, what, are you 381 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:47,880 trying to scare people not get pets? 382 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:52,160 No, that's not it at all. We want educated, you know, pet 383 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:55,320 parents that understand what they're, what kind of 384 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:56,920 relationship they're getting into. 385 00:22:56,920 --> 00:22:59,680 Like you said in the beginning, like they don't know the pets, 386 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:01,360 don't know how much each thing costs. 387 00:23:01,360 --> 00:23:04,200 Although I will tell you for some reason, Maddie, every time 388 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,320 I give her like one of these bones, she'll bury it with her 389 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:10,480 nose into our, you know, into the couch or all over. 390 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:12,120 I find bones are all over the house. 391 00:23:12,120 --> 00:23:13,240 I'm like, she's the only dog here. 392 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:14,600 I don't know what she's saving for. 393 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,480 No one's stealing her bones and you know, she's 14 now. 394 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:21,440 No one else has eaten. Guarantee you that she still 395 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:23,960 doesn't trust me. But what I'd say is it's, it's 396 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:27,480 having multiple ways. So understanding the cost, step 397 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:29,720 one, understanding, you know what you're getting yourself 398 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:33,840 into and understanding also that it's, it's, it's a, it's a 399 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:36,760 privilege to have a pet in your family, but it's also a 400 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,120 responsibility and a covenant that you're signing up for that 401 00:23:39,120 --> 00:23:41,000 you agree to give them that care, right? 402 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:44,640 Number one, Number two, it's, it's budgeting for it, right? 403 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,680 And as much as you can, it's never going to be perfect, 404 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:49,400 right? We talk about unexpected 405 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:51,880 expenses and the cost that that has and the stress. 406 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:57,200 But what we know as pet parents is chances are you're going to 407 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:00,000 have an emergency in that lifetime, right? 408 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:01,520 We, we, we talked about it in the study. 409 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:03,920 Four out of five pet parents have, you know, in their 410 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:05,880 lifestyle. We'll have a pet pet emergency. 411 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,520 And then sometimes it might not be an emergency, but you might 412 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:10,680 think it is. And still it'll be an emergency 413 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:13,640 expense, right? Because we, we tend to at times 414 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:16,480 over, you know, because we don't speak pet and we don't 415 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:17,680 understand what they're going through. 416 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:21,480 Sometimes, you know, we, we, you know, maybe bring them to that, 417 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:24,600 that an extra time that isn't necessary, you know, because, 418 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:26,080 but you're just worried about it, right? 419 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:29,400 So, you know, understanding, you know, yes, there's going to be a 420 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:31,440 surprise, but you shouldn't be surprised that there's going to 421 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:33,400 be a surprise. It's more about when it is as 422 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,600 opposed to that it will happen. You talk about pet savings 423 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:39,200 accounts that you know, or, or having a savings account or 424 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:41,160 rainy day fund, whatever you want to call it in case that 425 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:43,680 happens. Pet insurance helps in in 426 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:48,360 certain cases, right, Especially depending on when you get it in 427 00:24:48,360 --> 00:24:50,960 their life cycle and what kind of policy and what works for you 428 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:53,360 and what, how you decide to treat them and what's covered. 429 00:24:53,360 --> 00:24:55,920 So study that. But pet insurance is another 430 00:24:55,920 --> 00:25:00,640 great tool and that and then tier credit and having that 431 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:05,800 ability to have that line of credit and be able to pay it 432 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,920 over time is, is another very valuable tool. 433 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:11,640 A lot of people use the care credit card, like you say, it's 434 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:14,520 my pet's credit card. I reserve it for that pet for, 435 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,240 for an emergency. In some cases it's it's treated 436 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:19,880 almost like self insurance and self in case something's going 437 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,440 to happen, you know that you have that card and it's going to 438 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:25,720 be able to pay. So being prepared to have that 439 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:31,480 care credit card as opposed to when you're either on your way 440 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:35,440 to the emergency vet or at 2:00 in the morning and scrambling, 441 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,680 yes, you can still apply at the vet and you can apply 24 hours. 