How Pet Ownership Affects Your Home Insurance Rates

When you are shopping for home insurance, there are many things you have to consider. What kind of coverage are you looking for? Deductibles? These are questions you expect an insurance agent to ask. They will also be asking one question you may not expect: do you have pets?  According to the ASPCA, between 37 and 47% of American house owners are also pet owners. That’s a lot of furry pets, most of which are considered furry family members. While Ms. Kitty may not be seen as a huge liability when it comes to property damage and risks to others, your dog most likely is.

Why Will My Dog Affect My Home Insurance?

When it comes to our furry pals, most of us see them as family. Unfortunately, not everyone does. We tend to forget that these cute and cuddly companions are, after all, animals. Domesticated, but still animals. As such, they can be unpredictable in various situations. That includes familiar people and environments. In additions, dogs can be territorial, which ups the chances of them wanting to defend their home. This comes naturally to them, but when they hurt someone defending it, that is when trouble can arise. According to the CDC, over 4 million people suffer dog bites each year. While not all of them need medical attention or are home incidents, that is still a huge number for home insurance companies to consider.

How Will My Dog Affect My Home Insurance?

In most cases, owning a dog can make your home insurance rate a bit higher than a non pet owner. Keep in mind, the breed of your pup can and will come into play here. Dogs with a higher probability to inflict a large amount of damage in one bite are often seen as a reason to restrict home insurance coverage. This can include pit bulls, chow chows, and similar breeds.

However, many home insurances also consider the likelihood your dog will attack. Believe it or not, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and other large breeds have actually been registered with average or below average aggression by the Applied Animal Behavior Science Journal. Dachshunds and Chihuahuas are actually ranked higher in terms of aggressive tendencies. While this can be good news for pittie and Rottweiler lovers, it just makes insurance companies look beyond the breed and classify any dog as a liability.

How We Can Help

When it comes to protecting your home, it is crucial that you find the right home insurance. Having a pet simply means you need to find coverage that will cover any medical or related expenses if your pup bites anyone. In addition, insurance companies can also cover any property damage caused by your furry friend as well. If Fido decides to play in your neighbor’s freshly laid driveway, you may end up not having to pay for it out of pocket. There are many choices when it comes to home insurance and pets, so let Pan American Insurance help you find the right policy for you!