Dogs are man's best friend, but they can be costly. On top of food, vet bills, grooming and doggie day care, your dog could also affect your insurance premiums or coverage. Their cute faces and warm cuddles are worth it though, right?
Dogs & Homeowners Insurance
Your homeowners policy covers damage done by you or your family members, including Fido. You're probably familiar with some different factors that affect your home insurance, and yes, your dog is one of them. If you have a homeowners policy and the dog bites and causes an injury, that's likely a covered claim. Part of the claims expense includes attorney and defense costs, should the injury be elevated to court. If your dog does bite and cause injury, your homeowners may completely non-renew, or could exclude future bites. That's a risky position to be in, especially with a prior bite history. Finding coverage after a bite can be challenging.
In some cases, an insurer can completely reject to quote your policy due to their blacklisted breed restrictions. Breed restrictions are a controversial reality that you need to know about when welcoming a new dog into your home. Some of the most restricted dog breeds include Pit Bulls, Akitas, Chows, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers. The CDC estimates that 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, with one-fifth of them requiring medical attention. In 2018, insurers paid $675 million for dog bite-related claims and in fact, one of the largest claims that Keller-Brown has paid to date was for a dog bite.
While there are insurers who discriminate based on breed, there are others that discriminate based on the actual risk of the dog, including history of aggressive behavior and bites. We represent one company that will write any breed (as long as it doesn't have a bite history), but they just charge a little extra on the policy for it. If you have a dog that is not on the carriers' prohibited list, most insurance companies do not charge for the dog.
If you find yourself having trouble getting insurance coverage for your dog, it's important to consult your insurance agent. They will be able to shop around for you and find the best fit your needs.
States & Breed Restrictions
While there are insurers with limitations for certain dog breeds, there are two U.S. states that have disallowed this type of discrimination. Insurers in Michigan and our home-state of Pennsylvania are not permitted to exclude your dog from liability coverage. In PA, carriers can deny quoting you based on the breed of your dog. But, if you're already a policyholder, then get a dog on the prohibited list, you can still keep your coverage.
Pennsylvania state legislation states:
PA.CONS. STAT. ANN. § 459-507-A(c)
(c) Local ordinances. Those provisions of local ordinances relating to dangerous dogs are hereby abrogated. A local ordinance otherwise dealing with dogs may not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of dog.
(d) Insurance coverage discrimination. No liability policy or surety bond issued pursuant to this act or any other act may prohibit coverage from any specific breed of dog.
While these states have enacted specific legislation against breed descrimination, there are still many states that have done the opposite. In fact, in Maryland, it is completely illegal to own a Pit Bull in Prince George's County. This law even affects the ability of animal rescues in the area to find homes for surrendered and stray Pit Bulls. This law has been in place since 1997 but is not reflected in the state-wide legislation on this issue.
In Conclusion
Dogs can provide so many benefits for you and your family, but there could be an extra cost involved that you may not have foreseen. When rescuing or adopting a new dog, your homeowners insurance can be affected. But it is also important to know that any aggressive incident with your dog will lead to changes in your insurance policy, whether it becomes more costly or your coverage is completely removed.
So, if you find yourself having trouble with finding insurance that covers your dog, contact an insurance agent right away. We would be happy to assist you, so just reach out!