Insurance discrimination against your dog
By Gina Spadafori
June 1, 2007
Can you imagine this conversation with your insurance agent when you’re looking for homeowner’s insurance?
Agent: OK, so we’ve added the home office coverage … you don’t need more coverage for jewelry … deductible set … Oh! Just one more thing! What kind of people do you have?
You: People? What kind? What do you mean?
Agent: Well, our research shows some kinds of people are more likely to trigger claims. Young males, for example, and certain minority groups. And young males FROM certain minority groups … well, we can’t offer insurance if you have someone like that living in your home.
Change “some kinds of people” to “some kinds of dogs” and you see the problem. Unfortunately, it’s all too real. Insurance companies can and will deny you homeowners insurance if you have a dog of a breed or mix with a bad reputation. Even if your dog is a sweetheart.
How bad is this? When I bought my first house in ‘89, the dog issue never came up. When I bought my next home in 2003, I was not only asked about my two retrievers, but also not promised I would get insurance. (I did.) This, after 25 years with the same company and same agent, starting with car insurance. (My parents have been with the same company and same agency since 1954 — so our family has done business with this company and one office — their first agent retired — for more than 50 years.)
And … I’ve never had an insurance claim involving my dogs.
I knew at that moment that had I said “pit bull” instead of “retriever” I’d have been looking for insurance elsewhere — if I could find it. (And it’s not just pit bulls: The list of dogs some insurance companies don’t like is long and getting longer.)
Insurance companies are always looking out for themselves, which is why their customers have had to go to the courts and the legislatures for help. In Illinois, a new advisory committee has been formed to study the problem of breed discrimation. From the ASPCA’s news bulletin:
Sponsored by Senator Don Harmon, SR 166 will establish a Dog Owners and Homeowner’s Insurance Advisory Committee to study breed discrimination and homeowner’s insurance availability. The Committee would hold hearings in Cook County and in Southern Illinois.
Currently, families with dogs who have had coverage for years may suddenly be informed by their insurance companies that they will no longer be covered, even though no claim has ever been made. These decisions are often based solely upon the determination that certain breeds and breed mixes are “dangerous.” All dogs are individuals, and responsible guardianship, early training and socialization are factors that should be considered when assessing a dog’s level of aggression.
The formation of a government committee that would formally address these issues is a huge step in addressing—and hopefully, ending—dog breed discrimination by insurers.
Here’s the rest.
Update: This is why the insurance companies don’t like dogs:
In 2005 dog bites cost insurers $317.2 million, little changed from $321.6 million in 2003 but down 8 percent from $345.5 million in 2002. While the number of claims paid by insurers fell from approximately 20,800 in 2002 to 15,000 in 2005 — a decrease of 28 percent — the cost of the average dog bite claim rose sharply, from roughly $16,600 in 2002 to $21,200 in 2005. Liability claims account for approximately 4 percent of homeowners claims. Dog bite claims in 2005 accounted for about 15 percent of liability claims dollars paid under homeowners insurance policies.
From the Insurance Information Institute. Here’s the rest.
By the way, did you know there are attorneys who do little else but sue on behalf of dog-bite victims? Open your local Yellow Pages. Chances are you’ll find an ad for a “dog-bite attorney.” In my local directory, the ad has a picture of a snarling Doberman, saliva dripping off his fangs.
P.S. Christie’s head didn’t explode, but her computer did! Send healing thoughts. I asked her if she’d gotten melamine in it, but she didn’t think that was funny.
Just that the insurance industry, it’s a racket, always has been. After Katrina a bunch refused to pay-up, after Andrew as well. You can’t do business with a company that changes the rules as they go along, can’t trust them either. Like I said it’s just a racket; be better off just saving the money in an emergency account and maybe not live in such dangerous places. I mean like when are people gonna stop building on the beaches; that’s just dumb. Shouldn’t build more than a shack until you go at least 2 miles inland; there’s just no sense in it. I am a former resident of Florida for 10+ years and my family still lives down there, so I do know what I’m talking about…
Sorry that’s not about dogs; actually I don’t understand what difference a dog would make to an insurance company???
