Insurance for Pit Bulls
Think moving or being with a home insurance company that does not allow Pit Bulls means you will have to part with your pet? Think again! There are options out there for Pit Bull and bully breed owners, and there are home insurance companies that do not carry breed restrictions. Whether your are a property owner or renter, there is no need for you to give up your beloved bully in exchange for housing – simply change your insurer and start enjoying your time with your pet. This article will cover insurance options for both home owners and renters looking for Pit Bull friendly insurance, as well as a discussion of ways to keep your current Pit-friendly coverage.
Home Owners
There are presently a handful of companies that do not have any type of breed/pet restrictions for homeowners, and can be identified as Pit Bull friendly insurance companies.
The Pitbull friendly insurance agencies include:
- Fireman’s Fund
- Chubb Group
- Farmers Insurance
- State Farm
- United Services Automobile Association
- Einhorn (California only)
These insurances may not be available in all areas or to all dog owners, so you will have to do a bit of independent research to determine which insurance agency will work for your and your pet Pit Bull. Each owner needs to be sure their policy covers injuries inflicted by any of their pets and has personal liability limit of at least $100,000.
Renters
Your landlord should have their own policy covering dog related incidents that take place on the property you are renting, but all renters should obtain supplemental insurance to be sure their dog is covered. Renters insurance covers a broad spectrum of things including your personal items like television, computers, furniture, artwork, etc., in addition to providing coverage for your pet. You will need to make sure your renters insurance specifically covers pet-related incident, and you will want to be sure to carry a policy that has at least $100,000 in personal liability coverage in case of an incident. Many of the major insurers above also offer coverage for renters, so you will want to contact your preferred provider and see what they have to offer.
How to Keep Existing Homeowner and Renter’s Insurance for your Pit Bull
- Enroll your Pit Bull in obedience classes, and consider taking your dog to obtain Canine Good Citizen certification.
- Neuter male Pits to reduce dominance related issues.
- Make sure your bully gets lots of appropriate exercise – dogs with predatory or herding instincts need to channel those inherent tendencies in socially acceptable ways to prevent acting out.
- Keep dogs on leash or in a fully, physically fenced area when outside.
- Always make sure your pet Pitbull is supervised around children.
- Teach children (and adults) how to behave around animals. For example, don’t disturb dogs while sleeping or eating, and do not bother mother dogs who are with their puppies.
- Be aware of the signals that you yourself send to your dog; i.e. your nervousness will manifest itself within your dog.
- Demonstrate what it means to be a responsible dog owner.
Dog owners need to be aware that an insurance company could potentially find a way to impose a dog exclusion or cancel a policy, depending on the municipality’s vicious dog laws (invoked if a dog has bitten), or any breed bans in place. Unfortunately, breed specific bans are popping up all over the country, and Pit Bulls are often the focus of these types of laws. Make sure you keep up to date on your city’s laws, and adhere to any breed-specific laws they have in place for taking dogs in public and proper procedures. The last thing an owner needs if for an insurance company to cite exclusions in a homeowner’s policy about not covering damage or injury caused by a dog who was not supposed to be in the county; this is why it is so important to keep current with your local laws.
In California and searching for Pitbull home owners insurance, renters coverage and/or liability insurance policies that are Pit Bull friendly?
Einhorn Insurance will be happy to help pit bull owners in California get home, renter, condo and liability insurance. You will not be discriminated against just because one of your kids is a Pit Bull (provided you don’t have a “documented” history of biting). Mention you heard about them on Save A Bull, and for every policy they write, Einhorn Insurance will donate $20 to It’s The Pits (a Southern California Pit and Bully Breed Dog Animal Rescue) to help save this wonderful breed. You can contact Einhorn Insurance by phone at 858.336.4644, or email at agent@einhorninsurance.com.
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Do not ask Met Life about pit coverage/insurance. They will drop you. All I did was call to inquire if they covered and they sent our policy to underwriting.
I have a question. If i am renting and the landlord says no pitbulls allowed, and i have my own renters insurance do they have to allow my pitbull?
I have a APBT puppy and my current employeer wants me to bring him to work with me. He’s even willing to put my puppy on the insurance coverage however i need to find a company that will cover a commerical auto repair business in NH that will also cover a pit bull. any ideas? Farmers doesnt cover NH and state farm doesnt do auto repair commerical insurance. any help would be great!
Anyone in Ohio can contact FARMERS. They will cover the dog. You will have to get an auto policy and umbrella it with your home (renters also). They will cover your car, home and dog with a policy worth up to 3 million dollars for around $100 a month!
We have had the honor of sharing our lives over the past 15 years with pitties & through all have had State Farm as our Home Owners Insurance Provider. In those 15 years we have insured 3 different residences & not once did they question anything about the particular breeds of dogs that we owned. Out of curiosity after reading this article I phoned my State Farm agent here in PA & she told me that it did not matter what breed of dog we owned, State Farm would insure pitties. Perhaps calling corporate is in order if anyone is refused to find out why.
It depends on each state. No insurance company has the same underwriting guidelines for all 50 states. So an insurance company that will take pit bulls in PA, may not take them in WV, or any other state. Call around and take your free internet advice with a grain of salt.
I have a question. I recently changed my insurance company (less than 30 days ago). Is it possible to get coverage on my dog only? I really like my insurance company and really would like to keep them if there is an option. Recently we had a irresponsible pitbull owner who allowed their dog to run free in the neighborhood and as a result the dog injured another dog. Im fighting to get the dog ordinance changed in my municipality but am having trouble finding an insurer. Can i get insurance on my pet only?
I have never heard of that but there maybe such a thing. I do know there is personal liability insurance tho, might look into that. It covers you, but alot of them extend to dogs and such. Like if you burn someones house down, they will pay for it, so if your dog bites someone, I think they will pay for it. But it may not cover dogs, and if it does there could be restrictions on that too. Worth looking into.
