Will Your Insurance Company Ban Your Dog?

(Shutterstock)

Dogs are the most popular pets, with 65.1 million households owning dogs. And that’s households; many people have more than one dog. That inflates the number.

People love their dogs, but even if you have the sweetest dog in the world, there’s always the risk of them biting someone. Because of this risk, some insurance companies are leery about insuring homes with dogs. And there are specific breeds that are actually prohibited.

Dog Breeds Commonly Banned From Homeowners’ Policies

There are dog breeds that many people love that insurance companies often ban. These are breeds that some insurance companies will not cover and will cancel your liability policy if you own one. According to Policygenius, these dogs include:

• Akitas
• Alaskan Malamutes
• Any wolf breeds
• Chow Chows
• Doberman Pinschers
• German Shepherds
• Great Danes
• Pit Bulls
• Presa Canarios
• Rottweilers
• Siberian Huskies
• Staffordshire Terriers

You will note that most of these breeds are muscular with thick chests. If an insurance company has a banned dog list, there are three breeds that are always on it: Doberman Pinchers, Pit Bulls, and Rottweilers.

When Are Dogs Never Covered

There are times when a dog, regardless of breed, is never covered by insurance. The first is a history of biting.

If your dog has a history of biting, the insurer will not cover the liability for it. You will have to sign a liability waiver for dog bites. The result is your insurance company will not cover any medical or legal bills that arise as a result of your dog biting someone. You may just be denied a homeowner’s policy.

You probably won’t be covered if your dog damages your house. For example, if your dog chooses to chew through a wall, it probably won’t be covered.

If your dog bites you, the homeowner’s policy won’t cover you. So, if you’re bitten and you must go to the hospital, you can’t file a claim.

What to Do If Home Insurance Policy Banns Dog

If you have one of the listed dogs or a dog with a bite history, they may not provide liability coverage for the dog. Or worse, they may decide not to insure your home if you own the dog. You’ll have to look for alternatives.

You could ask for an exception if the dog is trained through the American Kennel Club (AKC) and receives the Canine Good Citizen certification.

Another alternative is to find an insurer who will insure your home and dog. State Farm is one insurer that doesn’t ask the dog’s breed when they insure a home. They feel each dog has a unique personality. But State Farm will look at a dog’s bite history.

And, finally, your only option may be to purchase a separate liability policy that insures explicitly your dog’s breed. Some dog liability insurers include InsureMyK9, Xinsurance, and Prime Insurance Company.

States Banning Breed Discrimination

Dog advocate groups have campaigned to state governments to stop breed discrimination with insurance companies. And they’ve succeeded in some states:

• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Illinois
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New York
• Pennsylvania

As of 2024, all these states do not allow breed discrimination among insurers.

How Much Do Dog Bites Cost Insurers?

Dog-bite claims cost insurance companies millions of dollars each year. And the cost is climbing.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), in 2014, insurers paid $530.8 million in claims, with an average cost of $32,072 per claim. However, in 2023, the payout was $1,116.0 million, with an average cost of $58,545 per claim.

The number of claims went from 16,550 in 2014 to 19,062 in 2023. The price per claim went up because of higher medical costs and more litigation.

There are some states that stand out with the most claims. The top 10 are:

• California—2,104 claims
• Florida—1,532 claims
• Texas—1,040 claims
• Michigan—932 claims
• Ohio—885 claims
• Pennsylvania—857 claims
• New York—851 claims
• Illinois—837 claims
• New Jersey—649 claims
• Georgia—495 claims

Illinois, number eight on the list, had the highest average cost per claim, $73,797. California was second, with an average cost per claim of $68,125.

Laws Concerning Dog Liability

Depending on where you live, there may be laws concerning your liability if your dog bites someone.

The first liability law is the “a dog bite” statute. This is where the dog is automatically liable if it bites or causes damage without provocation.

Another liability law that could affect you is the one-bite rule. This states that the dog owner is responsible if they knew the dog would likely cause harm. However, the victim must prove this, and that can be difficult.

Finally, there are negligence laws. These apply when the dog owner has been unreasonably careless or negligent in controlling the dog.

Check your state law to see which one of these affects you.

There are also criminal penalties associated with dog attacks as well.

Conclusion

Before you adopt or buy a dog, check to ensure that its breed isn’t on your homeowner insurance’s banned dog list. This will save you some heartache before you fall in love with your new dog.

If you are in jeopardy of losing your homeowner’s liability insurance or all your homeowner’s insurance, look for alternatives, like insuring the dog on a separate policy.

The Epoch Times copyright © 2024. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.