Canine Liability Insurance

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alspyce
Working Dog
Posts: 1222
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:51 pm
Tell us about yourself: I am in New York State. Got my first DS about 14 years ago (more or less as a rescue- lost her in Nov.). After years of GSD's, and a few dogs of other breeds (Rotti/Beauceron/Ger. Shorthaired Pointer/ Yorkie and my current Jack Russell) I now have another DS, 4mo female, no name yet, tho I have a few in mind.
Also have a horse-old quarter horse mare-32.
Can't wait for all the snow to get gone! Spring is coming too slow this year!
Location: Corinth, New York

Canine Liability Insurance

Post by alspyce »

My Homeowners Ins. Co. has decided to write an "exclusion" into my policy for dogs (all breeds) and trampolines. I have never, in 40 years of insurance with this company, had a claim against my animals, and doubt that I will ever be inclined to have a trampoline. They did not (thankfully) mention equines.

Now I am wondering about a separate policy to cover Liability on my dogs. Does anyone do this / know of a reliable company that is licenced in NY? If you work your dog in protection sports, are they automatically deemed to be a dangerous animal? (Do you not mention that in your application?) What do you tell them in regard to your dogs breed? :huh:
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France
Chris Carlton/Lyric
Lauren
Training Dog
Posts: 540
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:29 pm
Tell us about yourself: I am a wife, mother of 2 kids, 3 cats, 1 Standard Poodle (10 yrs) and Xena, a Dutch Shepherd Puppy.

Re: Canine Liability Insurance

Post by Lauren »

No info here but very interested in an answer! :huh:
Lauren from Western NC
Boogies
Puppy
Posts: 36
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:44 am
Tell us about yourself: Greetings from Wisconsin. I live on a small goat farm with a crazy Malinois, named Rocket, that I adopted 5 years ago. I rent the goats out for weed and brush control and Rocket saves me hours a day, herding goats into barns and trailers and watching the gates as I move between pens. He also pulls a little red sled with whatever I need hauled. Rocket's the 14th dog I've adopted since I used to prowl the shelters for fast dogs for my sled team. One of my sled dogs may have been a DS mix. She had the look and energy but was a solid black with white toes. Rocket is currently an only dog so we go skijoring instead of sledding.

Re: Canine Liability Insurance

Post by Boogies »

Shop around for a different company. Point out your perfect record and make sure you have good fences. Point out the good fences and any obedience training, awards, etc.. Also, bundle your cars, property and any other stuff you own so they know they will lose all your business if they won't cover the dogs.

And always remember, insurance doesn't prevent accidents. They only cover the smallest amount of the fix-it cost that they can get away with when something happens.

Finally, know the law in your state. My kelpie onced bit a lawyer's husband in the butt. She was harnessed into a sled team. He cut us off and then stabbed her in the face with a ski pole. She nipped him, not even ripping his pants, when she saw the pole swinging toward her again. By Illinois law, I was not responsible because he provoked the dog.

He had a tiny abrasion and drove himself about 15 miles to a trauma center ER, trying to make as much of it as he could. His wife's (or maybe it was the big baby's mommie) office demanded that I agreed to pay an unknown amount for damages. I called the Cook County Forest Preserve lawyer (where the trail was, north of Chicago) and he told me to fight it. He said the guy probably did it on purpose to initiate a lawsuit. He told me people try to sue the forest preserve every day for splinters or turned ankles. Bogus stuff.

Two poison pen letters to the law office that included how "scared" I was when this guy pulled his trousers down and demanded I come over (to see the wee (about the size of a quarter) abrasion on his leg), because so many women are assaulted in the parks every year. :) Right, i had three large dogs with me. I also doubled checked with the local police to see if exposing his pasty thighs could be prosecuted. Yes it can! ;) for the benefit of his wife,I mentioned the color of his tight Calvin Kline briefs.

They gave up. It was scary at the time but I'm having a good laugh about it now!
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