I know good insurance is important, but if you can, you really should try and change your entire insurance tho because you should not support a company that does not cover your dog. And if you do change insurance providers, you need to tell them why you are dropping them too.
I contacted Einhorn insurance company today to find renters insurance for a potential property and my 3 year old pit bull. Within 10 minutes someone replied to my email inquiring about where we are located and got me hooked up with a lady in the same state who is helping us find a company to insure with. They’re awesome and very prompt, I would recommend them to anyone looking to get coverage for their pets
thanks Einhorn.
* Monica & Karma
Thanks for the info, Monica. I’ll call tomorrow. I don’t know why part of my post from yesterday was removed. I had a link to another agency that offers insurance at reasonable rates. That part of my post was removed; I wish I knew why. If the moderator would email me and let me know, I’d appreciate it.
I also heard that The Hartford has begun offering liability insurance for bully breeds, as of March 2011. There are restrictions, and the dog must be registered with the AKC (so no shelter dogs would qualify). Of course, there’s Lester Kalmanson, but $$$$$$$$$.
I have Amica (in RI) and like others who have posted, I was told they would not have even written me a policy if they knew I had a pit. I do not currently have one but I am trying to adopt one from a local shelter.
I have a pitbull and I need renters insurance that covers her. I cannot believe all the bullshit I had to go thru just to keep her! Its coming down to the point where its either her, or a roof over my head. The LAST thing I would ever do is give my dog up, because I see all the crap that happens to pitbulls whenever they go to shelters and what not. Its completely unfair to these poor animals. Just because their strong that means there dangerous! You hear about Golden Retrievers bitting more people, or even chiuwawa’s. No dog is born to be killers, you have to train them to be. Pitbulls aren’t born to be vicious. I see all these cop shows and how they have German Shepherds, these dogs are basically the same as pitbulls but cops use them to threaten people. Their training them to go after people, but its for the law. I have a innocent pitbull but I can’t get insurance for her? I don’t understand this! Not to mention my mother-in-law is disabled and she possibly has a few years left to live and neeeeeds to have something that cheers her up. Her doctor already said that the dog is perfect for her to have, but we stillll neeeedddd INSURANCE! So with that being said, can anyone help me find renters insurance for seattle? Apparently it takes a country to insure a 1 pitbull.
does state farm operate out there? i would still recommend anyone trying them. you have to go above the head of anyone that tells you state farm will not cover pit bulls because apparently that is absolutely FALSE. don’t let an agent or operator in their call center tell you that. go above them and talk to an underwriter or a supervisor.
I have renters insurance thru farmers that covers pits, it has no breed restrictions. ironically, only for renters, they have restrictions for homeowners policies. according to my agent and underwriter, anyway. but i am in the memphis tn area, i don’t know if you will garner the same information in seattle, but it is worth a try.
i tried my state farm agent and talked to an underwriter at corporate and got te same answer. does not cover them
See now that kills me. I have State Farm and have three pitties right now & am covered, have been for over 15 years. I think it is ridiculous that it depends on who you talk to!!!
yes, it is wierd how some of you say they cover your pits. it doesnt make any sense. i know my first insurance was with safeco and they never once questioned my dog ownership nor told me they had restrictions, but when I asked them the specific question of if I am covered with my pit, they said no. I know I called every number I could find: online, corporate, local, whatever; for state farm (and some other insurance companies that people on here have said covered them), and they all told me no, never. And then I found my coverage with farmers, but it is renters. and we are about to buy our house that we are renting right now until we can sell our first house, so I am still looking for some homeowners insurance that will cover my beautiful boy chuck norris. oddly enough even farmers only covers them with their renters policy, not with their homeowners, at least according to my agent and the underwriter we spoke with when setting me all up.
How much does it cost to insure your pit bulls??? I am having to get renters insurance on mine and need an esitmate
This is always an open, ongoing, discussion on who is pit bull “friendly” or not.
I will just say that we’ve had State Farm homeowners insurance in Texas, New Jersey, and now Alabama. Based on some things I recently read/heard I reconfirmed with my local agent that we are covered and the issue was not what dogs we had but what options do we want for coverage (sorta-like good, better, best).
When we moved to New Jersey we had our initial local agent say they could not insure pit bulls. We contacted corporate and they were quick to support us and ask who told us that (like someone needed to be reprimanded). We got our insurance.
Lesson learned – don’t always think your local agent knows the company policy.
Anyway, all that said, there are companies that will insure you. Shop around.
Bama Griz
I agree wholeheartedly. we need to start an aggressive facebook page/campaign. Or do something that wakes people up and shines some light on the matter. It is a freaking dog, like the insurance companies arent rich enough. I am going to start selling something, like a lance armstrong yellow braclet, that raises money to lobby in washington, and lobby for some real change. or do whatever it is that needs to be done, higher that expensive lawyer. And while we are at it have police be (required to) trained how to handle encounters with dogs outside of pulling the trigger.
I agree Christy. We need some REAL CHANGES FOR THIS DYING BREED. I would buy many braclets from you and go to Washington with you. I wish I knew were to start or how to proceed. It seems that people I talk too have sympathy for the breed but no one wants to help them. I have written to my mayor and my representative about some laws here, but no one wants to hear it. With the ecomony being so bad, it makes our cause all the less important to them. I was married the 1st time to a police officer and I agree with you on that matter also. They are trigger happy. I have an alarm system in my house, and the alarm guy told me I didn’t need it, I had a weapon called a pitbull. I was furious at him for saying that. I put in the alarm system to protect my pitbull. Please visit sonar at sonarthetherapydog.weebly.com
i have seen sonars weebly page before. is that you?