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 1, 2007 @ 7:19 am
Are the insurance companies concerned that the dog will destroy the house, or bite someone?
I know a hybrid wolf that did destroy part of a home, the carpet, even the insulation. But this type of animal is not really domestic in the first place and should never be confined in such a small space. It was neglectful and consequently, a disaster waiting to happen. As far as dog bites, there is no USDA approved rabies vaccine for a hybrid wolf, and questions about viral shedding in them remain, so I can see there being an issue there, but not with regular breeds of dogs.
I have heard about this before, but continue to be confused as to what the actual issue is with regular dog breeds that would involve home owners insurance. Does anyone know?
Comment by ango — June 1, 2007 @ 7:50 am
I added to the above post to clarify the problem insurance companies have with dogs.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 1, 2007 @ 7:55 am
Thanks, Gina. That is very interesting information.
Comment by ango — June 1, 2007 @ 8:03 am
I’ve heard about this. Represents what a litigious society we have become, and insurance companies are always looking for ways to minimize their losses.
I was bitten by a little mixed breed (totally accidental) owned by a neighbor when I was a child. No one thought much about it - cleaned it, put a bandaid on it, and that was that. My parents NEVER thought about suing for something like this - just a normal hazard of childhood. However, in today’s society, we want SOMEONE to pay for every single thing that happens to us - justified or not.
Comment by Carol — June 1, 2007 @ 8:17 am
I bought a house largely because I was sick and tired of outrageous pet deposits. And, of course, the incessant lying. Yes, I should probably feel guilty because lying is wrong, but finding someone who will rent to you when you say “six cats” is tricky. Saying “two” and trying not to look shifty-eyed while saying it, on the other hand, merely results in being shafted for large sums of money.
Then, of course, there’s the lying about declawing, but that’s a whole other rant.
I was once asked to sign a lease saying that my landlord had the right to take my pets to the pound if s/he decided they were damaging the apartment. I declined to live there.
Comment by Katherine — June 1, 2007 @ 8:21 am
Good topic - this is a very real and growing problem for all of us who own breeds that are on the ever growing list of dogs company’s won’t insure. I answer the emails for a large pit bull rescue and that’s one of the most common questions, who will insure my dog.
Allstate doesn’t even like Chihuahua’s (the poorly bred temperaments are quite nippy, and those backyard breeding offspring are more and more numerous).
What gets me is people think it’s just a problem for pit bull owners and it’s not -german sheperds, belgian tervs, mals; akita’s, dobies, dalmations, you name a large breed and they are probably on a list somewhere.
Just makes me that much more committed to getting my pit bull ready to take her Canine Good Citizenship test…
Comment by Becky — June 1, 2007 @ 8:29 am
Ango,
Wolf hybrids cannot be left alone to their own devices in a house. They hate being left alone so much that they will destroy things to get out or to get attention (sounds familiar?).They need constant watching and companionship - plenty of freedom and exercise. As far as I know, there have been no known bites to humans from a wolf or wolf hybrid. They are extremely intelligent and emotional and do not take reprimands good naturedly.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 8:45 am
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports several bite incidents involving wolf hybrids.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 1, 2007 @ 8:51 am
Oh that’s very interesting - I wonder if the animals were really wolf hybrids - many people think they have a wolf mix and they don’t - it’s one of the scams - time for a DNA test!
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 9:01 am
Here’s a link on the wolf hybrid myth:
http://tinyurl.com/yoznww
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 9:05 am
My homeowners insurance company of 20+ years tried to cancel my policy a few years ago because I had dogs over 40 pounds. The breed didn’t matter. I pulled out CGC certificates, CD certificates, flyball title certificates, etc., to prove they were trained and socialized. They backed down and reissued the policy.
Comment by Theresa — June 1, 2007 @ 9:06 am
Another Wolf Site - maybe it was no known bites from a Wolf…..
http://wolfhybrid.us/
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 9:08 am
As someone who has been in retail insurance for a very long time I can attest that it is true, most insurance companies ask about pets and will either exclude liability coverage for dogs or decline to write the policy, especially here in California. The list of breeds varies from one company to another, but even Lloyd’s of London will exclude coverage for selected breeds. Coverage for your home is available, but it might not be available to protect you if your dog bites someone.
