Dogs are our best friends and many people treat them as a member of their family. Unfortunately, no matter how friendly and well-mannered your dog may be, dog bites are always a possibility.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, almost 90 million dogs are owned as pets in the United States according to a 2017-2018 survey by the American Pet Products Association. Dog bites and other dog-related injuries generally account for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2016, costing more than $600 million.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs each year, with children being at the highest risk of injury. Over half of dog-bite injuries occur at home with dogs that are familiar to us.
Typically, most dog breeds are covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy, meaning most dog owners shouldn’t worry so long as they have a policy which covers dog bites and other related incidents. There are some breeds, however, that will not be covered by your policy as they are a breed known to be, or have a propensity to be, dangerous. Coverage could be dependent on the dog breed and whether you have notified your insurance carrier that you own a dog.
Visit PropertyCasualty360.com to view information on the “Dangerous Breeds” or “Blacklisted Breeds” not covered by insurance companies. They include:
- Pit Bulls & Staffordshire Terriers
- Doberman Pinschers
- Rottweilers
- Chows
- Great Danes
- Presa Canarios
- Akitas
- Alaskan Malamutes
- German Shepherds
- Siberian Huskies
- Wolf-hybrids
- Or a mix of any of the above
Please click here to go to learn more about dog bites and homeowners insurance through Trusted Choice.
We urge all pet owners to make certain that their pets are properly cared for, trained and kept in a fenced in yard, and leashed when walking. Responsible pet ownership helps your dog and will also protect you and your family from any potential lawsuit.
To make sure that your homeowners’ insurance policy includes dog bite liability, contact your independent, Trusted Choice insurance agent at John Andrade Insurance Agency, Inc. at (401) 253-6542. Allow us to help you get covered.