I had a pit bull who never fought with the other dogs, or anyone or anything. She’d let squirrels run right over her. She might lick you. She would bark but she wasn’t a guard dog or aggressive in the slightest.
These breed-specific laws are the fault of one thing, and one thing only – the media. TV, radio and newspapers love sensationalism, and they’ve picked on this breed for no reason.
I have another thought. I give to all the animals organizations like the HUMANE SOCIETY and the ASPCA. So they save the PIT BULLS from dog fighting,then since NO ONE can get home owners insurance because of their reputations, all these dogs go to the kennels and are evidently put down because NO ONE is adopting them because of all the shit you have to go through to own one. What are these organizations doing to help with the laws to HELP PIT BULL OWNERS and owners of other “BULLY BREEDS” to get home owners insurance. Don’t they relize what’s going on with these insurance companies.
yes. and in some shelters, if a dog is known to have any pit in ‘em, they can not adopt them out. the dogs only chance is that a rescue group will come along and grab him up. then i think the rescue group might can adopt them out. at least i encountered that. i fostered a dog, for a local rescue group. she had some pit in her, and the shelter i picked her up from told me they had to work with rescues on dogs like her, pits, because they were not allowed to adopt them out to the public. i dont know if it was an insurance thing, or a city ordinance, or a state thing.
There is also the problem of unsavory types pulling dogs for illicit purposes. Shelters cannot be too careful about to whom they give these Pibbles.
As I said earlier, my husband and I have been going through hell to get new insurance since State Farm dropped us because of the theraph dog part. I called Michelle M Leduc at 401-421-0100 and THE RHODE ISLAND JOINT REINSURANCE ASSOCIATION did quote us. It is a very high quote as this is a high risk insurance but we love are dog and I could NEVER GIVE HIM UP!!! I was very honest with Michelle about the breed but we are going to have to drop the therapy part. WHAT A SHAME THAT IS. Sonar loves the people at the Bistol Soldiers home (my husband and I are both vets and my husband’s brother died in Iraq) and the nursing home. This insurance company is only hurting these wonderful people who fought for our country and the older people that Sonar brought joy to!! I wish I was rich and could hire a lawyer to fight these laws and insurance companies. You pay and pay and pay and these insurance companies get away with murder. We are also calling FARM FAMILY at 1-800-813-4134. I heard they have no breed restrictions. The web site in RI is http://www.farmfamily.com/pub/PublicSite.nsf/agent.xsp
The Providence Animal Rescue League in RI told me they have no breed restrictions. I pray they don’t.
I think state farm forgot to tell the Memphis office/agents, they don’t have dog breed restrictions lol
saw this article today
http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2011/05/10/dogs-take-a-90m-bite-out-of-state-farm-in-2010
My husband and I have a wonderful pitbull that is also a therapy dog. He’s 2 1/2 years old and has passed his Good Canine and the test for the therapy dog thru Therapy Dog International. This organization insurances all therapy dogs for $1m in liability insurance when the dog is working as a therapy dog. We have State Farm and they have now dropped my husband and I home owners insurance due to the dog being a therapy dog. We are responsible dog owners. We have had are pit bull in odebience school for 2 years now. The dog has received his good canine and passed the test for a therapy dog, but nothing is good enough for these insurance companies when it comes to these dogs. This is a dying breed, pit bulls and no one cares. The one question I would ask to everyone who hates the breed is, “Who is the animal, the dog that fights in the pit for its very life or the HUMAN that throws the pit bull into that pit and forces that dog to either fight for its life or die. These dogs don’t have that choice not to fight when their owners force them to do this or DIE!!!!!
I absolutely agree!!! The hoods get away with their cash and leave these sensitive dogs with multiple injuries or a horrid death!
What happened to Pete (little rascals or the “nanny dogs”. It is the degenerate humans that do the damage which perpetuates this stigma!
Please look up Sonar at http://www.sonarthetheraphdog.weebly.com
Seems like a therapy Dog would help your case, not hurt, but everyone has been saying how all the companies don’t allow therapy dogs. That seems backwards. Just wierd. Granted I am not real familiar with the therapy dog concept.
I contacted USAA and they do not discriminate based on dog breed.
Home Owner’s insurance is very localized. I live in Vegas, Pits do not have a very good rep here. Had a lot of trouble finding ins.. Farmers Ins, The broker came out and met our pit and no problems. we are bundling for even better rates
does anyone a good pit bull insurance place in columbus.
I just called state farm and farmers insurance and neither company covers pit bulls.
And both companies have a variety of dog breed restrictions.
My husband and I live in RI and have State Farm and their homeowners insurance in RHODE ISLAND does NOT discriminate against pit bulls. Just don’t have that pit bull as a therapy dog, then State Farm will drop you.
Hello my best friend has farmers and they insured her dog with not problem? we live in cali
her dog was a pit?
See my comment posted June 10.
AMICA! no restrictions on breeds. and they are fabulous.
Ok I am trying to find insurance myself. And I tried all of these places you guys are saying. I literally just hung up with AMICA. They said they won’t even write a policy for you if you own a pitbull even if you include an exlcussion for the dog.
I want a policy that ligitamately covers pits.
I don’t understand that at all. I’ve had Amica for 6 years now and they never even asked me about a dog and they are always listed as being pit bull friendly. If you want to try this State Farm agent, she works with a pit bull rescue here in Atlanta and says she can insure anyone with state farm if they have a pit bull. http://www.lindsaymullen.com
Well I am in Memphis but I could see what she knows. Are you sure they know you have a bully breed. Maybe I just got a crazy lady. I just went to Amica’s website and dialed the 800-242-6422 number they had listed to get a quote. She said they have not written a policy to include pits in her 20 years with the company. If she is just crazy I need to call their corporate office like the person above said. Even though I think I found a policy for now. Thanks.
