A Guide To Having Adequate Homeowners Insurance When You Have A Vicious Breed Of Dog

If you are like many homeowners, you pay your mortgage and homeowners insurance every month and hope that you will never need to file a claim but enjoy knowing you are covered if an emergency situation occurs. Unfortunately, your dog that guards your home in your absence and enjoys long walks each morning could result in your policy being dropped and unapproved claims if the insurance company considers your canine to be of an aggressive or vicious breed. Therefore, it is a good idea to be aware of the following information when you want to know that you will not be the one writing big checks if a disaster occurs.    

Fido Or Fluffy Is A Member Of The Family, But The Insurance Company Says He Is A Vicious Breed

It is important to note that regardless of how well-trained and sweet your dog is, if he or she is a vicious breed and injures someone, a homeowners insurance policy is unlikely to cover any of the damage. In addition, in some states simply owning a dog of an unapproved or "vicious" breed is enough to render your entire policy invalid. While dog bites are often the motivating factor, insurance companies have been known to turn down a claim for another issue if they discover that a dog excluded by their insurance lives on the premises, even if the dog had nothing to do with the issue that caused the claim. 

Understanding Your Policy Exclusions And Inclusions 

You should plan to verify with your insurance company which breeds they exclude from their standard coverage and check back each year to see if new breeds have been excluded or included, especially if you acquire more than one dog. While Pit Bulls, American Staffordshires, and Rottweilers are commonly excluded, it is also not unusual for Chows, Siberian Huskies, and many others to appear on the excluded list. Any dog that is identified as being of one of those breeds, or as a mix that includes one of the forbidden breeds, can be excluded from your coverage or result in your policy being dropped.

The list of forbidden breeds will vary by your insurance company and may even change from one state to the next, due to state laws. Therefore, you should check with your insurance company if you are unsure as to whether or not your Great Dane or beloved Alaskan Malamute is an acceptable breed.  

Obtaining Additional Insurance

When the presence of Fido or Fluffy in your home or yard means that your homeowners policy will exclude any damage he or she causes or allows for your policy to be dropped entirely, a supplemental policy is often needed. This additional policy provides the coverage that you need and can frequently be added onto your existing policy. You should check with your insurance company to choose the most appropriate supplemental policy, or rider, so that you can once again rest at night knowing you have enough coverage on your home, its contents and your dog.    

In conclusion, every responsible homeowner should have an appropriate amount and type of homeowners insurance to cover their financial interests in the event of a disaster. Therefore, being aware of the facts shared above will help you if own a dog considered by many to be of a vicious breed.  Contact a company like Insure With U.S. to learn more.