There is nothing quite like getting home after a long day to a dog who is thrilled to see you, every single time, as if you have been gone for years instead of hours. I have two Shih Tzus, Kirbe and Yoshi, and every morning they wake me up, ready to take on the day before I have even had my coffee.
We never really expect anything to go wrong. But sometimes it does. If you have ever sat in an emergency animal hospital at two in the morning, you know the feeling, watching the total climb while you wait to learn whether the thing that scared you is actually serious. A single emergency visit can run well over a thousand dollars, and once diagnostics or surgery are involved, it climbs much higher.
I have sat in that waiting room more than once, and that is why I got pet insurance for them. It works like your home or auto insurance. You pay a set premium each month, you choose your own deductible, and once you meet it, the plan reimburses a set percentage of the bill at any licensed vet. It does not make a sick pet less frightening, but it does mean you are not facing the bill alone.
That peace of mind, knowing that if something serious ever happened I would not be left without a way to pay for it, is the reason I have it, and why I recommend it to other pet owners.