Well, good luck and if you find a policy with another company not named here please post it. i’m considering switching from amica anyway because my rates are apparently pretty high based on what a few people have told me. i might be trying the state farm agent myself pretty soon! i don’t want to give business to a company that breed discriminates anyway.
Please look up http://www.farmfamily.com/pub/PublicSite.nsf/agent.xsp
The Providence Animal Rescue League told me they have no breed restrictions.
Hey there what is the policy you found for your pitbull? I am moving to rhode island and I need to find something for my pitbull because i dont want to get rid of her or put her to sleep
I just called the 800# for them and they said they can but an inspector will have to do a “Meet and Greet” with the dog to make sure they are not aggressive.
Do not bother with State Farm. They will quote you online, but will not follow through. You will get an email saying that “Due to the pitbull in your home, we cannot insure you.”
We’ve had State Farm for years. When we moved to NJ the local agent said they could not insure us because of our “pit bulls”. We contacted corporate and they said they had no such policy. We got our homeowners insurance. Don’t stop with the local agent or an on-line response. Sometimes they just assume things.
Amica Insurance does not breed discriminate and they are great!! Rated #1 consistently by Consumer Reports annually.
yes they did Amica would not insure my daughter’s puppies pit/hound mix 14 weeks old. So they are not worth a CRAP
I recently attempted to liscence my pitbull in Providence, RI. The Prov. Animal Shelter gasve me nothing but grief. I finially had my State Farm rep. speak with the supervisor to explain that their policy covers ALL PETS. Providence requires Pitbull specific policies. Since my pitbull is my PET, he was therefore covered. 3 hours later I finially had my liscence……….. What a drag, and pits are $20 not $5 like all other breeds in Prov.
Geico just insured my pit bull for renters insurance $100,000 liability, no breed restrictions less that $150 per year.
I live in iowa and I talked to a farmer person and they said its really up to the person you talk to on the phone if they want to insure your pit bull and that on your policy.
there will always be prejudice about issues that people simply don’t want to learn fact versus vision. humans and animals have experienced numerous acts of cruelty, harm and yes – death. whether it was religion, skin color, class status it often creates fear.
long story short – read up on the “nanny dogs” – yes remember pete the pit bull from the “little rascals”- hhhm – protectorates of children. ignorance is a bliss – PLEASE inform yourselves with the fact versus fiction.
Barb – State Farm may have different restrictions for different states and if you’re an existing customer you may be grandfathered in. It might be that new policyholders are subject to dog restrictions.
That being said, I encourage everyone to read their policies. You may be surprised at what is or is not covered.
The following insurance companies state they have pit bull insurance (as best as i understand the information i read):
1- State Farm (www.statefarm.com)- (per Megan’s comment- it looks like State Farm is not an option for members of the “bully breed”.
2- Farmers Insureance Group
3- United States AA (www.usaa.com)
4- Nationwide – w/ pit bulls who hav CGC (Good Canine Citizen) certification(www.nationwide.com). Note the CGC is a class that runs about 5-8 weeks (depends on trainor).
Please comment on updates/changes to inform others with any restrictions so we can make changes as needed.
NOTE:
CA- Sunny SoCal Insurance Service
Lester Kalmanson Agency (service area????)
CA – Evolution Insurance brokers
Thanks Megan for letting me know about State Farm – the list just keeps on shrinking… If anyone knows of any pit bull and “dangerous dog” friendly insurance agencies please submit a comment or contact me – hopefully we can add some others to the list!!
And for the record…I don’t agree with it. I belive all dogs can be good if trained to be. A friend of mine has a pitbull mix and she is one of the best dogs ever. I just do what I’m told…
Just an FYI…I work for State Farm and we are NOT pitbull friendly. If you have a pitbull and we don’t write an exclusion on your homeowners policy and the dog bites someone, you could be cancelled. You might want to change that….
This has helped myself and my wife get insurance for our 2 pitbulls. Before we had insurance we could not find a suitable apartment to rent….with insurance it was much much easier.
State Farm now discriminates against certain breeds including Pitbulls. I’d remove them from the shrinking list…
Well I have a two yr red nose pit he is a part of my family so spoiled he plays with the small and bigger dogs my neighbors have no problem with him. He barely barks people don’t even know when he is in the house except for his crying. Well cream decided to go and visit the dog behind my house which he does and the dog come to visit him. I was on the phone and took my eye off him and he went to play well the dog catchers caught him. So now he has a chip and I live in Ohio and yes Geico wouldn’t cover me. I would like to just get the cheapest payment possible of cream he has never shown any aggression the neighbors even went to look for him when I couldn’t find him. Looking for insurance before I go to court the end of the month homeowners. Ilove my dog and yes does he have to pay for being born a pit. Please help Insurance needed.
I have a 4 year old female pittbull. she is fixed has ever bitten anyone. We moved into a house that we rent a year and a half ago. We signed a lease and the landlord knew that we had a dog. recently an insurance company came by to look a the house. The landlord then called us and said that the insurance company will not insure his properties if there is a pittbull present and said we had to get rid of her. Someone help, I know this cannot be right. we signed a lease that stated we could have a dog and didn’t specify any breeds. what can I do?? I cannot get rid of my dog!!!!
I am an insurance agent and I checked with Kemper, who is on this website’s short list of companies that do not have breed resrictions. Pit Bull is on their list of unacceptable breeds, which means they will decline coverage (atleast in Texas) if you own one. I am also a proud owner of a sweeheart of a dog who is a Pit Bull. I only hope that one day this breed will be treated like the kind, loving pets that they are. Too many people have incorrect notions about these dogs.
