State Farm Dog Breed Restrictions

Are Pets Covered Under Homeowners Insurance

If your pet causes damage to someone or their property, the liability and medical payments portion of your homeowners policy will kick in for coverage, depending on the state and type of pet.

The critical distinction here is that there is no specific pet insurance coverage in a homeowners insurance policy. The coverage available will be determined by your home insurance liability coverage limits, usually between $100,000 and $300,000, and your medical payment coverage limits, generally between $1,000 and $5,000.

If you have an umbrella policy, your liability coverage limits will be much higher as umbrella policies are typically sold at amounts between $1 million and $10 million.

Expert tip: Even if you have an umbrella policy, be sure to check with your insurance company and review your policy for limits on injuries caused by animals. Some home insurance policies impose lower limits of coverage for damage or injuries caused by pets. So, even if you have a $300,000 liability limit, you may only have a $25,000 limit for pet-related damages.

Home insurance doesnt cover injuries to your pet. For that, look into pet insurance.

We Hear From Their Victims Every Day

The push for looser restrictions for pit bulls and other certain other breeds has irked groups that say such dogs warrant more controls, not fewer, because they are so aggressive.

In 2014, Mia Johnson co-founded National Pit Bull Victim Awareness to track attacks in Canada and the United States, after a pit bull mutilated and killed her miniature Pinscher, Yuri, who was a service dog for her adult daughter who has Aspergers syndrome and anxiety disorder.

If theres a make of car that tends to explode at high speeds, do you talk about educating the owners of those cars? Do you say the cars are misunderstood? she asked. Its the car thats the problem. Its the type of dog thats the problem. We hear from their victims every day.

But no one seems to have an official count on many dogs of which breeds cause injuries.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention counts dog bites that send people to the emergency room, but does not record the dogs breed. The New York State Department of Health tracks only bites involving rabid dogs. The Insurance Information Institute reported 17,989 dog-bite claims in 2021, but also doesnt parse them by breed.

At the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society in Menands near Albany on a recent afternoon, 80 or so dogs filled the shelter, their barks and howls were nearly deafening as it was getting close to dinner time. Among them was Louie, a jowly 80-pound stray found in Schenectady who was scheduled to meet a prospective family the next day.

Liberty Mutual And Nationwide

These two insurance companies are among those described by animal advocacy group MSPCA as ones that may insure otherwise black-listed dog breeds.

MSPCA goes on to state: Most of these companies work on a case by case basis, considering the individual dogs behavior and history, and may require a meet and greet with the dog and/or a Canine Good Citizen certification or certain housing requirements. Representatives from Liberty Mutual did not respond to inquiries and representatives from Nationwide declined an interview request.

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Practical Advice For The Dog Owner

Some insurers ban certain dog breeds, while others provide wiggle room for pets already in the home, and still others will simply ignore the issue for rich clients who bring good business, according to the dog advocate groups. Others, like State Farm, allow all dogs provided theres no bite history.

The APCIAs Collins advises you to contact your home insurance company before bringing a dog home. If you face a loss of coverage because of your dog choice, You can shop around for a different insurer or consider a different breed, she suggests.

Both homeowners and renters insurance policies generally cover dog-bite legal expenses, with typical liability coverage ranging from $100,000 to $300,000, according to the Worters at the Insurance Information Institute. In addition to that, she recommends purchasing a personal umbrella insurance policy, which in todays litigious society is an important thing to have. These policies provide an extra $1 million and up of protection.

PetPlace provides a state-by-state list of banned species laws. Some states do not allow insurers to ban breeds. For example, Vermont does not allow the exclusion of entire canine breeds. Many other states have introduced similar legislation and home insurers are required to obey each states laws.

Passing the Canine Good Citizen test from the American Kennel Club could also help your effort to keep you properly insured.

Do Dog Breeds Affect Homeowners Insurance

Theres a large checklist of tasks to complete when you add a dog to your family set-up veterinarian appointments, get supplies, food, toys, pick out a name, etc. But is notifying your insurance agent on that list? If not, it should be.

Why should I notify my insurance agent if I get a new dog?

Deep down in your heart of hearts, you truly believe that your dog could never hurt a fly. But, if for some reason your dog would injure someone on your property, your homeowners insurance carrier will be notified to cover any civil suits and/or medical bills that result from the attack. If you have not notified your insurance provider of your new family addition, they may not cover those expenses.

