Should I Notify My Insurance Company About My New Puppy?

Puppies are cute, cuddly and make good companions. However, you should definitely alert the carrier of your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy about your new puppy for some very good reasons.

Breed Matters

You’ll need to disclose the breed of your puppy to the insurer. Some insurance companies have specific coverage exclusions for certain breeds. There are 12 commonly restricted breeds that insurers may refuse to insure against under any circumstances.

They include any breed in the pit bull family and any canine-wolf hybrid. Other breeds include akita, chow chow, American Staffordshire terrier, Doberman, Alaskan malamute, German shepherd, Great Dane, rottweiler, presa canario, and Siberian husky. Mixed breeds containing any of those lineages may also be rejected for coverage.

Denied Claim and Cancellation

Your homeowner’s insurance provides coverage if someone is injured on your property. That protection may not extend to injuries or damages caused by your dog, depending on the insurer. You could find yourself personally responsible for any expenses and resulting lawsuits. Claims will be denied if you already have a dog and don’t disclose it to the insurer when you take out the policy. The insurer can also cancel your policy due to misrepresentation.

Cost and Coverage

You could easily see your insurance costs increase with the addition of a canine to the household. If your insurer does cover your dog, you may need to increase your coverage amount.

Provocation Doesn’t Matter

Even if a neighbor was mistreating the dog and he/she bit them, insurance companies don’t consider provocation when covering an injury caused by a canine. The only concern to an insurer is if the company knew about the dog and how much they’ll have to pay out in damages.

Considerations

No matter how gentle the dog, there’s always the potential for a dog bite if the canine is afraid or thinks he/she is protecting the family. Elderly dogs are subject to aches and pains just like their human counterparts and they may bite.

For more information about how The Sena Group can help you with any

of your insurance needs, please contact us at 561-391-4661.

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The Sena Group
6501 Congress Ave., Ste. 100
Boca Raton, FL 33487