Well I’ve contacted Progressive, Liberty Mutual, State Farm and Farmers insurance. So far Liberty Mutual is the cheapest one @ $59.58/mo.. They did ask about dogs and what breed they were and if they had ever bittin anyone.. Mind you the quote I got was for Home Owners Insurance.. State Farm offers Renters Insurance as well. My quote on that was $173/ yr, so it broke down to only $14 and some change a month. State farm will ask about the dogs and breed, the quote I got was with 2 pit bulls!!
In the 8 yrs that I have owned pits, I have to say I have never really had any trouble. None have ever bit anyone. Right now I own a male red nose brindle (about 11 months old) and a Philly red nose female ( a little over 2 yrs old). I have had the female since she was 6 weeks old and she has never bitten anyone or harmed another animal. She is very submissive to animals and humans. She runs from our friends 20lb cat!! The male is a rescue dog and I’ve had him for about 3 months. Before I brought him into my home he was at an animal shelter for about a yr and then was taken to K9 training where he was kept for 2 months and trained. He was then going to be taken back to the shelter, but we were told they had no room for him so he would be “put down”.. I couldn’t allow this to happen. He’s such a great dog and deserved to have a great life! Coming from the animal shelter, he is “fixed” and micro chipped. I have 3 children that are 11, 9 and 8. Both dogs are very loving to my children and are very gentle. I have had a few family members who freaked out when they found out about the dogs, but have since changed their whole out look on the breed, because they see that it isn’t the breed, it’s how you raise them and train them. I myself was scared of the breed until I owned one myself. I will never again own any other type of dog. Now, however I am looking into buying a house on contract. At first I was told I couldn’t have the dogs, when I was about to tell them to take the house and shove it, I got a phone call and was told I could have them as long as I got renters insurance that would cover them. So here I am. I live in IN, so gettin the insureance should be a real fun ride. I plan on calling State Farm and Farmers today to see what I am told. I will make sure I let everyone know the outcome!!
In reading this I have come to the conclusion that this country is absolutely doomed by stupidity starting with electing an illegal alien to President down to the whole truth of where the stupidity lies.
He would not be there if the majority of the voters had an IQ over 25.
Highly exemplified by the stupidity of the Execs who are so much smarter than those of us who pay their inflated salary’s “and egos” is the Geralodo Reveia attitude that people who keep Pitt Bulls in their homes are crazy as those who keep guns.
I must be more dangerous than the Uni bomber as I have a very loving Pitt Bull and I sleep with a gun. I’m never without the gun and never without the Pitt Bull when I’m home.
The gun is to protect me, my wife and the Pitt Bull from idiots.
The Pitt Bull is here for the same reason you have children. Well maybe the Pitt Bull makes more sense than the brat!
Brats do property damage and hurt people at a rate much higher than any dog.
Do I get penalized for a brat? Am I treated like a criminal for a brat, “if I were stupid enough to inflict life upon one” in this insane society we have become? No! Then to top it off I live over 1000 ft from anyone in any direction.
I have purposely allowed the area to grow up into a vine, “incorrectly called a brier” to the point no kid/brat can’t walk in here.
Our neighborhood brats have the common sense city brats most likely will live without for life. They know better than to try to go through all those thorny vines.
So now since the world is full of people who want to inflict themselves and their neighbors with brats I have to carry extra insurance because I don’t have a brat proof fence.
I have to pay extra because I have an open area Hot Tub, “no pool” but it’s large enough a brat could drown in it so extra.
I took my Pitt Bull to my father in laws place and let her roam as she does here because she will protect you from biting dogs and attacking people even if she does not know you.
Therefore I feel she is safe and the neighbors do also.
Unfortunately there is really no way to fence a live creek to keep brats from drowning so my father in law pays more for not having the fence.
As luck would have it one of the neighbors, “lives about 500 ft from Father in law” had visitors from the city.
His brat fell from the end of a pier into water about 7 ft deep. The brat, “9 years old” as city brats go of course couldn’t swim.
My Pitt Bull went off the end of the pier before I could even get within 50 ft of the land end of the pier.
She took him by his arm just below the shoulder and dragged him some 75 to 85 ft along side the pier to water approximately 2 to 3 ft where the kid got up and walked out screaming.
His Mama came running over and notice the skin was broken in several places from tooth marks.
My wife a Registered Nurse of over 30 years experience tended to the scratches and yes there were puncture wounds through the skin but not deep into any flesh.
She cleaned the scratches and tended to them as required. The brat needed no other medical attention but it has been reported that he was taken to an emergency room, “stupid jerks” and proclaimed unharmed.
About the time the Mother was inspecting the brat’s scratches, all the while the brat was proclaiming he was bitten by that dog, the father with no more info than that went to his Pick UP and got his shot gun.
His remarks that “SOB ain’t gona ever bite anyone else in this life time!”
In spite of the neighbor he was visiting and my protests he swung the gun up and was training on my Pitt. At that time I went ballistic.
I carry a 9mm pistol at all times. Yes it is legal on two fronts. One by law I can carry it on my property and yours unless you post signs or verbally forbid it where I live. I also have a “2nd amendment violation required license to carry.” Yes requiring a license is a 2nd amendment violation but I have it anyway.
I instantly pulled my 9mm, “Dammit I hate that but sometimes it is necessary” and put the muzzle about 2 inches below his left ear.
I quietly said, “you shoot and I shoot, Do you understand?”
He insisted that he needed to get rid of that dangerous dog! I told him, “you do and I’ll get rid of you, as you are stupid enough to be much more dangerous than the dog!”
I made him put the shot gun down then I took it removed the rounds, threw them onto private property and gave the gun back to him. I warned him not to go for the rounds as he would be trespassing.
Later I was sued by this idiot for his brat being attacked.
What I didn’t know when all the action was going on was a neighborhood kid in a wheel chair was setting on the back porch facing the creek.