It is also becoming very common for landlords to be asked about tenant’s pets for the same reasons. It is not so much the damage they would do to the structure (tenant damages are often excluded anyway), but the potential liability of having knowingly rented to someone with dogs when the dog bites a guest on the premises.
Comment by Moira — June 1, 2007 @ 9:13 am
http://www.dogbitelaw.com/
http://www.dogbitelawsuits.com.....telaw.html
I know Texas has been working on a dog bite law:
Class 3 Felony: if a dog attacks
Class 2 Felony (with jail time): if a person dies as a result of the dog attack.
I think I heard it just passed. I’ll find out.
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 9:18 am
Here’s some more on Wolf behavior and how they destroy a house:
http://tinyurl.com/2ml5xg
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 9:21 am
One more tidbit about Wolves and Wolf-Hybrid (of course depending upon the degree of Wolf in the Hybrid) but they do not like dogs and need to be raised with the dogs when a pup to accept them as their pack. But keep a Wolf-Hybrid in the back yard alone for a couple of years and then bring in another dog or a pup - and great unhappiness will ensue - maybe even death to the dog.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 9:32 am
I can understand the insurance regulations changing because so many laws have changed.
It’s terrible news to hear of someone whose dogs have escaped & attacked kids or the elderly - with no reprocussions to those owners.
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 9:40 am
It is terrible Kat.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 9:41 am
I train dogs. I am also a Canine Good Citizen evaluator. I am routinely contacted by people who are seeking insurance for a new residence and need obedience classes and CGC certificates. Some agents will do coverage for everything except liability issues with the dog. Others will not cover anything.
I have a pit bull whose owner is wonderful and she has gone the extra mile to train the dog to be NICE ! He has Basic & Intermediate Obedience. He does recreational agility and Rally. He has his CGC. Good boy!
However, in our classes, one of my worst dog bites came from a maltepoo who was smaller than my shoe. I was sitting with his owner on the floor talking about the “down” command. Guess he didn’t like something I said. He bit my hand on his way to my face. He actually cracked my nose.
I would really like to sit in on some of those legislative discussion on breeds.
Comment by Donna — June 1, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Oh, Donna - I bet that hand bite hurt.
Little dogs…well….they can be a handful.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 9:53 am
In San Antonio, 2 pit bulls attacked & killed an 90? year old man in his sleep. It is the worst dog attack medics had ever seen. The man died a few days later.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/ne.....0c1e7.html
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 10:08 am
ooOOOUCH !!
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Kat,
Something doesn’t seem right about that story - dogs were secured in back yard and then when the caregivers came home the dogs had attacked this elderly man…….
We’re missing something here. Just a hunch!
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 10:15 am
It reminds me of this Colombo mystery where a man wanted to murder his associate - so he used his dogs (Dobermans) for the dasterdly deed……
Oh, in above link - the dogs knew how to open the back door……
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 10:18 am
I’d like to see a news article: 20 million dogs in the United States did not attack or bite anyone today.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 10:22 am
The wolfdog I know is definitely that, a real wolfdogbred, raised and owned by a Suiox Native American. The problems happened when he was transferred from rural South Dakota to our suburban village in another state. This is no place for the wolfdog. She needs lots of SPACE and companionship. Fortunately, our state is working to make sure this type of situation doesn’t happen anymore.
Comment by ango — June 1, 2007 @ 10:37 am
Ango,
Yes so true - lots of companionship - hate being alone and needs to be care for by a strong leader who is also understanding of their special nature - wolf dogs can not be ruffed up or yelled at and they will claw out of a garage - will dig under fences - so powerful and yet so very unique. I am not against Wolf Dogs as long as they are socialized well and neutered.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 10:41 am
P.S. I bet the change was too difficult on the Wolfdog - too many new smells and sounds - probably scared it. Just a guess. The poor creature.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Does anyone know of any sites that list which insurance companies allow which dogs? I rolled over my renter’s insurance with Allstate to homeowner’s when I bought my house. Then I learned that they don’t allow pits or pit mixes anymore, and I have a pit mix. Boo’s never bitten anyone or damaged a house, and I’ve had him for over 9 years. My boyfriend did get bitten twice by an Akita mix trying to attack our dog; I wonder if her owner has trouble getting insurance. I doubt it. We just reported the incident to animal control and went on with our lives.
