Insurance Companies Unfairly Target Specific Dog Breeds

[Boxer*Mom]

The insurance industry appears to have dog caregivers on a short leash, or at least those owners who prefer large, powerful breeds such as rottweilers, German shepherds, Doberman pinschers, akitas, pit bulls, or chows.

I was not aware of this issue until I saw a rotti on my local shelters webpage that said her family had to put her out because their insurance company had banned large breed dogs.

site talking about the ins. companies http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_aff...nies_unfairly_target_specific_dog_breeds.html

site that has insurance info. for dog owners
http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/insurance.htm

rotti at my local shelter
http://www.petfinder.org/pet.cgi?ac...aa85-app4&display=&preview=&row=0&tmpl=&stat=

 

[Bowowee]

Can't blame them. Business is business...

 

[Gempress]

Many insurance companies now either deny insurance coverage or increase premiums for people who own these breeds. They say it's because of "higher liability" or something like that.

It's sad. The hubby and I originally wanted to get a pit bull, but we decided against it because of insurance costs.

 

[Boxer*Mom]

Can't blame them. Business is business...

you are missing the point

With 3-4 million pets euthanized in shelters each year, the insurance industry breed bans are only adding to the problem.

"The insurance companies are missing the boat," says Stephanie Shain, Director of Companion Animal Outreach for The HSUS. "Any dog can bite. The insurance industry needs to look at this issue on a case-by-case basis, and make judgments about a particular dog, not an entire breed.

 

[bubbatd]

When I moved in, the insurance company asked me what breed I had ...it is sad but many of the Indianapolis Pitts and Rotties are used as guard dogs.

 

[Amstaffer]

Can't blame them. Business is business...

Business my eye...it is prejudice, they should just have you sign a waiver excluding your dog from the policy. If it was truly business and not discrimination thats what they would do.

 

[Amstaffer]

Many insurance companies now either deny insurance coverage or increase premiums for people who own these breeds. They say it's because of "higher liability" or something like that.

It's sad. The hubby and I originally wanted to get a pit bull, but we decided against it because of insurance costs.

Becareful next time you move....My insurance agent said Great Danes are on his list now......

 

[Ash47]

Mom told me when she was giving her new ins. company the house info, they asked if there were any pets and what kind. She said yes, and when she got to what Precious is, the lady stopped her. She said , "I'm sorry, did you say Chow?" My mom said, "Yes." The lady said that she heard Spitz, and marked that down instead of Chow. Don't know why she chose Spitz. I guess because in case the ins. company ever has to come out and they see Precious, we can just say she is Spitz??

 

[bubbatd]

Ash...it's great she wrote that !! And yes, I hate to say it but it is business reasons here. Otherwise my home insurance would be much higher through the back door if I'd have to pay for other client's dog attacks.

 

[joce]

Our old insurer was frineds with my mom so she was definately ok with byron. We are looking for a new one nad this guy showed up,saw byron and left Don't want him anyway! I won't support a company that will not insure a dog. I cna see if its deemed dangerous but if its just a pet,thats nutts. Of course that means a lot of shopping around and we are lucky anyway because it seems everything in smaller towns is on an individualized basis.

 

[casablanca1]

Business my eye...it is prejudice, they should just have you sign a waiver excluding your dog from the policy. If it was truly business and not discrimination thats what they would do.

Not to argue with your solution, which seems at least on the face of it to be sensible, I have to mention that the insurance business is all about prejudice, it's kind of a built-in part of the business. Otherwise they'd be embracing a potentially fatal level of risk. Smokers with health insurance, young men with car insurance, etc. It's hard to see why anyone would expect this to change for dog-owners.

 

[Gempress]

Becareful next time you move....My insurance agent said Great Danes are on his list now......

Aww, that's sad. Did you bring this up because you think Zeus is a Great Dane? He's not a dane, he's a blackmouth cur. I was just curious, because everyone seems to think he's a dane. Maybe it's his coloring, I dunno.

Another question: what company do you get your insurance through? Are they decent? The hubby and I love pit bulls and bully breeds in general, and I'd like to know of a place to get insurance if/when we ever do get one.

 

[corykins22]

yea, why would great danes be on their list? just because they are big? because all i have read/heard about them is that they are HUGE lap dogs. my puppy marley, who i really think has dane in him, is exactly that. he thinks he only weighs about 5 pounds and lays across your lap, even though he really weighs 50 and takes up the entire couch!

this all makes me worried about when i can finally own a house! i am getting my self a gsd as a graduation present for myself after school. i plan to do obedience trials with her/him. so, i mean, it will be well trained and all that, and the ins. companies will still either charge me more or not accept me? i think it is silly.

