If you have a dog that has bitten before, Tim Dodge, spokesman of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New York, recommends having at least $300,000 to $500,000 in liability insurance. If your dog’s breed has a reputation for being aggressive, he suggests adding an umbrella coverage of $1 million or more.
“More insurance is always better than less,” he says.
- Spay or neuter your dog. This important and routine procedure will reduce your dog’s desire to roam and fight with other dogs, making safe confinement an easier task. Spayed or neutered dogs are much less likely to bite.
- Socialize your dog. Introduce your dog to many different types of people and situations so that he or she is not nervous or frightened under normal social circumstances.
- Train your dog. Accompanying your dog to a training class is a way to socialize him and to learn proper training techniques. Every member of your household should learn the training techniques and participate in your dog’s education. Never send your dog away to be trained; only you can teach your dog how to behave in your home.
Source:The Humane Society
“The majority of the insurance coverage will pay for the cost of medical expenses, but a jury could provide for pain and suffering. There also could be disfigurement, which would require plastic surgery or psychiatric treatment if the victim was a young child – all of which would cost a significant amount of money,” Dodge says.
In one case, a Washington Superior Court jury in 2010 awarded a $2.2 million verdict to a woman who was attacked in her own home near Tacoma by two neighborhood pit bulls. The amount included $100,000 for medical bills and $2.1 million for pain and suffering. The verdict is being appealed.
Dodge recommends people look through their homeowners policy to make sure their animal is covered. He says some insurance companies will refuse to insure a certain breed of dog, based on their own experiences.
“For some companies, certain breeds have resulted in large losses so they’ve determined they won’t insure those breeds anymore. They have every right to insure who they want. Other companies will go by your experience. If you have a Rottweiler that hasn’t bitten anyone, the company would insure you,” Worters says.
Worters adds that if a dog does bite someone there are other issues that could occur: Your rates could be increased, depending on the severity of the bite, or you could be dropped or not renewed if your dog bites more than once.
She recommends doing research before selecting a dog to make sure it is best for your situation and consulting an animal behaviorist if it shows signs of aggressive behavior. Above all, Worters says owners must keep a watchful eye on their animal at all times.
“There are no bad breeds, just bad owners,” she says.