So I started looking into changing carriers, and it was incredibly hard to find anyone who would insure us with our dogs. State Farm is the only insurer I know of that doesn’t have any problems with dogs, but they were a lot more expensive. I ended up going with MetLife, but they’ll only insure pit mixes and not purebreds. We’re kind of committed to the breed and will probably rescue another one someday. I’m not really looking forward to shopping for insurance again.
Comment by Jen (SLC) — June 1, 2007 @ 11:06 am
Fireman’s Fund allows dogs and does not discriminate againt breeds.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 11:10 am
P.S. I have read, and can’t remember where, that the pack instinct is so strong in the Wolfdog that if they are left alone too much they will simply leave and go find a new pack……
how true this is I don’t know.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 11:11 am
I just ran across this in the Texas House Bills: Law against animal cruelty: livestock & non-livestock. Includes vet info on reporting abuse.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us.....02328F.HTM
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 11:14 am
FINALLY FOUND IT!
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us.....01355F.HTM
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us.....01355F.HTM
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code as it relates to dog attacks on persons. Under the provisions of the bill, a dog attack that results in serious bodily injury would be punishable as a felony of the third degree and a dog attack that results in death would be punishable as a felony of the second degree. A dog attack that results in bodily injury would remain punishable as a Class C misdemeanor. The bill would provide defenses to prosecution. The bill would also repeal Section 822.044 (d), Health and Safety Code.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2007 and apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date.
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 11:19 am
Kat,
I don’t know about the vet reporting abuse. If they know for sure what happened, obvious, dog or cat scalded etc.
I tried to report a vet for actually strangling my little 50 pound dog, he wiggled too much, and this vet said the dog would do better in another room without me looking, and she choked him out and then gave him back to me - his eyes were bugged and the next day they turn bright blood red. (It was a Sat. and the vet was out) so I took him to another vet in a panic and he took one look at my dog and said “Who choked this dog?”
I didn’t know what was wrong. Well I reported the first vet for cruelty to this vet board here in CA and nothing was done - insufficient evidence. My dog hates going to the vets and refuses to be touched by one -making vet trips pure hellish - and it almost ruined by dog.
So, vets reporting abuse????? wonder how that will play out in the real world.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 11:26 am
Since I noticed an interest in wolfdogs aka wolf hybrids; I thought you might enjoy these two sites.
Click here to see what responsible Wolfdog ownership looks like
http://www.greybook.org/RWolfdogOwnershipPP.pdf
A wonderful and educational presentation on Wolfdogs - PAWS4THOUGHT
http://www.wolfechovalley.com/id65.html
(I’m in the first pic with my 4 dogs (3 of them are low content wds)
Last year something unthinkable happened, a woman from Ohio was killed and partially eaten by her beloved wolfdogs.
http://www.petpeoplesplace.com.....ws/077.htm
Comment by Mikee — June 1, 2007 @ 11:41 am
Oh, my Linda!! What a terrible story!! I wonder if the vet got in trouble? HOPEFULLY!!
My big dog (113#’s), Simon, hates the vets too. It’s like pulling a 113# boulder! He had osteochondritis desicans - inflamation of the right front shoulder. He had a series of shots directly into that shoulder, when he was a puppy. He remembers to this day. He even nipped the vet tech a couple of months ago. He had squeezed under a chair & the vet tech was trying to pull him out by his front shoulders. I had turned my back to move one of the chairs out of the way. That’s when the muzzle went on. Quite tramatic!
———————-
Anyway — The way I’m reading the new law — there are 8 exemptions for what could be classified as abuse. Vets in custody of stray animals + others in that one category of exemption.