 

[Boxer*Mom]

Not to argue with your solution, which seems at least on the face of it to be sensible, I have to mention that the insurance business is all about prejudice, it's kind of a built-in part of the business. Otherwise they'd be embracing a potentially fatal level of risk. Smokers with health insurance, young men with car insurance, etc. It's hard to see why anyone would expect this to change for dog-owners.

well when someone smokes it is almost certain they wil have health problems. a young man or woman who is just learning how to drive does have a high risk to have an accident or get a ticket. so they pay higher premiums but only until they reach a certain age or the other until they pass health exams. why shouldn't it be the same for dogs if they can pass temperament tests? why shouldn't it be for all dogs because any dog can bite. they have targeted breeds unfairly and it shouldn't continue. in some cases i think insurance co. have actually dropped people off their coverage without cause other than it's a big dog and the statistics are biased by the media.

 

[filarotten]

You have no idea how many insurance companies turned me down because I owned a great dane and a rotti. Yes, both are on the list. Insurance is a scam. How many people have been bitten by small dogs? But, they are not on the list. My homeowners liability will not cover dog bites, that is a seperate policy. I am fricking insuranced to death. I still haven't told my insurance agent I have a fila. He would probably have a heart attack, then suggest I raise my coverage even more. $$$$$$$ ch ching

 

[Amstaffer]

Aww, that's sad. Did you bring this up because you think Zeus is a Great Dane? He's not a dane, he's a blackmouth cur. I was just curious, because everyone seems to think he's a dane. Maybe it's his coloring, I dunno.

Another question: what company do you get your insurance through? Are they decent? The hubby and I love pit bulls and bully breeds in general, and I'd like to know of a place to get insurance if/when we ever do get one.

Sorry didn't look that close I just assumed he was a Dane or Dane Mix (good looking boy)

On my insurance company, I have Safeco but when they asked me what type of dog I had I replied....Medium Size Terrier, Thats not a lie...........The agent seemed to be ok with that answer. I didn't have Sal (black and white) when I bought my house and Athena is a rescue and doesnt' have papers, so I could argue now one really know what she is. Maybe Athena is a Yorkie with REALLY REALLY bad confirmation....lol.

 

[casablanca1]

a young man or woman who is just learning how to drive does have a high risk to have an accident or get a ticket. so they pay higher premiums but only until they reach a certain age

I may be wrong here, but I believe that young men are the ones who really get hit with high insurance rates, that it's gender as well as age-based.

[/QUOTE]why shouldn't it be the same for dogs if they can pass temperament tests? why shouldn't it be for all dogs because any dog can bite. they have targeted breeds unfairly and it shouldn't continue. in some cases i think insurance co. have actually dropped people off their coverage without cause other than it's a big dog and the statistics are biased by the media.[/QUOTE]

Maybe a temperament test is the answer, but I don't think their targeting of certain breeds is unfair. Statistics may be unreliable, but it's clear that there is a size and weight minimum required for a dog to be a serious threat to a healthy adult. Of dogs who fall into that range, there are breeds which appear over and over in cases of dog attacks and maulings. We can argue why - overbreeding leading to overrepresentation in the dog population, the attraction of certain breeds to certain kinds of irresponsible or aggressive owners, the misfire of working/guarding instincts without good training, etc. - but this is the situation. I think insurance companies should give people a chance to prove their dog is not a risk, but I don't think the insurance industry will or should embrace the blindness of 'all dogs bite' as so many in the dog world have. And if they did, I think their method of levelling the playing field would be to bar all dog owners from policies.

 

[PFC1]

The actuaries that develop the rates to charge for premiums and make the policy decisions are not relying on media data. My guess is that it is the other way around-- the media rely on the insurance data. So this business about insurance companies being swayed by the biased media is backwards.

There is no denying the fact that the statistical data generates a higher expected liability for ceratin breeds. It's a matter of percent chance of having a claim multiplied by the likely damages sustained if there is a claim. Thus, even with more bites by little dogs, the total expected claims liability associated with a little dog may be much less than bigger dogs that have fewer bites but that are result in more severe injuries. (Expected liability = Chance of Claim x Expected Severity of claim)

I am sure that the underwriters could sort out the higher risk dogs by temperment testing, but that costs the company more money to develope reliable tests, and to implement them. There is just not enough of a payoff in the profitability of the company to develope and implement such tests. If so, some company would have done so. If you think otherwise, then raise some capital, and start your own company. All it takes is about a $1 million in reserves (depending on your state's requirements), and a filing with your state's insurance department. Perhaps you can break the bank by marketing home owner's insurance to that segment of society that have dogs that prevented them from getting coverage elsewere that are in fact friendly low risk dogs.

 

[AmberwayGSD]

Our insurance company was actually happy we had a GSD.We werent charged more for having a large breed dog either.Maybe its different in Canada.A friend has a Olde English Bulldog and same thing,more than happy to insure the house at normal costs.

 

[filarotten]

It must be different in Canada. Some insurance compaines have gsds on their bite list in the usa.
I personally believe I should get a break in my insurance premium for having protective dogs. It saves on claims as far as break ins. Just like a burglar alarm.