Current Events in October 2023

For any consumer with a pet at home, taking care of their health is of the utmost importance. With so many different types of pet care and options in the pet health landscape, it can be hard to determine what’s best for your furry friend. 

To help clear things up, specifically around the differences – and similarities – between pet insurance plans and pet wellness plans, James Ross, director of Field Operations, with the national, mobile veterinary service, The Vets, shared his expertise with ConsumerAffairs. 

Pet insurance vs. pet wellness

Pet insurance plans are purchased in an effort to offset the costs of vet visits, and while coverage varies from plan to plan, providers will cover everything from vaccinations, emergency visits, routine checkups, and more. Pet insurance also gives owners freedom of choice when it comes to their vet, as most policies will cover care performed by any licensed vet, specialist, or emergency clinic. 

While pet wellness plans also focus on the pets’ overall health, these plans are geared more towards proactive health care – flea and tick treatments, dental cleanings, exercise routines, nutrition plans, and more.

Wellness plans are a bit stricter in terms of where pet owners can take their pets for their care, as many plans only allow benefits to be accessed by a specific network of vets. 

“Pet insurance and pet wellness are both crucial aspects of responsible pet ownership,” Ross said. “Pet insurance provides financial protection against unexpected medical costs, while pet wellness focuses on preventive care to maintain a pet's overall health. 

“Ultimately, many pet owners may find a combination of pet insurance and pet wellness to be the most comprehensive approach to pet care,” Ross added. “This way, you're prepared for unexpected medical expenses through insurance while also ensuring regular preventive care and wellness checks to keep your pet in good health. The choice between the two should align with your pet's specific needs, your budget, and your peace of mind as a pet owner.” 

Comparing cost

The cost of pet insurance is structured in much the same way as human health insurance plans. Pet owners pay a monthly premium – regardless of whether their pet receives any kind of care that month – and a deductible at each visit. 

According to Ross, on average, pet insurance premiums can range from $20/month to $50/month for dogs and $10/month to $30/month for cats. Similarly, deductibles range from $100 or $1,000 depending on the policy. 

Pet insurance plans also come with reimbursement for your pets’ medical care. After receiving care, pet owners can submit their vet bills to the insurance company and receive a percentage back of what they spent, which varies depending on the plan. 

However, pet owners should also know that each plan operates differently and may cap your reimbursement annually or throughout your pet’s lifetime. 

Unlike insurance, pet wellness plans don’t have deductibles or copays, and come at a fixed monthly or yearly cost. Different wellness plans may offer different tiers or packages that include more services, which can hike up your costs. Ross says that wellness plans can range from $40-$150/month depending on the type of plan you choose. 

What’s best for your pet? 

When it comes to taking care of your pet, how do you know which option is best? Ross shared some of his best advice for consumers who may feel overwhelmed by the healthcare options: 

• Assess Your Pet's Health Needs: Consider your pet's age, breed, existing health conditions, and any potential genetic predispositions. 

• Evaluate Your Budget: Determine how much you can comfortably afford to spend on your pet's health care. Compare the costs of pet insurance premiums and wellness programs, considering deductibles, coverage limits, and the services included.

• Consider Your Pet's Lifestyle: Does your pet have an active outdoor lifestyle or specific dietary needs? Factor in your pet's habits and requirements when evaluating the coverage options.

• Review Policy Details: If opting for pet insurance, carefully read the policy terms, including coverage, exclusions, waiting periods, and reimbursement procedures. For wellness programs, understand the services included, any restrictions on veterinarians, and how preventive care is handled.

• Think Long-Term: Consider the long-term benefits of preventive care. Wellness programs may prevent costly health issues down the line, making them a wise investment for some pet owners.

• Consult Your Veterinarian: Your veterinarian can provide valuable insights into your pet's health needs and may recommend specific services or coverage options tailored to your pet's requirements.

• Combine Both: Some pet owners opt for a combination of pet insurance and wellness programs to cover both unexpected medical expenses and routine preventive care. Assess if this hybrid approach suits your needs. 

Dorel Juvenile Group of Columbus, Ind., is recalling about 115,700 Cosco Jump, Spin & Play Activity Centers.

The activity centers’ straps can detach or break while a child is in the activity center, posing fall and injury hazards.

The firm has received 141 reports of the straps detaching or breaking including 38 minor injuries involving bumps, bruises and scratches.

This recall involves Cosco Jump, Spin & Play Activity Centers, model numbers WA105FZW and WA105GML.

