Brits Killing Pets for Insurance Money

How bad is the economy? Some people are trying to make a buck by killing their pets to rake in the insurance money, says the Association of British Insurers. In a detail that doesn't really do much to restore one's faith in humanity, the insurers note that some people are just maiming their pets. How kind. The Daily Mail reports that the insurers detected $3 million of pet insurance fraud in 2010, compared to just $668,000 in fraud the year prior.

Here's what some of the scams looks like: Owners who stage "fake accidents"; pets who vanish, allowing the owner to collect on insurance for lost or stolen pets; bills submitted for treatments that shouldn't have occurred. And a horrible suspected scam: One involving vets, who allegedly put down healthy pets. (More pets stories.)