Dog Control - Do you have adequate insurance cover?
Recent proposals for dog owners to take out compulsory pet insurance in case their dogs attack and cause harm to others might not have made it into the law, but this doesn't necessarily make it a bad idea. The scheme, which was put forward by the environment and home secretaries, was intended to tackle the issue of increasing problems with aggressive dogs being used as 'weapons' on inner city estates, but was rejected because it was considered that the very owners that it was intended to strike back at, were the ones who would simply fail to comply. It was felt, therefore, that it would be the responsible dog owners who would be 'unfairly penalised'.
In some ways, it is hard to see how taking out pet insurance could ever be seen as penalty, when what it does is actually protect the pet owner. Even the best-behaved of dogs could, in principle, be provoked into an attack and if this were to happen, the owner could see him or herself facing a hugely expensive law suit. Aside from this, if your dog runs out into the road, for example, and causes a motor accident, again you could find yourself liable for thousands of pounds in damages. With a pet insurance plan which includes third party liability, however, you could be covered for these eventualities in case the worst did happen.
Even though the proposals for mandatory pet insurance for dog owners were thrown out, the measure for the compulsory micro-chipping of dogs is still to go ahead, thus allowing dog owners to be traced through their records. The new proposals all come as part of a consultation review of the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, in the face of rising public concerns due to the fact that more than 100 people per week are reported to be admitted to hospital as a result of dog attacks.
Pet Liability Cover Is Important
Even if your pet seems docile and sweet, any pet is capable of turning on a house guest, passerby, or family member; this can cause severe injury and sometimes even death. Because many pets can be unpredictable, it is smart for every pet owner to think about purchasing a plan which has sufficient pet liability insurance. These liability coverages minimize the risk that pet owners face when their pet becomes violent or destructive towards people or property. Pet liability covers everyone involved, including your pet and yourself.
Why do you need public liability cover included in your pet insurance?
Liability insurance covers the cost of injury, death, or damage caused by your pet. Pet bites make up the most common claims, with almost a million bites reported worldwide last year alone. In this instance pet liability coverage is essential, as all courts will hold the owners of the pet responsible for any associated costs.
Owners of certain large dog breeds have a greater need for public liability cover, as these dogs may be more aggressive or prone to biting people or other dogs, particularly if they have not had sufficient obedience training . If you own any of the large dog breeds below, then it is especially important for you to consider purchasing dog insurance with sufficient liability cover for your pet:
- Pit bull terriers
- Chow Chows
- German Shepherds
- Dobermans
- Akitas
- Great Danes
- Rottweilers
Owners of Exotic Pets
Exotic pets make liability coverage almost essential. Animals such as monkeys and rare lizards that could carry diseases such as salmonella make liability insurance a worthwhile expense. Even if you think that you have everything under control, you never know when an accident could occur; it is better to be safe, rather than be stuck with thousands of pounds worth of court costs and medical bills.
Kennel-workers, pet-sitters, and anyone else who works with animals are putting themselves at risk. While most people who love animals will willingly take that risk, accidents do happen, and animals can be unpredictable. Insuring your animal or staff against accidents with liability insurance is a necessity. When you have liability coverage, you can feel at ease knowing that even the worst-case scenarios are covered.