442 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:43,960 And the decisioning is very rapid, right, for getting the 443 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:46,600 card. But you know, we see more and 444 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,680 more what I've seen a big shift over the last few years is 445 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:53,120 people taking out that card at either point of adoption or 446 00:25:53,120 --> 00:25:56,040 earlier on. Because as you mentioned, it's 447 00:25:56,040 --> 00:26:01,080 not just for emergencies, people bring their vet, their, their, 448 00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:03,640 their pets at a vet numerous times a year. 449 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:05,360 And it, and it works for those times. 450 00:26:05,360 --> 00:26:08,560 Now it's accepted even in daycare and, and other places, 451 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:10,880 you know, and which is, is, is a good product. 452 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:15,440 And, and I, I would say, you know, the last thing that you 453 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:20,200 mentioned, which is as important is, is, you know, preventative 454 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:22,120 health, like you mentioned, putting aside the financing 455 00:26:22,120 --> 00:26:24,600 part, it's, it's kind of like if you think about human health 456 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:28,280 insurance, right? There's a reason why hour annual 457 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:31,280 physical you don't pay you generally you co-pay or you 458 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:34,600 know, it's because they want to know that you're going to the 459 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:36,560 doctor. People that maybe go to the 460 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:40,000 doctor or go to the vet tend to be, you know, more attuned with 461 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:43,040 their health and you can also catch things earlier on and you 462 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:45,200 know what they're doing. It's it's a behavioral thing 463 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:47,160 almost as much as it is an actual thing. 464 00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:49,360 And so that's important for the pet as well. 465 00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:52,320 So Wellness, you know, whether it's a Wellness plan or just 466 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:56,120 regular vet visits, right? And, and, or like I know, you 467 00:26:56,120 --> 00:26:58,440 know, holistic or however you do it. 468 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:00,680 Diet, I know is something Jessica, that you're very 469 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:04,440 passionate about as well, right? Making sure that you're doing 470 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:08,480 everything in your power that can reduce the risk of an 471 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:11,200 emergency or or more acute health issues. 472 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:12,960 Yeah. Well, and that is another thing 473 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:17,920 that we kind of spoke about previously is the versatility of 474 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:22,080 the card because you're not locked in to like you can only 475 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:26,200 use it here, right? Not only can you use it for your 476 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,880 pets expenses, but you can use it in other medical care as well 477 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:33,360 for yourself. I know like my dentist takes it 478 00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:39,000 and places like that. So it really can be one of those 479 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:42,080 things Again, I'm just, I'm going to come back to the mental 480 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:46,160 health aspect of it because that's where I am focused so 481 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:50,080 much in my life right now is on my mental health and reducing 482 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:54,720 anxiety, reducing stress and knowing that I am not going to 483 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:58,800 be stuck in a situation where I can't get my pet the care they 484 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:01,160 need. Even though in the moment I'm 485 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:04,120 still going to be stressed out. Like, let's be real, I'm not 486 00:28:04,120 --> 00:28:08,160 always thinking about, I'm not going to be able to do it, which 487 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:12,080 is something that I remember feeling in the past. 488 00:28:12,120 --> 00:28:14,520 So I don't take that for granted. 489 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:18,520 Of course, as I said earlier, I have a, a pet savings account 490 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:23,200 also that I just, I have an automatic transfer set up and I 491 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:26,360 don't think about it and I don't look at that account until I 492 00:28:26,360 --> 00:28:28,160 need it. Like I just know that money is 493 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:30,640 going into it and that's a blessing. 494 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:34,040 I understand that that's something that, you know, we're 495 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:37,800 all in different tax brackets here, I'm sure, but it's 496 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:41,040 something I set up a couple of years ago and I haven't looked 497 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:44,120 at it since. At first I, it felt hard to me 498 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:46,640 at first. And now that I've had it set up 499 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:48,600 and in place for so long, I don't even think about it 500 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:50,360 anymore. I'll log into my bank and I'm 501 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:52,360 like, Oh yeah, that's right. I have that right. 