The activity centers have a circular hoop base and three poles from which a child seat with a play tray is suspended by three straps.

The activity centers are sold in blue and pink, and feature two removable toy animals on the play tray at the front of the seat as well as two toy animals hanging from the front two poles.

They can be adjusted to three different heights.

The activity centers, manufactured in China, were sold exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide and online at Walmart.com from November 2020, through October 2023, for about $70.

What to do

Consumers should stop using the recalled activity centers immediately and contact Dorel for a replacement. Consumers will be instructed to cut through the straps of the activity centers and send a photo of the cut straps to Dorel to receive a free replacement activity center.

Consumers may contact Dorel toll-free at (877) 657-9546 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday (ET), by email at CoscoActivityCenterRecall@djgusa.com, or online at https://www.safety1st.com/us-en/ and click on “SAFETY NOTICES & Recalls” at the top of the page for more information.

“If enough people on social media agree to ‘cancel’ you, then it doesn't matter how big your platform is, your livelihood will be affected.”

So says social media influencer Paige Michael, who has 171,000 Instagram followers on her fitness channel @peanutphysique. She knows the stakes because like anyone whose reputation is made online, she has seen firsthand how quickly and aggressively social media tides can turn a person—especially a celebrity—from massive success to target of boycott and online vitriol. 

What exactly does getting “canceled” look like? “People very much ‘team up’ and hide anonymously behind their phone screens to deteriorate someone's platform,” she told ConsumerAffairs. 

“The algorithms are designed to reward content that triggers strong emotional reactions, where users interact the most by sharing, leaving longer comments, and often immediately reacting to the post,” Cassaundra Kalba, senior publicist at Society22 PR, told us. “This mechanism can contribute to a mob mentality.”

It happens a lot and a ConsumerAffairs review of Internet estimates about canceled celebrities suggests the extraordinary size of the financial damage that can be done to whoever is being held accountable.

Most recently, actor Danny Masterson was roasted on social media after being convicted of rape. Musician R Kelly experienced a similar fate after being convicted of sexual abuse. Both reportedly saw their net worth decline.

Actor Kevin Spacey was recently acquitted of sex abuse charges in the U.K. But already, over the previous six years, the online reaction had cost him his reputation and tens of millions in net worth, according to The Things, an entertainment industry publication.

But some celebrities have been canceled for a lot less than criminal activity. Will and Jada Smith suffered a public relations disaster after Will Smith’s infamous slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars but it didn’t seem to affect their pocketbook.

James Corden was publicly shamed after he allegedly yelled at the wait staff at a New York City restaurant. Armie Hammer found himself on the defensive in January 2021 after an anonymous Instagram account shared messages allegedly sent by Hammer, detailing conversations with women about sexual fetishes.

Anti-Semitic comments were costly to musician Kanye West in 2022. He has been dropped by everyone from his lawyer and agent to lucrative endorsement partners like Adidas.

Olivia Wilde came under a barrage of online criticism for the way she handled staffing issues during the production of “Don’t Worry Darling.”

Below is a chart of recently canceled celebrities and the estimate published on various websites, from Celebritynetworth to Yahoo, of what it has cost them. 

According to the chart, Elon Musk has seen the largest decline in net worth after he acquired and made changes at Twitter, changing the name to X. Comedian Dave Chappell, meanwhile, actually saw his net worth increase after being called out for including LGBTQ jokes in his routine.

Michael says cancel culture probably wouldn’t exist without social media. Kalba, the Society22 PR professional, agrees.

"The psychology behind social media interactions fuels cancel culture,” Kalba told us. “Users pile on the condemnation without fully understanding the situation at hand because doing so provides a sense of belonging and moral validation in a large, faceless virtual crowd.”

While holding individuals accountable is important, Kalba says, the rush to judgment seen in cancel culture raises important questions about fairness. 

“As we navigate this era, it is crucial to find a balance where mistakes are called and confronted, but there's also space for dialogue, growth and forgiveness by the public," she said.

TFP Nutrition of Nacogdoches, Texas, is recalling Retriever All Life Stages Mini Chunk Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.

Dogs with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.

No dog or human illness has been reported to date.

The recalled product, which comes in 50 lb bags with “3277 TFP” or “3278 TFP”and the “best by” date 10/24 on the second line of the date code, was sold in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product and would like a replacement product or refund, may contact TFP Nutrition toll-free at (800) 330-3048, Monday through Sunday, 8 am – 5 pm (CST) or online at tfpnutrition.com/recall.