Insurance company breed ban

Rincewind · 04-13-2004, 03:26 AM

Some U.S. insurance companies are starting to impose breed bans. If you own a dog on their 'bad list' they are likely to cancel or not renew your home insurance policy.

A few of the dogs that are no longer covered are Pit Bulls, German Shepards, Huskys, and Dobermans. These breeds are starting to appear in some U.S. shelters because people can no longer find insurance coverage or their premiums are just to unmanagable.

I imagine it won't be long before all insurance companies follow suit and it moves up here to Canada as well.

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/ins...-policies1.asp
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insu.../nw003720.php3

Rincewind · 04-13-2004, 03:49 AM

Ok, apparently it has moved up to Canada. There were reported cases of Allstate refusing to coverage.

Allstate announced on CBC that they would be banning the following breeds to new customers: Dobermans, Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, and German Shepherds.

Brandy · 04-13-2004, 07:49 AM

mom said most mastiff breeds were banned to

Sasha is a mastiff and I would NEVER get rid of her becuase of insurance, I simply wouldnt have hoouse insurance if that was the case

a woman also went on the news that owned a shepard and she said her insurance company thinks its a good thing that she has a shaepard becuase theres less likely tthe chance of someone breaking in

greencolander · 04-13-2004, 08:51 AM

It's too bad that the insurance companies wouldn't reconsider on a case by case evaluation: if you took your "banned" dog to puppy socialization, dog obediance, and then passed a Canine Good Citizen Test, they should re-offer the insurance coverage.

Rincewind · 04-13-2004, 10:13 AM

They are justifying their 'breed ban' by a recent study, it concluded that:

"About 25 breeds of dogs were involved in 238 fatal dog bites, according to a 20-year study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in 2000. According to the report, pit bulls and Rottweilers were involved in more than half of fatalities resulting from dog bites."

I think that dog obedience and a Good Citizen Test is a good idea. I was also wondering why they wont just write out your dog (if they bite someone then you have to pay, not the insurance company).

I couldn't imagine going without homeowners insurance though. If there was ever a fire or a robbery, a hail storm or a flood... yikes, the thought of not being covered would be terrifying.

Oh, and Brandy, if you don't have homeowners insurance you can't get a mortgage.

Brandy · 04-13-2004, 10:18 AM

my landlords right now dont have insurance, they had insurance but they raised it and they refuse to pay it, they havent had it for over a yr now

Candycane · 04-13-2004, 11:08 AM

Call me crazy but I take out insurance even though I'm renting.

Quote:

According to the report, pit bulls and Rottweilers were involved in more than half of fatalities resulting from dog bites.

Most of the breeds that they ban bite with greater force than dogs that are not on the list...of course they are going to cause more fatal deaths. If there does need to be a policy about certain breeds, GC is right, they need to take more into account when deciding.

Just FYI, unneutered males are a group that are most often involved in attacks and bites.

velvetrabbit · 04-13-2004, 11:10 AM

Isn't this illegal, on grounds of discrimination??

Discriminating against dogs (to me) is just as bad as discriminating against racial background, sexuality, or anything else that has ever been discriminated against.

Candycane · 04-13-2004, 11:11 AM

Complete discrimination...but does that matter when it's "just a dog"?

velvetrabbit · 04-13-2004, 11:13 AM

How could you suggest something like that candice??

No, I understand, that's the outlook of the insurance companies.

HOWEVER, you could say that it's discrimation against the owner of that dog because he/she owns that dog.

THAT would make it illegal.