502 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:58,280 So all the prevention, all the and, and as you said, knowing 503 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:02,440 what you're getting into, that's one of the things that it's 504 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:06,600 really, really easy for somebody who has such a soft heart for 505 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:08,840 animals to just want to take them all in. 506 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:13,640 I've been there too. I know I have said this before, 507 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:16,040 so it's not going to shock too many people, but it may shock 508 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:22,680 you. 1415, almost 15 years ago, I had 12 cats. 509 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:24,840 That's a lot. That's a lot to care for. 510 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:28,520 And at the time, they were like four or five different 511 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:31,880 veterinary prescription foods. I was buying like it was 512 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:36,200 expensive because we do we care so much for these animals. 513 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:40,520 And what I have learned and what I want to pass on to anybody 514 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:44,960 who's ready to hear it is that we actually aren't helping them 515 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:49,400 if we can't take care of them. So we have to realize what our 516 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:52,400 limits are. And what I have found has helped 517 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:56,720 me because I am so empathetic to all of the animals out there is 518 00:29:56,720 --> 00:30:00,760 finding ways to help other people who are are helping 519 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:03,920 animals. And that kind of, it still makes 520 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,920 me feel good in a way. Like it's definitely not the, 521 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:11,600 you know, dog cuddling up next to you on the couch feeling, but 522 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:16,080 there are things we can do. So being realistic about what it 523 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:20,320 actually takes financially to take care of an animal, even if 524 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:22,120 you're raising them allopathically, even if you're 525 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:25,000 feeding them kibble, I mean, at least you're feeding them and 526 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:29,360 knowing what that number is budgeting for it, like you said, 527 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,440 that is I wish more people knew to do that. 528 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:38,360 It's not just that initial cost. And I, I am such a big proponent 529 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:43,080 for having labs done on your dog, like or your cat. 530 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:47,840 A lot of veterinarians don't ask you to do this until they get 531 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:51,640 later in life. And I want it done early in life 532 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:56,120 because I want to be able to compare what's normal for this 533 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:59,000 animal versus something has happened and now we need to do 534 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:01,320 labs and we have no idea what's normal for that animal. 535 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:04,480 And we're just looking at a snapshot in time. 536 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:09,480 So just having this kind of these resources, I think is is 537 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:12,720 really helpful and I'm glad you put this information out. 538 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:18,120 Do you have any other tips for people on how they can utilize 539 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:21,920 your services or can they, where can they get this information so 540 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:24,680 they can go through it and see if they're prepared? 541 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:27,720 Sure. I I think a couple things that 542 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:29,680 to equity point knowledge is power, right? 543 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:34,240 And this is as you know, even though, you know, they're not 544 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:38,800 human or for the vast majority, and it, it keeps people see that 545 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:41,880 the great benefit that pets not only bring our health, right, 546 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:47,360 Because that's that that goes under, you know, understudied 547 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:49,960 or, you know, I know, but there's some organization abri 548 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:52,720 that, you know, are, are, are stressing, you know, what that 549 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:56,080 animal bond and how much all the great, you know, results from 550 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:58,080 our health result from, But they're, they're a part of your 551 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:00,240 family. And even if you think at first, 552 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:02,280 Oh no, it's not going to be that way, Trust me. 553 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:05,280 It for the vast majority, it's great Americans are, are fully, 554 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:09,440 you know, embracing the benefits of having a, a pet in your 555 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:11,240 household. And, you know, talk about COVID. 556 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:14,120 During that time, as much as we wanted someone near us, it was 557 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:17,320 the pet parents that were less lonely. 