Hi;
My dad, who owns the house I live (with him) in has had a homeowners insurance policy with the same company for 30+ years. Recently, he received a questionnaire asking him if he owned a dog, and if so, what breed.
We have a 4-1/2yr old neutered mixed breed male that is a mix of Shepherd, Boxer, Pit Bull, and maybe one or two others. His name is Tate.
Tate is a very friendly dog; much more likely to lick you than to bite you. We have never had an incident with Tate.
My dad just received a letter that apparently (I have not seen the letter myself; just going on what he has told me) stated that they do not want to renew his policy because of the dog.
I find this extremely frustrating, and unfair. While I understand that insurance companies are in business for one purpose, and only one purpose - to make money - that they consider certain breeds of dogs as higher risk, and therefore do not want to insure those homeowners who own them.
Wouldn't it make more sense if the insurer were to simply refuse to insure against damage/injury caused by the dog, but continue to insure the home and its contents against other liabilities. Or, if they just added an extra fee to insure the dog.
But it seems that in today's point & click (or tap and swipe) world that these companies have become object, rather than subject oriented. Perhaps it has always been this way, and I am the naive one.
I believe we can find another company that is willing to write a policy with the dog in the house, but I fear that eventually, the actions of insurance companies are going to destroy whole breeds of dogs which they deem to be too high a risk to insure.
I suppose that the answer will be that new companies who write policies specifically for dogs will become the norm, but during the transition period (now) it may indeed be difficult for people owning certain breeds of dogs to obtain the necessary home policy.
It is very unfortunate that things have to work this way. If only the insurance company would send a representative to our house to meet Tate, they might see things in a different light. But I know that is asking for too much.
I would be interested to know who are the best insurance companies to work with when you have a dog who's breed is on the "high-risk" list.
Thanks for your help
FW
My dad, who owns the house I live (with him) in has had a homeowners insurance policy with the same company for 30+ years. Recently, he received a questionnaire asking him if he owned a dog, and if so, what breed.
We have a 4-1/2yr old neutered mixed breed male that is a mix of Shepherd, Boxer, Pit Bull, and maybe one or two others. His name is Tate.
Tate is a very friendly dog; much more likely to lick you than to bite you. We have never had an incident with Tate.
My dad just received a letter that apparently (I have not seen the letter myself; just going on what he has told me) stated that they do not want to renew his policy because of the dog.
I find this extremely frustrating, and unfair. While I understand that insurance companies are in business for one purpose, and only one purpose - to make money - that they consider certain breeds of dogs as higher risk, and therefore do not want to insure those homeowners who own them.
Wouldn't it make more sense if the insurer were to simply refuse to insure against damage/injury caused by the dog, but continue to insure the home and its contents against other liabilities. Or, if they just added an extra fee to insure the dog.
But it seems that in today's point & click (or tap and swipe) world that these companies have become object, rather than subject oriented. Perhaps it has always been this way, and I am the naive one.
I believe we can find another company that is willing to write a policy with the dog in the house, but I fear that eventually, the actions of insurance companies are going to destroy whole breeds of dogs which they deem to be too high a risk to insure.
I suppose that the answer will be that new companies who write policies specifically for dogs will become the norm, but during the transition period (now) it may indeed be difficult for people owning certain breeds of dogs to obtain the necessary home policy.
It is very unfortunate that things have to work this way. If only the insurance company would send a representative to our house to meet Tate, they might see things in a different light. But I know that is asking for too much.
I would be interested to know who are the best insurance companies to work with when you have a dog who's breed is on the "high-risk" list.
Thanks for your help
FW