SECTION 6. Subchapter A, Chapter 822, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Sections 822.006 and 822.007 to read as follows:
Sec. 822.006. DEFENSES. (a) It is a defense to prosecution under Section 822.005(a) that the person is a veterinarian, a veterinary clinic employee, a peace officer, a person employed by a recognized animal shelter, or a person employed by this state or a political subdivision of this state to deal with stray animals and has temporary ownership, custody, or control of the dog in connection with that position.
———————
There are soooo many lines drawn through this stuff it’s a bit hard to read.
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
Nothing happened to the vet. Sigh! My ex wanted me to sue - now that would be hellish. I do hope she never chokes another dog.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
It’s an defense exemption to the new law… “defense to prosecution” That leaves the door wide open for many entities… various types of dog trainers, vets, vet employees, dog pound, the person attacked by the dog.
To me, it sounds like “ya gotta do, what ya gotta do” to control the animal — without consequences. This is an added subchapter that’s just been approved.
scary!
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 1:23 pm
Very scary!
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
P.S. Forgot to add the most important part - by dog was muzzled at the time - MUZZLED with a mesh tight Muzzled - could not have bitten anyone and he was still choked because he wouldn’t stop wiggling.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
If it hasn’t been too long, I think I’d stay after the CA Vet Board. Poor doggie! My quess - that vet probably burst a blood vessel, that’s why the eyes became blood shot.
If he/she did it once, they probably did it before & after…
You know Yahoo & I think Google has a comment section on the LOCAL Category. You can lookup that vet under LOCAL & post there. I don’t know if you want to be that bold or not… consider libel laws in doing so.
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
Thanks Kat - I have my dog on a DVD with his red eyes and his eyes still bugg out - his ever never went back like they should and are still somewhat cloudy and he’ll never be the same. Sorry to get worked up over this. Still bothers me. I had put the muzzle on him at the vets to make it easy for her. He loves me and didn’t want to go with her….I made him go….never again.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
I’m so sorry :(
On top of the shots in Simon’s shoulder, he have a malignant tumor removed in Feb. Then, that popped open a few days later. I was in & out of that office 3 times trying to get them to do something about the gaping surgical site. Finally, the doc put 3 stapes in his back! Simon looked at me like I was a traitor!
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Oh, poor baby Simon.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Kat,
You mentioned scorpions once – do you have lizards too?
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
I am a little dog owner (with a VERY well-behaved little dog!) and nothing gets my dander up like little dog owners who don’t think they have to train their dogs because they’re little dogs! GRRRRR!!!!
Then when their little dogs are yapping and misbehaving and snapping and biting, ALL the little dogs end up getting painted with the same broad brush.
People! ALL dogs need to learn manners in a civilized society! No matter WHAT their size!!!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 1, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
I have three pit bulls and own a home. Homeowner’s insurance was a big stressor. I was denied renters insurance by the people I had my car insurance through, and when I bought my house, I changed providers and told the agent why. Not that he cared.
My homeowner’s is through State Farm. My agent lives in the same town as I do, and he recognized me from seeing me around with my dogs. He recognized them for what they are. He asked if they’d been trained as guard dogs (no) and if they’d ever bitten anyone (no), and then wrote the policy no problem.
Of course, I had a large rottweiler head in my lap for most of our meeting. Office dog :)
But it’s still a huge stress.
Comment by elegy — June 1, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Regarding vets and techs taking dogs to another room —
I simply tell the vet staff I want them to examine the dog right there with me, including the routine tests.
Comment by Donna — June 1, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
I know why they do it, but I still don’t let them take my dog out of my sight for routine procedures (surgical peocedures are - of course - another story).
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 2, 2007 @ 4:54 am
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 11:19 am
The bill would take effect September 1, 2007 and apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date.
I live in Central Texas and the reason for the new law is to get rid of Texas’ one free bite law mostly due to a woman mowing the lawn/working out in her yard and was attacked and killed by neighbors dogs. There was quite a bit of outrage that this crime might go unpunished due to the one bite law. The dogs owner was found to be criminally negligent and charged and his dogs were put down. I saw the owner on TV, and unfortunately, you could tell he was not a responsible owner and these dogs were vicious. I personally think a dog is only as vicious as what it was taught. Now all pet owners have to suffer the consequences of a few irresponsible pet owners. I tried to locate the particular story and could not.
