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Last October our local news in ran a story about a woman saved by her two Pit Bull Dogs from a house fire. Apparently she didn’t have working smoke detectors, and her dogs were responsible for saving her life when they alerted her and woke her up. I remember making a comment to my husband, that without the working smoke detectors, and owning the two Pit Bulls it was likely the insurance company for the home would cancel the insurance policy.
Well, today I heard on the news the woman has received the notice and her Nationwide Homeowner Insurance policy will be cancelled (in actuality I would suspect it’s not a cancellation but rather a notice of non-renewal of the policy). The insurance company stating the action is due to the ownership of Pit Bull dogs.
While I’m sure the fire claim, and lack of smoke dectectors didn’t help matters much, owning some breads of dogs can cause many insurance companies to refuse to offer insurance.
There is nothing new about this situation. Part of any homeowner insurance policy includes Personal Liability protection and the fact is some breeds of dogs are known for hurting family, friends and neighbors. Insurance companies have every right to decide who they will offer insurance coverage and under what terms they will offer it.
While many will scream this isn’t fair and why would an insurance company cancel the homeowners policy because of the dogs? After all they are Hero’s and saved someones life shouldn’t this be rewarded?
True–these Pit Bulls did an amazing thing and saved a life and very possibly reduced the property damage. But, the problem is the homeowner clearly failed to make her insurance company aware she owned them in the first place. Had she reported the fact she had two Pit Bull dogs, to her insurance company as part of her obligation to keep personal liability insurance, she would have been advised and informed at that time her company didn’t offer Homeowner Insurance to people who own this breed of dog.
I understand the argument on both sides and realize that NOT every Pit Bull, German Shepard, or Rottweiler Dog will attack, try doing a quick Internet Search and you will see how serious the problem actually has become. In our local area we currently have at least 5-attack stories involving the Pit Bull Breed.
Insurance is not an entitlement program–as some people seem to feel. Insurance is a business and has every right to decide which risks and losses they are willing to cover and for which people, property and liabilites they will extend insurance coverage.
As sad as this story is, the fact of the matter is that Nationwide Insurance Company has every right to say they will not insure homeowners with dogs and if they wanted they could include Poodles and kittens.
If you own a dog, and your insurance company doesn’t know it-then you could find yourself without insurance. Be sure to let your insurance company know about All of The Risks they are insuring–especially, those you might be held liable for.
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- Backyard Trampolines May Lead To Cancelled Homeowner Insurance
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