Home Insurance: What Coverage Does it Give Pet Owners?

Homeowners with pets often find themselves in a difficult position when trying to apply for home insurance. People with dogs often find themselves forced to pay higher premiums, choose inferior policies, or even become banned by insurance carriers.

Home insurance not only covers natural disasters and burglary, it also protects policyholders from lawsuits from damages caused by pets. Unfortunately, the rising cost of litigation in cases concerning pets has caused insurance carriers to be wary about covering those with dogs.

Type of Pet Damage Covered by Home Insurance

If you have home insurance and are a pet owner, you have to understand the type of pet damage your policy does or does not cover.

•  Personal Property Coverage: Conventional home insurance offers personal property coverage. But while this policy aims to safeguard possessions against particular risks, it doesn't cover personal property like your curtains, couch or television. This means that it your pet destroys your furniture, you can't file a claim for pet damage.
•  Dwelling and Other Structural Coverage: Most home insurance policies do not cover damage caused by a domestic animal, pets, insects or rodents to your property (ex. fence, house). Homeowners cannot file a claim if their chihuahua eats through the drywall or the pigs break the barn door.
•  Liability Coverage: According to the Insurance Information Institute, most home insurance provides some liability coverage for pet damage. For example, if your goats destroy your neighbor's fence, the liability coverage can defray the cost of replacing possessions or repairing the damage. This pertains to damage caused by pets and/or animals used as a hobby, like a pig or chicken. Farm animals are not included. But it should be emphasized that there's likely no coverage for your pets damaging your own property or belongings.

How to Find Home Insurance for Pet Owners

Insurance companies are wary about offering coverage to pet owners who own particular breeds. So how do you go about finding insurance?

•  Be Proactive in Taking Precautions: Insurance companies will take into consideration the preventive steps you've taken, like getting certified obedience training, sturdy fences, kennels, or dog socialization classes.
•  Do Your Research: Pet owners looking for insurance carriers that don't discriminate against them should do their own research on the companies. Independent agents are usually more favorable than smaller insurance carriers that tend to be wary about accepting people with pets.
•  Get a Separate Policy for Your Dog: You can protect yourself from medical damages and other liabilities if you get a separate policy for your pet. Look for organizations that do provide insurance for pets. 

To ensure that there's no confusion as to what you're getting from your home insurance as a pet owner, read your policy carefully and contact your insurance agent if you have any questions. At Brad Spurgeon, we aim to provide comprehensive insurance policies that makes your life easier. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at (409) 877-7755. Get your free quote today by clicking here.