He was playing with his bright shiny new Digital Camcorder.
Before the suit the neighbor kid’s parents talked with my Father In Law and gave him a DVD which she said he might find interesting.
The kid had made a video recording of the whole thing, “even from the point the brat fell off the end of the pier” including my wife attending to the brat and then while that was going on he switched to the drama of the guns.
Upon the suit notice when I told my Father In Law he said I might want to look at this DVD.
I did, I copied it and went to court.
After all his testimony and his lawyer’s input, “another city idiot” they were ready to hang me out to dry and to euthanize the dog.
I then asked the judge if I could present evidence that just came in. She asked me why I didn’t do it in the beginning and I stated I wanted these idiots to prove their stupidity before absolute proof of it.
I know they would not stand lie like that if they knew they had no chance.
After viewing the DVD in her private chambers she told the Idiot Father she thinks the DVD will vindicate the dog and asked if he wanted to drop charges, change any of his statements or would he like the jury to see the DVD.
He being the Idiot he is, “shouldn’t be contributing DNA to the population in my opinion” said without knowing what is on the DVD he retracts nothing and yes let the jury see it.
Needless to say the jury was ready to throw the bum out the third floor window.
He has since issued personal threats etc.
I live outside any city with only one access to my property down a 900 ft + gravel drive way through deep woods that I keep where you can’t walk except the driveway. So I told him to drop by anytime.
He had to pay his attorney, court costs etc.
He says all people who keep Pitt Bulls should be jailed and fined.
How stupid can a human being be and still manage to breath unassisted?
Oh the judge, “in private” asked me if I would have shot him. I answered, “would you shoot if someone killed your child?” She said, “absolutely!”
I told her I chose not to have brats, I chose to have the dog and she is my kid. You figure it out. She said, “I think he is lucky to be alive!”
Great story! Almost as believable as some of the ones in Penthouse Forum. Please have a literate person proofread before you post next time.
Sent this to Century-National insurance company yesterday:
In regards to the presence of a purebred Red Nose American Pit Bull Terrier on the premises of XXXX, Morongo Valley, CA and the demand that said dog be permanently removed.
1) The animal in question is a search and rescue dog. I have been with the Palm Springs Mounted Police Search and Rescue for fifteen years. Removing this dog from my residence will significantly interfere with continued training. It is my considered opinion the separation will make it impossible to continue that training.
2) I have renter’s insurance that covers liability for any dog bites.
3) I see no reason for duplicate coverage on the part of the owner in regards to personal liability for MY dog. If it was his dog, I could understand – and it would not be my problem.
4) Under duress, I will “permanently remove” the aforementioned dog from XXX, effective 4 June 2010.
5) If there is a delay, or a bad outcome, in finding lost or injured hiker(s) due to lack of a search dog, you can be sure that I will provide the family members with contact information for your company and the specifics of why the dog’s training was terminated.
6) It is my most sincere hope that some future date will bring me the opportunity to express the full extent of my ire to any and all individuals involved in creating or enforcing this hateful and ignorant policy that is based on breed rather than individual behavior.
7) In the mean time, you may rest assured that word of your company’s discriminatory and wrong-headed policy will be spread far and wide among the SAR community.
9) I doubt that such a day of reckoning will come, but I am confident that Hell holds a special place for any low-life miserable excuse for a human being that would have any part in creating or enforcing this arbitrary and capricious policy, which truly is based on stupidity and small–minded conceit.
With loathing, contempt and hatred for any bureaucrat with a heart so cold and a spirit so mean as to carry out this inhumane anti-dog policy,
State Farm in northern Nevada ask about bite history rather than breed; they didn’t ask about obedience classes or K9 good citizen.
Does State Farm require a pitbull to have completed obedience classes or get a good K9 certficate before they insure them?
i have a pittbull who is 13months old hes is the sweetest boy . and is so good with my children has not bite them or anyone he is no aggressive in any nature . he is verywell behaved . and veryplayful and loving. were having a hard time finding a place to live that aceepts pittbulls in florida . please help me if you know any where in florida thats accepts his breed its so heartbreaking that he is being desrcriminated because of his breed its not the breed of the dog that makes them mean its the owner and how they raise them. you can make a shitzy aggressive towards people and animals i see it all the time i work at an animal hospital .
I walk two mixed breed pit bulls. I am not their owner. While walking them both on leash recently, a large male boxer left its property and charged us. I didn’t have time to turn and walk away which is what I always do when I see a dog that is loose. The 3 dogs started a viscious fight and the male pit mixed breed really fought visciously. I could not control them and I could also not be in the middle of this. I was afraid and had to step back and I dropped their leashes. After the fight ended the owner said that I needed to get my dogs away and that he should call the police. Am I liable in this situation? What should I have done?
Stefan, the attack on your Miniature Schnauzer had NOTHING to do with the fact it was a pitbull at all. It was a dog, allowed to unrestrained & without supervision – it make NO MATTER what the breed is, that is illegal for all dogs in most cities for a reason. To be very honest, any 40lb dog who hadn’t been socialized could have just as easily have killed an 11lb one.
We have dogs that run loose in our neighborhood too… I won’t walk my PitBulls without a golf club, because they have already proven they won’t protect themselves from an attack. What happened to you could have happened with ANY dog running loose.