558 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:19,640 It was the ones they were able to get outside and walk. 559 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:22,600 And it was you really saw those benefits when they did those 560 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:25,720 studies. So, you know, just be prepared 561 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:28,960 because you are going to want to spend more on that pet than you 562 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:31,480 probably think you are because they're just such an integral 563 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:35,280 part of the the household. I think when you're talking 564 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:37,480 about, you know, your mental health and one of your goals is 565 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:39,880 to eliminate some of those stresses and things. 566 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:42,280 That's why I think being prepared, having the whatever it 567 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:45,440 is like we talked about budgeting preventative care 568 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:48,840 credit before is so important is you know, something's going to 569 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:51,520 happen. Dole put yourself in a position 570 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:52,480 where you're going to be stressed. 571 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:54,800 Yes, no matter what, you're going to be stressed because 572 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:58,680 your family member is having some sort of medical emergency 573 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:02,200 or going through something in the health when when you're when 574 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:07,320 you need the card potentially, but you know, and you're always 575 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:10,280 going to be stressed about, but remove one element of the 576 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:12,640 stress, right, That that's that's what we're saying. 577 00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:15,280 If there's not an annual fee to use care credit, you apply. 578 00:33:15,280 --> 00:33:19,120 There's no you know what I mean? So having it in your back pocket 579 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:24,160 is, is, is, is a great, is, is a great thing and, and will help 580 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:26,880 you remove that stress. And you know, what we also like 581 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:30,520 to think is through the deferred financing promotions that we 582 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:33,440 offer where you, you know, you, you, you have the ability to not 583 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:36,560 have to pay interest for 612 months. 584 00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:39,800 You know, as far as you know, two years in the vet space and 585 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:43,160 and beyond in some of the other markets is incredibly valuable, 586 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:46,360 especially where interest rates are these days, right. 587 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:50,840 And and you know, so, so that that's, that's a real big 588 00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:54,160 benefit as well and able to kind of section it off. 589 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:57,960 Yes, it's to your point, it's, it's not just for pets. 590 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:01,800 It's, it's very much accepted in the dental industry. 591 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:03,280 You're right. You know, think about things 592 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:05,560 that aren't necessarily covered by human health insurance is 593 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:09,120 typically where we have a larger presence. 594 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:12,960 So braces are obviously, you know, kind of something big. 595 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:16,760 If, if you guys cut my 7 year old son poking his hand and 596 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:19,239 during the interview and, and before, if he poked his mouth, 597 00:34:19,239 --> 00:34:21,960 you would have seen like one of his little teeth coming in 598 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:23,400 sideways. And I'm like, oh boy, I better 599 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:25,760 have my card ready for this and in another five years because 600 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:28,600 I'm going to have to get some, get some, get some work done 601 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:30,440 there. It's big in the cosmetic space. 602 00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:34,280 Chiropractor, you know, mental health, it's accepted across the 603 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:38,679 board in, in over, I think it's approximately 275,000 locations 604 00:34:38,679 --> 00:34:42,159 in the US, right? And in the veterinary market, 605 00:34:42,159 --> 00:34:45,960 we're accepted in 85. Around 85% of the vets take it. 606 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:49,600 And it's, it's not something where it's limited to what 607 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:51,639 services you kind of get at the vet. 608 00:34:51,639 --> 00:34:56,239 So if there's a prescription diet or, or medicine at the vet 609 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:59,160 or the treatment and, and stuff like that, it's just as long as 610 00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:02,320 it's used in, in that network. So it's not like tied to any 4 611 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:05,040 new areas or, or certain tests. So that gives you the 612 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:07,880 flexibility to, you know, kind of use it for your needs. 613 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:11,160 You can go to carecredit.com to apply. 614 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:13,600 I think that that's the easiest kind of way. 615 00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:14,760 And there's like a drop down back. 616 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:17,440 So you could pick veterinary, but it's not limited to that 617 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:19,200 specialty. So if you already have a card 618 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:21,400 and used it in the dental industry and it's maybe 619 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:24,640 somewhere in a drawer, if you had your laser eye surgery done 620 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:27,000 four years ago and you're like, OK, what do I you have it? 621 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:29,360 You can just, it still works across the network, right? 