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Don't Let Insurance Rates Go To The Dogs
By keeping your dog in line you can prevent your insurance company from taking an extra bite out of your wallet -- or potentially withdrawing coverage altogether.
Dog bites account for one-third of all liability claims stemming from homeowners insurance policies, according to the Insurance Information Institute, a non-profit association. Insurance companies paid out about $310 million in property and casualty liability claims in 2000, according to Alejandra Soto, spokesperson for the group. In 1996, the figure was about $250 million.
"The primary reason for the increase is higher jury awards and increased medical costs," Soto said.
Dog bite treatment payments are typically higher than average emergency room visits because of the ragged nature of the cuts, infection risk, and the large number of bites that require rabies treatment, according to the Center for Violence and Injury Control.
The insurance industry has adopted the view held by many veterinarian groups that the rate of dog biting is not related to specific breeds of dogs. However, the severity of the bite has a direct correlation with particular types of dogs. In other words, all dogs probably do the same amount of biting, but the bigger breeds are more likely to do more damage.
About 10 to 20 people die of dog bites each year, but an estimated 4.7 million -- 2 percent of the U.S. population -- are bitten by a dog during a one-year period, according to the Centers for Disease Control. About 800,000 seek medical care; more than half of the dog bite victims are children, who are most frequently bitten in the face, neck and head area.
"Most of the insurance companies now issue coverage on a case-by-case basis," Soto said. "Many now have a one-bite rule." That means once a homeowner is sued over a dog bite, the insurance company will either exclude the dog from future coverage, or drop the policy altogether.
Some companies are now asking for dog bite history and even have an in-person inspection of the dog and its surroundings, Soto said.
Here are some steps that can lessen the chance of dog bites:
Spay or neuter your dog. This will make the job of confining your dog easier because your pet's desire to roam and fight with other dogs will be lessened. Spayed or neutered dogs are three times less likely to bite.
Help your dog be social. Being around people and situations will alleviate your dog's nervousness under normal circumstances. Train your pet -- this, too, will help socialize the animal.
Don't encourage inappropriate behavior. Stay away from rough play and set limits on your dog's behavior. If your dog exhibits dangerous behavior -- toward a person or another animal -- see your veterinarian immediately.
License your dog and make sure your pet sees a veterinarian regularly.
Always err on the side of safety. If you don't know how your dog will react to a new situation, be cautious. If your dog sometimes panics in crowds, leave him home. If your dog overreacts to visitors or delivery or service personnel, keep him in another room.
Teach young children to be careful and cautious around pets, especially unfamiliar animals. In some cases, it's best never to leave young children and dogs alone together.
Written by Michele Dawson
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