I’m in Georgia, and I’m also having issues with my home insurance. I had no problem for years with Nationwide but then they did a system upgrade at the same time my mortgage company was having some issues and my policy ended up cancelled due to non payment (usually paid through escrow). Nationwide had my old phone number from 10 years ago thanks to their “upgrade” so I didn’t know about it until it was too late. They supposidly got everything fixed but found out today they didn’t. My mortgage put me on a premium (very high) insurance company automatically when nationwide cancelled. I called Nationwide today to get it straightened out and for the first time ever, they asked me if I had any dogs. I have four and they all have some kind of story as to why I have them. I have two border collie mixes, a boxer and a pitt (they do fine together although it confuses the boxer & pitt when the border collies try to “herd” them). All males are now fixed (found a place in NE GA that does males for $50 each) and since I happen to have a pitt, the one company that this nationwide agent contracts through that does allow pitts wont’ accept me for “other” reasons that they wouldn’t tell me. It is probably because my roof is getting old. I’ve been calling several places that were listed on this site and statefarm gave me a place to call that is currently working on a quote but I won’t know until Tuesday if they will even take me. My pitt is 1 1/2 with no signs of aggression. I’ve only had him for four months but he was raised with the boxer. He is very energetic and LOVES to play and be petted. He does need more training (barely knew sit when I got him) and i’m working on that but the one time he got loose, he came running back as soon as I called. He tried to chase a squirel and I had mail in my hands and didn’t have a good enough grip on the leash. It was my fault and i’m more careful now. I don’t let my dogs run loose. I had a cat killed a year ago by a lab mix that got out so I am very aware of what can happen if dogs and cats run loose. I usually keep my other cats (3) inside but she was an outside cat for years before she came to me. My family and neighbors know i’m a big softie when it comes to animals although I’m not a hoarder! I’ve rehomed a few that came to me and were not meant to stay. I believe in neutering and spaying. There are way too many animals out there that do not have homes or are in bad situations. The boxer & pitt, I have because their family lost their home with a yard and they were having trouble finding anyone who would take them. The shelters were full and said they would have to put them down. The rescue groups were also full up. The neighbors at the grandmother’s house was complaining about the barking since they were being kept in a very small pen and they were running out of time. They are good dogs and did not deserve to be put down for any reason. My neighbors love my dogs. I have one neighbor with a female pitt who is very bulky in build but a complete sweetheart. She looks mean but she’s very submissive even with other dogs. The rare times when she has gotten out in the last five years, I am the one that usually goes out and calls her back. Benefit of working from home.
My other neighbor has little yappy dogs that my border collies take great delight in having barking wars with. The boxer & pitt with join in sometimes but usually they just sniff through the fence and then ignore them. Still working on getting them used to cats. I have a huge 25lbs fat white cat that thinks dogs are just big cats and loves to tease them by rubbing against doors and windows where they can see him. I keep them seperated for now until I feel safe that nothing will happen. I do this for any breed of dog unless they are very small puppies who haven’t a clue yet that cats are not dogs. Any adult dog of any size can potenially attack cats and it’s always better to do it gradually. My dogs are mostly outside dogs (large back yard) but the boxer/pitt are currently inside in one of the rooms since they only recently were neutered. They usually have an entire screened porch for themselves for sleeping and stuff. None of the dogs like the dog houses I have out back even though they are good dog houses. They prefer the enclosed porch and hay pen I have set up for them. 
I tried hay in the dog houses and it didn’t work. I finally gave up on getting them to use them and made the hay pen on the porch so they didn’t have to lay on the cement. Even in winter they prefered cement to using hay filled dog houses. Out of the four the only one that has ever been an inside dog was one of my border collies and he was going stir crazy being stuck in a house. The boxer is ok inside but he LOVES running and playing out side and enjoys all the scents and sounds that are out there. I’ve gone out there and seen him just sitting there with his nose in the air and his ears twitching. 
Although…show him a tennis ball and you have his total focus! Sorry for rambling but I do love my animals and am very ticked about my insurance issues. Hopefully, you got at least a few chuckles out of my rambling. 
Last month, I lost my 9 year old Miniature Schnauzer to an attack by a Staffordshire Terrier. My father was taking my dog for her walk. She was walking down the middle of the neighborhood street, on a leash. The “bully” was unrestrained and left its property to inflict a fatal bite. My dog died in the next few minutes from massive bloodloss. My father was uninjured but weeks later is plagued with nightmares from the incident.
The Staffordshire never exhibited a violent tendency towards my dad. Not even while he was on his hands and knees trying to pry the dog’s jaws open to get my dog back. For that I give the dog full credit. It had its priorities straight. Big human, ignore. Small animal, kill.
I don’t blame the dog, it has no morality.
Through talking with neighbors, we’ve come to find out, this dog has attacked two other dogs in the last 12 months. Both of the other dogs were larger or of similar size to the Staffordshire. One attack required stitches, the other did not result in injuries worth mentioning as both dogs were on a leash at the time. Neither attack was reported to the SPCA until AFTER my dog was killed.
We’ve also been contacted by two people who had “discussions” with the Staffordshire’s owner. To be brief, the owner warned them of the danger. Neither of those people reported the owner/dog.
So he was aware that the dog was dangerous. He did NOTHING to prevent the dog from being allowed to attack, maim, or kill other people’s pets or family. The dog was allowed to roam, off the leash, in the yard. That fits the definition of Criminal Reckless Endangerment.
Regardless, neither I nor the SPCA can have the owner euthanized. We can, however, have the dog removed from his ownership and the SPCA can impose upon him restrictions if the dog is returned to him or they can refuse to return the dog in which case it will be destroyed.
At this point, it has been seized. The hearing to determine if the dog is dangerous is next Thursday. He has gotten a lawyer. I can not afford a lawyer. I should not NEED a lawyer.
By all outward appearances, this should never have happened. A nice neighborhood and a quiet street. But you can not always profile these situations. The owner was stupid and shouldn’t have been trusted to own a goldfish, much less a dog with the bred-in physical strength of a Pit Bull.
And yet, this was a rescue dog, supposedly “cleared” and classified by whatever dog rescue association as “OK for adoption”. The rescue association allowed *this man* to adopt *this dog* and as a result created a situation that has already been fatal to one innocent life and will likely end with the euthanization of the Pit Bull.