622 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:31,760 Which which is great. But if you go to carecredit.com, 623 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:34,080 you could apply or in your in your vet clinic. 624 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:37,160 You know, we're in so many of them and it's very easy to 625 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:38,880 apply. You, you take a picture of the 626 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:42,360 QR code in, in, in most vets or they can help walk you through 627 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:44,600 some of it. It's a very quick decisioning 628 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:48,160 process and it's, it's not let's do a hard credit check at first, 629 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:50,480 right? So you can, you could pre 630 00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:53,640 qualify without, you know, it's showing up on your, your credit 631 00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:55,480 score. And then if you're interested in 632 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:58,160 moving forward based on, you know, the approval and the terms 633 00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:01,360 and the limits, you could then go and it becomes a reusable 634 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:03,760 credit card. And I think what's important is 635 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:08,160 the, the reusable elements of it, because people have multiple 636 00:36:08,160 --> 00:36:11,080 pets, right? And people have multiple use 637 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:13,360 cases. And so it's not one of these, 638 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:18,320 you know, buy now, pay later type products where if your 639 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:20,320 credit is good, then you can use it. 640 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:22,680 But if your credit changes in six months and you don't get 641 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:25,960 approved, that's that's, that's, that's, you know, a little bit 642 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:27,640 risky. So having, you know, more of a 643 00:36:28,240 --> 00:36:32,720 reusable line is, is something that I think is, is a is a real 644 00:36:32,720 --> 00:36:36,960 benefit to this in particular in in the vet kit, because we know 645 00:36:36,960 --> 00:36:39,800 that pets are going to go to the vet multiple times per year. 646 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:42,960 They are and that was what you said earlier. 647 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:45,840 One of the things that I did want to point out, one of the 648 00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:49,920 biggest differences that I find in having pet insurance and 649 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:54,200 having a care credit card is not that you, I mean, obviously you 650 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:58,920 could use them together, but so many pet insurances do not cover 651 00:36:58,920 --> 00:37:02,920 holistic modalities and care credit doesn't care what you're 652 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:05,040 getting done at the vet. It's just that that vet accepts 653 00:37:05,080 --> 00:37:08,160 it, right? Yeah, accepted at the vet. 654 00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:13,120 So there's different alternative approaches to caring for your 655 00:37:13,120 --> 00:37:14,760 pet. Not judging on which is the 656 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:18,160 right or the wrong is it that I think, listen, I think the pet 657 00:37:18,160 --> 00:37:20,760 insurance space, you know, pet insurance is a good product, but 658 00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:23,520 I think you're right. I think there is ways to improve 659 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:27,200 on more of the holistic modalities. 660 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:29,760 And that's something that I'm certainly going to take back to 661 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:32,360 the people that I work with because it's, it's you got to 662 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:34,440 understand what your market needs. 663 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:37,960 And, and you know, Jessica, you're not alone in, in the way 664 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:42,640 that you care for your pet. I know you have a strong 665 00:37:42,640 --> 00:37:45,800 falling, but I have family members, friends that are also 666 00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:48,120 very much into and they're like, which pet insurance is it 667 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:50,800 covered? This is, it's happening more and 668 00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:54,800 more and it's not, it's not, it's not a fad, right? 669 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:58,840 It's something that that's here and, and, and, and it's not 670 00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:00,600 without merit. And so we got to make sure that 671 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:03,200 that that's out there. I'd say the one last thing, not 672 00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:05,360 the last thing, but one, everything that does work well 673 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:08,360 with care Credit and Pets Best insurance now and I'll start 674 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:12,080 rolling out to other insurance brands that IPA Jones is the 675 00:38:12,080 --> 00:38:15,320 ability to do direct reimbursement of your claims. 