Home Insurance Claims

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Dogs are playful, affectionate, loyal, protective - and sometimes a major problem for home insurance providers. While home insurance generally covers dog-related incidents, such as bites and attacks, insurers have gotten savvy about various "problem" breeds and have responded by either restricting home insurance coverage or denying it altogether. Policies vary from company to company and state to state, making for a complicated situation that demands the attention of every dog-loving homeowner.

The Problem with Dogs

According to the American Humane Society, approximately 39% of American households have one or more dogs. While most are friendly to strangers, unpredictable stimulus can agitate them and cause them to bite. Dog bites account for a shocking third of all home insurance claims. Per the Insurance Information Institute, home insurance providers paid out almost $400 million dollars in dog-related claims expenses in 2008.

Home Insurance Coverage

Under normal circumstances, most home insurance policies cover incidents that involve a policy holder's dog. Before a policy is sold, however, most if not all home insurance providers will want to know as much as possible about the family dog, and whether it has a history of aggressive behavior. If there are biting incidents in your dog's past, you may have to sign a waiver releasing the home insurance provider from responsibility for expenses related to bites. You may be able to get dog insurance or comprehensive pet insurance to cover yourself, whether in the form of a specific dog insurance or pet insurance policy or a supplemental rider.

Its also important to remember that laws concerning pet-owner liability vary from state to state. If state law places sole responsibility on the dog owner then home insurance providers may stipulate that their policy won't cover any expenses related to a dog bite.

Targeted Dog Breeds

Owners of certain dog breeds need to be especially attentive to their dog and its impact on their home insurance policy. Many insurance providers have identified the following breeds as being statistically more aggressive and problematic than others:

• Akitas
• Boxers
• Wolves and wolf-hybrids
• Chow-Chows
• Pit Bulls
• Rottweilers
• Malamutes
• Dobermans
• German Shepherds
• Presa Canario
• Siberian Husky

While getting a dog is a wonderful experience for millions of Americans, it does not come without risks and responsibilities that need to be thought through beforehand. In most cases, proper training and preventative steps, such as fencing in the yard, will go a long way to keeping the peace.

Do you think it's fair to discriminate against certain dog breeds?

Much has been written about the fact that the Chinese symbol for crisis is also the symbol for opportunity. If you're a homeowner who's recently suffered damage to your home, all the shock and chaos may make you forget that a big check from your home insurance provider is on the way - and you can spend it as you see fit. Whether you get a lump-sum payout, an advance payment, or a partial payment contingent on different conditions, the bottom line is that you're getting money and a blank slate. When those two things come together it can be a very exciting time indeed.

The Claims Adjuster

The first thing you're going to do is call your claims adjuster. They will inspect the damage and help you fill out all relevant claims forms. It may be tedious, but it's the first step on the road to getting reimbursed. Additionally, take lots of pictures and make sure to save all estimates and assessments.

The Attitude Adjuster

When your home insurance provider helps you it means they're going to give you money. In your situation, now is the time to start forgetting your misfortune and remembering your opportunities. Sure your living room is gone, but you've also got the chance to turn what was once a den of dullness into a showcase for your excellent taste. You can put in a bay window with a reading nook. You can put in hardwood floors, or floor-to-ceiling windows, or a new fireplace. Was your old carpet looking more and more like an old, miserable sponge? Rip it out and put down hardwood. Or maybe you want tile, but you can't decide between rich, red Mexican terra cotta or grey slate.

Taking Savings to the Next Level

If you're smart, you can also save on clean-up and repair costs - which the insurance company has covered - by doing it yourself. With that extra money you can either apply it to further home improvements that improve the resale quality of your home or save for a rainy day. Cedar closets or new kitchen appliances, the choice is yours. Of course, spending your home insurance reimbursement check in a frugal way is also a smart choice: by keeping costs low and coming in under budget, you can pocket the difference. At the end of the day, that money could provide you with all sorts of new opportunities.

If you're a homeowner you must have home insurance, period. Your investment is too large to go unprotected. Once you're insured, make sure you understand what is or is not covered. If you're unclear about any aspect of the policy, don't be afraid to ask.

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