The
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) says that most insurers refuse to cover for pit bulls and Rottweilers. Because of this, owners of such dogs are more likely to pay out of their own pockets for damages should their pets attack someone, the bureau explains.
Worse, victims of pit bull and Rottweiler attacks might not even receive any compensation of sorts if the dog’s owner does not have enough money on him or her.
The IBC noted how both dog types were regarded as the most problematic by insurers.
“These are the two most banned breeds,” said IBC head of media relations Caroline Phémius. She also added that in some cases, exceptions are made for certain clients.
Bouchard and Associates Insurance Solutions broker Jules Picard added that when it comes to pit bulls, Rottweilers, and dogs that are the result of crossbreeding with either breed, most insurers choose “not to cover.” His answer comes from experience, as Bouchard provides insurance products from several companies.
Phémius elaborated that each insurer chooses whether or not to cover the risk. This means that an insurer could refuse coverage for a client who owns either dog, accept to cover risks but refuse to insure for liability damages caused by the pet, or accept a higher premium to offset the risk related to the dogs. According to the IBC, the latter option is rarely chosen when dogs are involved.
There are no statistical studies to substantiate the refusal to cover for pit bulls and Rottweilers, Phémius noted. Most insurers rely on so-called expert advice and news in the media depicting terrible dog attacks—particularly cases where children are the victims.
The IBC does not have any statistics on the number of dog-related injuries, nor the number of insurance claims arising from such injuries, reported
Montreal Gazette. Additionally, most insurers lack similar metrics to base their restrictions on, the news website found.
Picard, however, confirmed that each year he sees 10 to 30 cases of dog owners having difficulty finding an insurer to cover their pets. He also shared that most insurers believe that pit bulls cause the most damage with their attacks than any other dogs.
“As soon as a pit bull decides to bite, escaping its jaws is nearly impossible,” he reasoned.
La Capitale spokesperson Pierre Duchesne verified that based on company data, golden retrievers bite more often than pit bulls, but cause less damage.
Since 2008, pit bull attacks on humans and other dogs have led to 14 civil judgments for damages.
RELATED STORIES:
Clients need educating: Fido must be insured too
