Liability Insurance for Pets
According to the Humane Society of the United States, "There are approximately 77.5 million owned dogs in the United States." Cats come in at a whopping 93.6 million. Liability insurance for pets is a sensible idea for responsible owners who understand that any animal can end up causing damage to friends, family or property.
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Definition
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Liability is an obligation to settle a debt. Liability insurance provides protection from claims for property damage or injury. With pet liability insurance, you would be protected if your pet were to injure someone or damage someone's property.
Why You Need It
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A playful nip can turn into a medical liability. A responsible pet owner realizes that even the most docile animal can turn aggressive under certain circumstances. For example, an unsuspecting feline may bite or scratch a child who tugs on its tail. Animals react with their instincts, and if animals are injured or feel threatened in some way they are more likely to bite, scratch or otherwise defend themselves. In fact, dogs bite almost 5 million people each year. Pets can also cause unintentional injuries. Untrained puppies may jump up on someone, innocently seeking a gentle pat, and cause a fall.
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Who Needs It
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The German shepherd is a breed that you may need to insure. Even though anyone can buy liability insurance for her pet, insurance is more important if you have a large dog. Large breeds such as Rottweilers, Akitas, and German shepherds have statistically higher chances of biting or harming someone. If your animal is frequently around other pets and people, you may want to look into getting your loving companion insured.
Cost
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You may already be covered if you have either renter's or homeowner's insurance. Look into your policy to see if Fido is covered. On the other hand, with more homeowner's insurance companies excluding certain breeds, such as Rottweilers, Dobermans, German shepherds and pit bulls, you are more than likely going to need additional coverage. Most pet insurance companies give the choice of monthly or annual premiums.
Read the Fine Print
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As with any contract, make sure to read and understand your policy. Shop around and compare prices and coverage. Cheaper is not always better. As they say, "You get what you pay for." A good policy can save you and your pet a lot of trouble later.
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References
- Photo Credit dog image by Holtea Silviu from Fotolia.com Legal Law Justice image by Stacey Alexander from Fotolia.com dogs are fighting image by Ivonne Wierink from Fotolia.com german shepherd image by Olga Drozdova from Fotolia.com
