Is your animal covered under your homeowner policy?

Very tragic news out of Polk County as a 32 year old male was attacked and killed by a Pit Bull. Our condolences go out to the young man's family.

When we hear about situations like this we try our best to educate our clients. Animal Liability is covered on the majority of homeowner insurance policies, but there are some guidelines/exclusions. Most insurance companies have an animal/dog exclusion list. Most companies ask on their applications if an aggressive animal is owned. Always be upfront when purchasing a policy to make sure coverage is offered. If the information is not disclosed and a claim arises there will be NO liability coverage for the claim. This means you are solely responsible for any damages, injuries, lawsuits, etc.

Pit Bulls, in particular, are listed on just about every dog exclusion list we have come across. The animal/dog exclusion list means the insurance company will NOT write a homeowner policy if you own one of these animal/breeds. If you do own an excluded animal or aggressive animal some companies allow the policy to be endorsed with an animal liability exclusion form. There would be NO coverage under the policy if a claim arises from an excluded animal. Most companies list their animal exclusion form on their website. Exotic and farm animals also need to be disclosed to validate that coverage extends to them. It's always best to call your agent and ask if your animal is covered. If you have a question, give us a call at 423-472-1744.

News Article: https://newschannel9.com/news/local/dog-attacks-kills-man-in-polk-county-sheriffs-office-says