Pit bull dogs and home insurance
If you own a home with a pit bull dog or are considering getting a pit bull, you may be aware that your pet can affect your home insurance. Here are some things to keep in mind.
American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers are some of the most popular breeds commonly called pit bulls. Many home insurance companies consider these dogs a potential liability risk because their owners are often held legally responsible if the dog injures a person. When you purchase a homeowners insurance policy, you receive a certain amount of liability coverage to help pay for lawsuits filed against you.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog bites cost the property and casualty insurance industry about $317.2 million in 2005. Because insurers consider certain dog breeds to be a higher risk for a claim, they often charge higher home insurance rates for pit bull owners.
However, the thing to understand is that each insurance company sets its rates and underwriting guidelines based on several factors that may be unique to that company. Therefore, the rates – as well as the tolerance for accepting dogs – can vary quite a bit from company to company. So whether you already own a pit bull or are planning to get one, you should get some comparative home insurance quotes. The Insurance Information Institute recommends getting at least three different quotes.
This is easy to do online by requesting quotes from various company websites. Or you might want to use an insurance comparison site. These sites do not represent a single company. Instead, you only need to fill out one online quote form, and you’ll get several different quotes back. These sites often use independent agents who will work to find you the lowest deals.
To further reduce your homeowner’s insurance costs, consider increasing your deductible as well as taking advantage of any available discounts.
Finally, the Insurance Information Institute recommends being proactive to reduce your chances of dog bite liability. They recommend spaying or neutering your pet, learning how to maintain control of your dog and properly socializing it so it knows how to behave with other people and animals. Also, talk to your vet about ways to reduce aggressive behavior.
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