676 00:38:15,320 --> 00:38:18,480 So we launched it towards the end of last year and it's going 677 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:21,360 to be expanding beyond, but it's with Pets Best now, Pets Best 678 00:38:21,360 --> 00:38:23,720 Insurance. And that's, you know, the way 679 00:38:23,720 --> 00:38:26,480 that pet insurance works in the US is a reimbursement method, 680 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:28,600 right? And so you go send your bill and 681 00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:32,160 then you wait for a claim to be decided upon and then you get 682 00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:35,000 reimbursed. So what we've built now is, you 683 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:37,880 know, it's pat pending, but it's the first in, in the industry is 684 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,280 where you'll go. You'll use your care credit card 685 00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:43,760 and then you'll file your, you know, claim with, with pets 686 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:47,160 best. And when once it's decisioned, 687 00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:50,040 you get reimbursed directly on your care credit card. 688 00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:52,760 And so it'll pay off, you know, to the extent it could pay off 689 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:54,960 the balance. But if, if, if it matches, it 690 00:38:54,960 --> 00:38:57,440 pays off your balance and it and it pays that off right away. 691 00:38:57,440 --> 00:39:01,080 So it removes the step #1 and it allows for the pet parent to 692 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:03,280 make sure that they're paying off that, you know, balance on 693 00:39:03,280 --> 00:39:05,920 the credit card before the end of that promotional periods that 694 00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:07,960 are benefiting for that. So it's something that you know, 695 00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:13,000 makes life easier and also the veterinarians love because it 696 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:15,400 just, it just helps that behind the scenes. 697 00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:18,600 Yeah, yeah, that would make it so much easier. 698 00:39:19,360 --> 00:39:24,040 Well, I am so thankful that your PR team reached out to me. 699 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:26,400 It was been such a pleasure talking to you. 700 00:39:26,440 --> 00:39:30,560 And I will make sure that the the life the current lifetime of 701 00:39:30,560 --> 00:39:34,680 care study as well as specifically that the specialty 702 00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:39,360 veterinary care blog that's on the Synchrony website are 703 00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:42,520 LinkedIn the show notes. Because I think that information 704 00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:46,400 is very valuable for people to kind of get an idea. 705 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:50,600 I mean, you know, if you're on your 10th pet, you do have kind 706 00:39:50,600 --> 00:39:54,040 of an idea, but there are so many first time pet parents that 707 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:58,000 do not, they just do not. And I think even if we are not 708 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:01,360 first time pet parents, we know somebody who is a first time pet 709 00:40:01,360 --> 00:40:04,760 parent and we can forward this information to them. 710 00:40:05,080 --> 00:40:08,920 Again, as Jonathan said, not as like a fear tactic. 711 00:40:09,320 --> 00:40:13,440 But as AI care about you and like, we just need to make sure 712 00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:15,960 we're all on the same page and we're, we've got this handled, 713 00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:18,040 we've got this covered kind of thing. 714 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:22,440 So want to thank you again, Jonathan, for being here, for 715 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:26,320 talking to my audience, for helping them prepare a little 716 00:40:26,320 --> 00:40:29,680 bit more, because that is definitely something we can all 717 00:40:29,720 --> 00:40:32,960 use a little bit more of. No, well, well, thank you so 718 00:40:32,960 --> 00:40:36,520 much for having me and welcoming me on the call and, and allowing 719 00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:39,800 me to, you know, share what I know and you know what I believe 720 00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:42,920 and all this. And I, I say I'd end on two 721 00:40:42,920 --> 00:40:44,800 things. First of all, once our new study 722 00:40:44,800 --> 00:40:46,960 comes out, you know, it'll be interesting to see where about 723 00:40:46,960 --> 00:40:49,840 changes and I'm happy to, you know, update you guys and your 724 00:40:49,840 --> 00:40:51,920 audience on that if it makes sense when the time comes. 725 00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:55,120 And then just a thank you to you and everything you do for the, 726 00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:57,560 for the pet community. I know it's, it's, it's, it's, 727 00:40:57,560 --> 00:41:01,880 it's something that, you know, listening to your other of shows 728 00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:03,880 and reading up about you and learning about you. 729 00:41:03,880 --> 00:41:07,440 It's, it's thank you so much for what you do for the community 730 00:41:07,440 --> 00:41:09,280 and educating. And this is something that I 731 00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:12,360 know you, you dedicate so much of your time and your life too. 732 00:41:12,360 --> 00:41:15,640 So it's, you're helping and it means a lot. 733 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:18,240 And, you know, maybe sometimes doesn't get his notice as much 734 00:41:18,240 --> 00:41:20,800 as it should. That's so kind of you. 735 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:22,600 Thank you so much. I appreciate it. 736 00:41:23,240 --> 00:41:29,760 Well, I hope that Maddie and your son are both happy, 737 00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:32,880 healthy. I wish them all the best, your 738 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:34,120 son. Health chicken. 739 00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:37,040 So she's excited also she, she deserves some right? 740 00:41:37,240 --> 00:41:40,400 So I want to say thank you again. 741 00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:44,720 I really appreciate you coming on and being so open with the 742 00:41:44,720 --> 00:41:47,200 information to help prepare people. 743 00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:53,800 And I hope Maddie has a a great healthy life in front of her. 744 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:57,200 I know she's already 14 1/2. But you know, we can get a lot. 745 00:41:57,200 --> 00:42:01,960 We can get a lot out of these for our babies and they deserve 746 00:42:01,960 --> 00:42:03,360 it. So thank you again. 747 00:42:03,720 --> 00:42:05,880 Thank you. All right guys, y'all have a 748 00:42:05,880 --> 00:42:08,200 great rest of your week. Thanks so much for being here 749 00:42:08,200 --> 00:42:10,000 and I will talk to you next week.