Will my premium go up?

When adding your dog to your homeowners insurance, there is a chance that your premium will go up. This is especially true if the breed of your dog falls under the providers breed list which determines which breeds they will or will not cover, and which breeds are associated with higher premiums.

What dog breeds may affect my homeowners insurance?

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Home Insurance: What To Do If Your Dog Is A Blacklisted Breed

Your home insurance company may assume your dogs breed is considered an aggressive type and place them under an insurance term called a blacklisted breed

Homeowners insurance and renters insurance policies typically cover your liability if your dog bites or attacks someone at your home or apartment. Most standard insurance policies provide $100,000 to $300,000 in coverage.These standard insurance policies cover most dog bites and breeds.

However, your dogs breed may be blacklisted by some home insurers. Many insurance companies may not cover a dog bite if your dog is any of the following breeds:

• Siberian Huskies

In general, an owner is responsible for any damage done by his dog, whether the dog is provoked or not. Thats where liability on a homeowners insurance or renters insurance policy kicks in. Youll want to compare quotes from multiple home insurance providers to make sure you are getting the best liability coverage if you have a blacklisted dog breed.

State Farm A Top Option

Even if you live in another state, some insurers are more dog-friendly than others. State Farm stands out because it does not consider dog breed at all when deciding how to insure dogs under homeowners liability insurance. Instead, it looks at whether the dog has a bite history.

Other insurance companies that provide insurance to dog owners regardless of breed include USAA and Chubb, but these companies may charge you more for owning a restricted breed of dog, so it’s still worth shopping around to get the best deal. They might also deny coverage for a dog with a history of biting incidents.

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What Dog Breeds Affect Homeowners Insurance

According to HomeInsurance.org, Dog breeds that are typically associated with higher insurance premiums include Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, Akitas, and wolf-dog hybrids. Forbes.com adds Chows, Great Danes, Presa Canarios, and Alaskan Malamutes to their list.

American Veterinary Society Of Animal Behavior

Any dog may bite, regardless of the dogs size or sex, or reported breed or mix of breeds. The AVSABs position is that such legislationoften called breed-specific legislation is ineffective, and can lead to a false sense of community safety as well as welfare concerns for dogs identified as belonging to specific breeds.

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Breed Specific Legislation Can Include Either Bans Or Restrictions Some Restrictions Include:

• Muzzling the dog while in public

• Spaying or neutering the dog

• Contain the dog in a specified kennel with predetermined features such as concrete floors and chain link walls

• Keeping the dog on a leash of a predetermined size

• Purchasing liability insurance of a predetermined amount

• Hang âvicious dogâ signs at the place of residence

• Have the dog wear a âvision dogâ tag or identifying marker

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When Trying To Understand Bsl Youll Come Across Some Terms That May Be Unfamiliar To You Below Is A Guide To Help You Understand Some Key Bsl Terms

Is Dog Insurance Worth It

When accidents or ill health happen, many dog owners find themselves facing tough decisions about their canine’s care, whether it’s a puppy or a senior dog.We can help. State Farm® agents work with Trupanion a leader in high-quality pet medical insurance plans to make it easier for dog owners to care for those who care so deeply for them.

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Do Pit Bulls Increase Your Insurance Rates

Whether you’re purchasing a new policy or letting your current insurer know about a new pit bull, you should expect your homeowners or renters insurance rates to increase. The increase is highly dependent on the insurance company that you select and your pit bull’s past history.

Rates nationwide increased about 1% on average if a policyholder had an “aggressive” breed of dog, according to a ValuePenguin study. That category of dogs can include breeds like rottweilers, Dobermans and chow chows.

Pit bulls have a reputation for being aggressive dogs and, as a result, are seen as posing a greater liability risk. Dog bite claims are incredibly costly to insurance companies. In a recent year, dog bites and dog-related injuries accounted for a third of all homeowners insurance liability claims. The cost to insurance companies as a result of these claims was in excess of $600 million.

% Of The Dogs Cause 77% Of Deaths 88% Of Disfigurements

Today there are 3.7 million pit bulls in the U.S., who have killed more than 400 Americans since 1982 2.5 million dogs of other bully breeds, who have killed more than 160 Americans and as many as 1.3 million Rottweilers and Rottweiler mixes, who have killed more than 100 Americans.

