Home Insurance Forum

Aug. 25, 2007

I am searching for information on insurance policies available for liability coverage of a pet. My husband and I have been notified that our homeowners insurance will not be renewed because of a dog-bite claim, which has yet to be resolved. We would like to find a policy for the dog so that the dog is in essence written out of the homeowners policy.

Elizabeth, North Carolina

Dear Elizabeth,

You'll want to check out our story on homeowners who have dogs.

Having a biting dog, in an insurance company's eyes, is like having a teenage driver who's already been in an accident. The underwriters believe that there is good chance that the behavior will be repeated — which means the insurance company will have to pay out.

You need to show insurance companies that the biting won't happen again. There are several actions you could take, including obedience training, having your dog spayed or neutered, and erecting a fence around your property. Taking several of those actions in combination will give you a better chance for success.

Continue to shop around for insurance, too. You will probably find a company that will sell you coverage, although it might take a number of calls.

If you feel confident that the dog won't bite anyone again, but you can't find an insurance company willing to include the dog on the policy, then specifically excluding the dog from your policy is an option. But be prepared in the event that your dog does bite someone, because you will have to cover all of the associated costs yourself, including any lawsuit judgments.

Back to the Forum

Disclaimer: We are journalists, not financial planners or insurance brokers. Nothing we say should be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to provide other financial or legal advice.