Comment by Deanna — June 2, 2007 @ 5:30 am
correction: One bite rule: Texas had a ‘one free bite rule’ concerning animals.
Comment by Deanna — June 2, 2007 @ 5:31 am
Here’s the link to the dog mauling story that caused public outrage and spear headed the new bill:
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/st.....id=3671965
Comment by Deanna — June 2, 2007 @ 6:25 am
This time last year my partner had put up a website to help save an innocent Pittie from the Solano County shelter’s death row. After some months of a hard-fought grassroots effort and considerable legal costs, we finally won the court battle to secure this dog’s freedom — only to be faced with the difficulty of finding someone who would rent to a guardian with a Pit Bull and an insurance company which would provide the $100,000 liability insurance required by the court action. It was a daunting task, as it has become increasingly difficult in California for guardians of “dangerous” dog breeds to find landlords willing to rent to them and, as this blog discusses, to find an insurance company willing to provide either renters’ or homeowners’ insurance.
This pittie’s guardian did finally find a terrific insurance agent who went above and beyond working with this guardian to provide relatively affordable insurance. He even prepared special documents of verificationa nd support specifically for the court, the prospective landlord and the county animal control agency (who were real b**tards to deal with). So if anyone in CA is in need of an insurer who does not discriminate against specific dog breeds, you might want to give this guy a call.
Brian Jensen, Farmer’s Insurance
website: http://www.farmersagent.com/bjensen/
Comment by Diane — June 2, 2007 @ 9:17 am
http://dogpolitics.typepad.com.....s_a_k.html
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 2, 2007 @ 11:59 am
A few years ago my Mother switched insurance companies for the first time in 30 years and suggested I do the same or at least get a quote. I liked the one I had because they see my Honda CRX (great dog car BTW) as an economy car not a sportscar like most do because it is a two seater. I called her agent and he was friendly asking all the necessary questions. Then he got real friendly and asked if I liked dogs, he did and wondered if I did. I said sure, he asked what kind of dogs I had, I told him I had two mature mixes. Calla is a 12.5yr old Chow/Ret mix, at that point he said that he could not offer me insurance. I was so surprised I nearly had a fit, and said fine, you lose, but also had to tell him that Calla was like a living cartoon character she was so sweet and I had not gotten to Winston, my Malamute/Shep mix, he said that the next year he would have caused the same trigger because of the Malamute. I have never forgotten this and remain with my insurance company of 25+ years. However…..I called my agent and mentioned the situation to which he said to just not mention anything specific to him and he would not ask as his company had rules come down as well.
Comment by Lance — June 2, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
To The OTHER Pat…
BARF, and I don’t mean the diet.
Comment by Diane — June 2, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
Excuse me?
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 2, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
Hey everyone! I have good news! My dogs, a female AmStaff and male AmStaff mix, didn’t bite anyone today! Or yesterday! Or EVER! However, they did smother me in kisses at 5am.
Why don’t we ever see this on the 6 o’clock news?
My very good, very patient insurance agent remains blissfully unaware of the exact breeds of my “mixed breeds”.
Comment by Swan — June 4, 2007 @ 8:01 am
I had absolutely no idea insurance companies discriminated against different breeds of dogs for home owners insurance. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard of, a dog is a dog. We’ve never had an insurance company ask what type of animals we have, but if they did I’d tell them it’s none of their business.
Comment by cat and dog owner — June 4, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
It’s the same story here in the UK. More and more insurers are starting discriminate against certain breeds, either refusing cover altogether or imposing exclusions and ratings for supposed higher risk breeds.
Comment by Bev — June 11, 2007 @ 6:17 am
We just bought our first home a month ago and I brought home an AmStaff puppy without really thinking about what the insurance company might think.
I don’t know what to do now.. the question is.. will anyone really ask again? If my dog ever did bite someone I’d be in trouble anyways wouldn’t I?
Comment by ghostwriter — August 29, 2008 @ 9:05 am