Ensuring the Proper Liability Limits with Pets

Your Insurance Company Wants to Know about Fido! It's important to let your insurance company know if you have any pets, and yes, the actual breed of the dog matters. In addition to making sure that your homeowners insurance company knows what type of dog you have, you also want to check with them to make sure you have the proper liability limits...just in case.

May 5, 2008

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 4.7 million dog bites per year. These bites cost the insurance industry more than $300 million each year. In turn, the added cost is passed on to homeowner's, with home insurance rate hikes and premium increases.

It's important to let your insurance company know if you have any pets, and yes, the actual breed of the dog matters. Breeds such as Pit-bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Huskys and Dobermans are the most likely culprits, responsible for the greatest number of dog bite-related fatalities according to the Centers for Disease Control.

In addition to making sure that your homeowners insurance company knows what type of dog you have, you also want to check with them to make sure you have the proper liability limits...just in case.

Regardless of the liability limits on your homeowner's policy, the best way to make sure you don't find yourself in the middle of a dog bite liability case, is by making sure Fido doesn't feed on the neighbors! All kidding aside, the following tips can help reduce the chances of your dog biting someone:

Don't encourage aggressive behavior
Socialize your dog so that it knows how to act with other people and animals
Have your dog spayed or neutered
Never let your dog roam without supervision
Play non-aggressive games with your dog; aggressive games like "tug-of-war" can inadvertently encourage inappropriate behavior
Avoid exposing your dog to situations in which you are unsure what the dog's response will be

Regardless, being a homeowner and having pets means added responsibility. Part of that responsibility is keeping your insurance company informed, so that in the event of a claim, you'll be covered. Remember, some insurance companies won't cover you for dog bite liability if you didn't properly disclose the dog breed and bite history at the time of the homeowner's insurance application.