Buying a puppy for Christmas?
I was talking to a good friend and she mentioned that she had decided to buy her children a dog for Christmas. He was excited for her as we shopped and picked out toys and other accessories for her new pet. In the midst of the excitement, my insurance brain couldn’t help but consider the potential risks that come with owning a dog!
The number one claim for homeowners is a dog bite claim. The reason for this is that dogs are sometimes unsafe around people they don’t know. Their natural instinct is to protect their owners and their pups. Sometimes a dog can be so frightened by strangers that it causes the dog to lash out. According to propertycasualty360.com, the median cost of a dog bite claim is $37,200. Depending on your insurance company, you may have limited or no coverage for this type of incident.
What would happen if your dog bites a friend’s child? Would he be able to cover the cost of the medical bills? Not taking care of the bills could put unnecessary strain on your relationship with friends or neighbors. If you don’t take proactive steps after such an incident, you could also risk having your dog euthanized.
So what are some proactive things you can do if you decide to buy a dog? First, check your homeowners policy to see if you have coverage for this type of situation. It may be covered automatically or you may be able to add it through an endorsement. Be aware that some insurance companies have a blacklist of dogs that they are not willing to insure due to their aggressive nature.
Second, consider increasing the medical payment limit on your homeowners policy. Medical Payments is no-fault coverage that allows you to pay medical bills for non-family members up to the limit provided in the policy. This is a simple and inexpensive way to provide coverage for others in case something happens.
Third, consider putting your dog in a kennel when you have strangers visiting. If you’re not sure how your dog will respond, this is a great preventative step to take.
And lastly, socialize your dog regularly. Most cities have doggie daycares or dog parks so your dog has a chance to be around other dogs and strangers.
Buying a pet is a very big responsibility! By taking proactive steps as a pet owner, you can ensure that it will be an enjoyable experience!