Beth & Merritt CliftonAnimals 24-7

Together, dogs of these breeds amount to 11% of the U.S. dog population, but account for 77% of the dog attack deaths and 88% of the disfigurements.

Dog Bite Prevention Week, in short, is not really protecting anyone but the breeders and owners of the most dangerous dogs, while perpetuating the myth that any dog can do what only dogs of a few closely related breeds do with tedious frequency.

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Supervise Children Around Dogs

If you have young ones, you should closely monitor how your child and dog behave around each other.

No matter the breed or size, every dog should be watched when with a child as they could suddenly become scared or surprised.

Children often don’t know the proper way to behave around a dog or read the cues and signals that the dog might be giving leading to a bad incident.

Teach children what is the proper way to treat a dog and know what boundaries to keep, especially if your dog has had bad experiences before.

If you canât thoroughly supervise your child and pet, place the dog in another room to prevent an accidental bite.

Do I Need To Tell My Insurer My Dog’s Breed

Yes. In fact, if you fail to disclose your dog’s breed when buying a policy, it could lead to your home insurance company not covering related claims.

However, a dog’s breed influences its temperament, such as whether it is easily startled or if it has a tendency to protect its owner. Furthermore, different dog breeds vary greatly in size and strength, and larger dogs have an easier time hurting someone or causing damage to property, even if it’s only an accident.

Injuries and property damage due to dogs are some of the most common liability claims made for home insurance policies. And insurance companies want to match the rates they charge to how likely a dog is to cause damage, and to altogether avoid insuring dogs that are too unpredictable.

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Dogs Restricted By City Ordinances

Dozens of cities across the U.S. have restrictions or bans on certain dog breeds, most commonly pit bulls and wolf hybrids. If your city has a breed law on the books, it may be difficult or impossible for you to legally own one of the banned dog breeds.

If you do decide to adopt a banned or restricted dog breed despite local laws, your insurer will likely decline coverage in case of an incident or even cancel your policy altogether. Insurers generally won’t cover you in case of an illegal act, and owning a banned dog is no exception.

State Farm Does Not Recognize Dangerous Breed Restrictions

On Behalf of The Law Office of Nathan C. Cooley, PLC | Apr 10, 2019 | Dog Bites

The annual Dog Bite Prevention Week is geared toward reducing animal attacks and the danger that pets pose to children. Recently, State Farm Insurance released figures for 2018 that show an overall decrease in incidents but a rise in costs of claims. Though many states, such as Arizona, have enacted breed-specific laws aimed at protecting residents from a potentially dangerous breed, State Farm does not have breed restrictions in its policies, as any dog can attack.

The American Veterinary Medical Association sponsors Dog Bite Prevention Week to draw attention to the dangers of a pet that has not been properly socialized. In addition, it produces educational materials on how to safely introduce children and dogs. While the overall number for dog bites has declined in the past year, the number of child victims under the age of 1 has increased.

One of the reasons children are more susceptible to injuries from dogs is that they are unable to properly interpret a dogs body language. Children often mistake a dogs behavior that signals an increase in stress or aggression as playful, which may lead to tragedy. Pet owners are urged to ensure that their dogs are socialized and that children are instructed in how to approach and act around pets.

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What Should I Do If My Insurer Won’t Cover My Dog

Even though many insurers restrict dog breeds, they don’t all work from the same list of restricted dogs, so you may be able to get a policy elsewhere.

If your insurance company isn’t willing to insure your dog, you should start by comparing multiple insurance companies. Not all insurers discriminate based on dog breed, so if your current company won’t sell you a home insurance policy, you are likely to be able to find another insurer that will.

Also, consider a DNA breed test. It’s possible that the breed you think your dog is, or that it visually appears to be, might be incorrect. Breed tests can be purchased for $50 to $200 online, or you can have your veterinarian administer one. If you can definitively prove your dog is not actually a restricted breed, you may be able to argue your case with your insurance company.

If shopping around isn’t an option and you’re sure you have a restricted breed, you may be able to protect yourself with a dog liability insurance policy or an extended umbrella policy.

Dog-specific liability policies cover damage your dog has caused, whether it’s damage to property or injury to a person. These are sometimes available bundled with your homeowners insurance or with a specialized pet insurance provider.