Owning a pet can bring both many joys and munch financial responsibility. Pet owners may not know that they can be held liable for any harm pets cause to people, property and other animals. The relationship that you have with your pet is an important part of your life, and knowing that you have the right  coverage can bring peace of mind.
While deaths caused by pets are relatively rare, bites are not, and some can be serious causing painful personal injury. In the event some unfortunate incident should occur, standard homeowners insurance may not provide the amount of coverage needed and can even exclude some exotic species of animals or breeds of dogs or dogs that have been declared dangerous.
No one wants to believe an otherwise lovable pet could cause serious injury or property damage, but if something serious were to happen, you want to have the coverage to handle compensation claims attributable to the incident. If you own a pet, additional pet insurance may be needed to fully cover an accident, loss or other incident.
Sadly, dog bites are a common cause for claims on homeowners insurance. With dogs, anything from playful nips to serious, provoked biting attacks can cause injuries. As any dog owner knows, every dog has a threshold that can trigger the animal to bite. Some breeds are considered to be more at risk and can be more likely to be uninsurable than others, including:
• Akita
• Doberman Pinscher
• German Shepherd
• Pit Bull
• Rottweiler
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
In addition to certain breeds, your homeowners insurance may have exclusions for dogs that have been designated as dangerous or even exclude coverage for dogs altogether, regardless of their reputation or lineage. Before you get a dog, find out what your policy covers for canine liability and consider additional pet insurance to make up for any gaps or exclusions.
It is important to understand what your homeowners insurance provides and how that coverage applies to your pet. For dogs and animals kept as household pets, insurance that provides broader coverage for animal liability may be needed. Depending on what kind of pet you have, pet insurance with a separate liability policy or additional rider may be best.
At times, under the wrong circumstances, things can get out of hand with any household pet, but certain species and breeds of dogs are often considered more that risk. Standard homeowners insurance may not cover animals, including:
• Alligators
• Amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, newts)
• Apes (non-human primates)
• Bears
• Cockatiels
• Coyotes, fox, hyenas, wolves and wolf-dog hybrids
• Hares
• Hedgehogs
• Raccoons, skunks
• Sugar gliders
• Wild felines (lions, tigers, bobcats, ocelots)
• Reptiles (lizards, snakes, tortoises, turtles)
Find out your options for insuring your home and pets. Contact us to discuss your policy and options making sure your pet is covered, either with your homeowners policy or pet insurance. We understand your fondness for Fido and the need to protect yourself and your pets. Call us at 800.797.3371
Posted Wednesday, April 30 2014 10:16 AM
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