Dogs Can Be an Insurance Liability

N E W  Y O R K, May 5, 2002 -- They may be man's best friends, but they can be liabilities for their owners.

In fact, your dog's breed could be a drag on your homeowners' policy. And with 70 percent of dog bites occurring on an owner's property, a rambunctious pooch could lead to a large insurance claim.

It's not something many dog owners know about.

"I had no idea homeowners' insurance was contingent upon dogs' behavior," Vera Kaltinick, walking her dog on Manhattan's Upper West Side, told WABC-TV in New York.

Few even think about it. Elke Raedish has owned her dog, a mixed breed that's mostly German shepherd, since January.

"She's a good dog, not vicious, so I didn't feel any concern," Raedish said.

But maybe dog owners should be concerned. According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog bites account for nearly a third of all homeowners' claims, costing about $310 million a year. Most companies offer between $100,000 and $300,000 in liability coverage. Any claim above that must be paid by the dog owner.

"Most people are not aware that they are legally responsible for their pets," said Jeanne Salvatore of the Insurance Industry Institute.

Some Breeds Harder to Insure

While most companies won't insure certain breeds considered to be vicious — like pit bulls, Rottweilers, even chow chows — there's no hard and fast rule.

Terry Monroe, an agent for State Farm Insurance, said his company's policy is to cover all breeds, providing the dog passes inspection.

"We want to know the history of the dog, and whether or not the dog is vicious," Monroe said.

But all insurers will take a hard stand on dogs with a history of aggressive behavior.

"They're either going to decline to write you [a policy], they're going to charge you more for liability insurance or they're not going to cover your dog," Salvatore said.

Do the Homework

Animal behavior experts at the ASPCA in Manhattan say to help avoid trouble, potential owners must do their homework.

"A large guarding breed dog, a Rottweiler or a Doberman or something like that, it's like having a large, powerful sports car or something," said Stephen Zawistowski, senior vice president at the ASPCA. "You've got to know what you're doing if you want to take care of that kind of dog."

Also, buy or adopt your dog from a responsible breeder or shelter. And make sure it's the right pet for your family situation and living space.

"It really has a lot to do with the way the person trains that dog and prepares it to be a social, friendly animal," Zawistowski said.

Maura Sweeney of WABC-TV in New York contributed to this report.