Couple Denied Homeowners Insurance Quote After Adopting Pit Bull

A Minnesota couple were denied a homeowners insurance quote after they mentioned on their application that they had adopted a pit bull dog. Michael Quinones and his fiancee, Samm Adams, applied for a new homeowners insurance policy after they adopted a pit bull from a local animal shelter. They learned that several carriers have internal regulations preventing them from issuing coverage to families that own specific dog breeds, including pit bulls.

Homeowners Insurance and Dog Breeds

Several insurance carriers have decided not to issue homeowners insurance rate quotes to applicants that own pit bulls or mixed-breed dogs that have the pit bull breed in their lineage. Psychology Today magazine listed some of the breeds that can prevent owners from getting homeowners insurance quotes. These breeds include:

• Pit Bull Terriers
• Staffordshire Terriers
• Rottweilers
• German Shepherds
• Presa Canarios
• Chows Chows
• Doberman Pinschers
• Akitas
• Wolf-hybrids
• Mastiffs
• Cane Corsos
• Great Danes
• Alaskan Malamutes
• Siberian Huskies

Homeowners Insurance and Risk Evaluation

A representative from Allstate Insurance told the Psychology Today writer that insurance carriers must evaluate each homeowners insurance policy for specific risks. Each carrier evaluates dog breeds based on their potential risk for dangerous behavior, such as biting children or attacking guests. Some homeowners insurance carriers will write policies for owners of specific breeds, but they may face higher premiums due to the higher perceived risks involved with those breeds.

Homeowners Insurance and Dog Bites

In 2013, one-third of all homeowners insurance claims stemmed from dog bites. The average dog bite claim cost insurance carriers nearly $30,000, for a total of almost $500 million in a single year. Owners can purchase dog bite insurance separately from their homeowners insurance policy. Most of these policies carry a maximum liability of between $100,000 and $300,000. However, this coverage may not be enough to protect owners from dog bite lawsuits, as some cases have netted dog bite victims $1 million or more in jury trials.

Do Homeowners Insurance Carriers Discriminate Against Dog Breeds?

Some dog owners have claimed that homeowners insurance providers discriminate against specific breeds of dogs. Some breeds on the list, such as mastiffs or Great Danes, can weigh as much as an average adult human. Other breeds, however, may be the victim of undeserved reputations for dangerous behavior. Ms. Adams maintains that his adopted pit bull mix, Mika, is “by far the nicest dog we’ve ever had.” The couple eventually found a homeowners insurance carrier to provide them with a policy.

Sources: WKRN-TV, Psychology Today:

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