bites, the report says. Some lower the liability limit for dogs or exclude dogs altogether.
HOW TO GET YOUR FURRY FRIEND COVERED If your homeowners or renters insurance excludes your dog, you can buy a stand-alone animal liability policy that covers injuries your pet may cause. Available limits range from $15,000 to more than $1 million, says Dori Einhorn, owner of Einhorn Insurance Agency in San Diego, which sells canine liability and other insurance. The price depends on many factors, including the dog’s size, whether it’s spayed or neutered, whether it has previously bitten someone and the coverage amount. Annual prices for a small dog can be less than $200 a year for $25,000 of coverage, says Deborah Turner, president of the Dean Insurance Agency in Altamonte Springs, Fla., which
sells policies at dogbitequote. com. Most dogs are insurable, including pit bulls, she adds. If your homeowners or renters policy includes your dog, but you want more coverage, you could buy an umbrella liability policy, which kicks in after you reach the limits on your home or auto insurance policies.
EVEN GOOD DOGS NEED INSURANCE Many dog-bite claims happen because of the situation — not because the dog is vicious. Einhorn recalls how an elderly woman was scratched when a dog lifted his paw to shake hands. She wound up in the hospital with an infection and medical expenses topped $80,000. The dog’s owner had liability coverage, and the insurer paid the bills. “You can have the nicest dog in the world” and still end up responsible for an injury, Einhorn says.
Canine Coverage
Follow these tips to make sure you and your dog are insured:
1
Check your homeowners or renters insurance policy to see whether the dog is excluded from the liability coverage. Call your insurance company or agent if you’re unsure.
2
If your policy excludes the dog, check with other insurance companies to see whether they will cover it. Compare quotes.
3
Buy a stand-alone dog liability policy if you can’t find affordable coverage for the dog under a homeowners or renters policy. You can insure more than one dog on a policy.
4
Teach your dog to be a good citizen. You might be able to persuade an insurer to offer coverage if you can show that you’ve taken your pet to obedience classes. Training can also prevent misbehavior that could lead to an injury. Check out the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen program, which awards a certificate you can show the insurance company after your dog goes through training and passes a 10-step standardized test. — Barbara Marquand writes for NerdWallet, a personal finance website and USA TODAY content partner. 21