Well, we’ve hit a snag. My mom lives in the first-floor apartment and my sister and her boyfriend live in the second-floor one. My sis+BF have a mixed breed pit bull dog which my mom helps care for (walk and feed) while the others are at work.
I’m not crazy about the dog, but mom+sis+BF are, and since it keeps mom company during her lonely days (dad very recently passed away) I’m sort of glad it’s around. And truth be told, it’s a pretty non-agressive dog – more like a “Petey” than a “Killer.”
I have learned (via one insurance agent and a number of articles on the internet) that insurance companies may/will not insure homeowners that have pit bulls – or a handful of other specific breeds – on the premesis.
Any advice on how to proceed, short of “sending the dog to a farm” – which, I’m afraid, is not an option because stuysis considers him her “son” [stuyguy rolls eyes here]?
Are some insurers “negotiable” on this question, or is it a black and white issue? If it’s negotiable, is there a way to show that the dog is a good risk (a vet certification or something)? And will an insurer be receptive to bending their rules for a very good and loyal customer (mom&dad used Allstate for over 40 years)?
Also, can the dog be excluded from an otherwise-comprehensive policy? And if so, how endangered would mom’s assests become in the event of an uninsured dog bite lawsuit?
The insurance company I work for will not insure any home that has a pit bull. They will insure pretty much all other breeds but if there is any kind of claim made in regard to the dog (ie. attack, biting, etc.) the policy will be cancelled. You’d be surprised how many millions of dollars insurance companies pay out each year for dog bites alone.
Just have her talk to her agent and see what they say. They might make an exception… I just know our company would not.
I got a bunch of questions when I got a renter’s policy about a month ago, because I have a Portuguese Water Dog. I was faced with a list of breeds that could be problems – Rottweiler, American Staffordshire Terrier, German Shepherd, Chow, Doberman Pinscher, American Pit Bull Terrrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, and so on. I had to bring out a picture of my dog to convince the agent that Porties weren’t bred to kill sharks. After the picture, there were more questions – did your dog ever bite anyone? Is she obedience trained?
I wonder how people with well trained GSDs or Rotties ever get insurance.
My Nationwide insurance agent did not have a problem signing a renter’s then subsequent homeowner’s policy with me and my German Shepherd (100 pounder), but she said I am paying about double what someone would pay if it were a Labrador Retriever. I think its a separate rider (addendum?) to my policy, and instead of like, $50 per year, its $100 per year.
From what I understand, it may also be a regional/breed thing, because she also told me that if I had a Cocker Spaniel it would be the same price as the GS! But a Doberman would have been the regular price.
BF is right, it may be a regional thing. Denver has a conditional ban on pitbulls; one has to get a seperate policy for them, which is quite expensive, I think.
I’ve had Rottweilers since 1986. They’ve been well trained, socialized “Good Dog Carl” dogs. I have been able to get reasonable renters & homeowners insurance, but not all insurers will cover them. State Farm will, & my homeowners insurance costs me less than $400.00 a year. Shop around, perhaps ask an independent agent, since they work with many different insurers.
Instead of saying it’s a pitbull mix, call him a (whatever else he may be mixed with) mix, when shopping for insurance. I’ve always pointed out that my dogs have been through “formal” training, have all thier shots, that I have a 6’ privacy fence, & the dogs are with me whenever I’m home, not tied up in the yard…in short, that I am a responsible dog owner.