As I said, I can’t afford a lawyer. However, I fully intend to take the owner to court in the lower courts of my state where a lawyer is not required. I will be asking for the replacement cost of my AKC registered Miniature Schnauzer and all the veterinarian costs associated with the adoption. If I think I may be able, I would like to sue for damages related to the incident. My father (and recently my wife) who can’t sleep without nightmares surely deserve some recompense? The family has lost a family member. It just so happens, by whatever twist of fate, that MY dog was NOT a Pit Bull and the killing dog was. My dog, at 11lbs in weight (she was small for her breed) and with two partially torn cranial cruciate ligaments (the result of unlucky jumps) was in no condition to defend herself from an animal with the jaw strength of the Pit Bull and this particular dog’s intent to kill.
The Pit Bull’s breeding has given it the tools to kill. Perhaps moreso than almost any other dog. Likely, moreso than any other popular breed. I do not believe that the breed has any inbred tendency to attack or kill humans. I think for that reason that they make terrible guard dogs. They are very human friendly. However, they are not as universally friendly to other animals. When a human is confused with another animal (child) or gets in the way of an dog-on-animal attack, they are in real danger from a dog with the strength and build and inbred skills that make a Pit Bull.
I can’t make sense of it, but if there was historical evidence to suggest that Pit Bulls can and do injure and kill more than other breeds (and that evidence exists), it makes business sense to tax those situations at a higher rate. Likewise, if any insurance company is reading my story, would you seriously blame them for attempting to find a way to identify the risk that their customer, this incident, and my ensuing suit, represent?
Their methods are crude, and boil down to discrimination, but until the methods improve there is nothing else to be done.
I don’t ask for pity from those of you here. You are the responsible ones. What I do ask is that you be reasonable and THINK about what you are saying. Do your very utmost to improve education, awareness, and responsibility for the ownership of the breeds that are classified as “Pit Bull” and other so called “dangerous” breeds. When you see a situation, report it!
Only through these methods will anything change.
Only these methods would my sweet and gentle friend be alive today. Our lives are forever changed and I hope none of you will ever have to experience what I am going through today. If you do your part though, our pain and the life and love of our dog will not be for nothing.
which insurance company carry bit bulls dog liability insurance ?
I feel like not insuring because of pit bull breeds is discriminating. That’s like stating Honda insurance will be more than Nissan because they had more accidents last year… it’s the driver not the car. I don’t like the idea at all. I understand not insuring irresponsible owners but in most cases (as in mine) my pit is 7 years old and has been through hell and back with my 5 year old daughter… never even thought about biting her or anyone else who came to our home. I don’t think that insurance companies should be allowed to do this because I have the right to own/purchase/adopt any type of dog I want. I should be able to sign a waiver of some sort stating if my pit ever bites someone my insurance isn’t repsonsible, I am. i’d invite any insurance agent to my home to pet and play with my dog… it’s not vicous. The neighbor is more vicous than the dog. It’s just not right to refuse insurance because someone’s dog has pit in it.
Interesting to hear from an employee of an insurance company. Yes I understand the decisions of the companies is based upon “statistical evidence” and high profile attacks that have recently been highlighted by the media, causing a backlash of breed specific legislation and anti-bully breed hysteria. That’s always a good way to do business, lets decide something is bad just because the news says so and not because there’s any real evidence to support it.
However, if they would really do some research, they would find that in reality the types of dogs that bite the most are NONE of the dogs listed by the insurance companies. The dogs most likely to bite are small dogs like weiner dogs, toy poodles, rat terriers, etc. These dogs have also been bred for hunting and protection just like the bigger dogs and from what I have seen in real life, are more likely to bite than a bigger dog. I realize that the damage they can cause with their little mouths is on a smaller scale than a big dog, but if you are quoting overall incidence of bites and not total damage of bites, we should be regulating the little dogs. But, think about bite placement too – little dogs probably bite on places like faces and hands – people aren’t going to do things like put their face or hands right next to your big dog and talk to it like it’s a baby. They do those things to little dogs all the time. And someone gets their face or hands bitten and you still have the potential for a serious lawsuit, and the cosmetic surgery to repair facial scarring could easily be over the $100,000 policy coverage. Bites from bigger dogs that I know of are usually ones where you get your leg bitten as you are passing by or dogs protecting their home or owners. And I know they are pack animals and any dogs left unattended and ill trained are likely to gang up, start hunting like a pack and do serious damages, but what is the REAL data on those attacks, not what the media tells us?
The other thing that insurance companies need to do is look at the overall population of the breed of dog per bite incidence. Maybe there are more total number of bites from these types of dogs simply because there are more OF them due to popularity of the breed. And we all need to consider that there are all sorts of filters on gathering statistical evidence – anyone could make a case for almost anything if you toss out certain examples because it doesn’t “fit the criteria” of what you are looking for. Yes insurance companies pay out over $300 million in claims per year for dog bites (I think that’s the data I’ve seen, something close to that). What is their total payout for year for other claims? What does this $300 million represent in percentages of the overall total? And how much do they take in each year from policy holders? And what is the percentage of payouts for “dangerous breed” payouts compared to the overall total?
Too many questions and not enough answers as far as I’m concerned to back up their claims that these dogs are more dangerous than any other dog. It’s annoying that a dog that was known as the “nanny dog” not to long ago for how well it took care of the children in the home has changed to image we have today.
Just called State Farm as long as they do not seem aggressive and no bite history they will cover my two pitts. Just called Farmers in my area and they will NOT cover any bullybreed.
Farmers Insurance will Insure your dog as long as there is NO prior bite history .
Help Im a renter. I love my year and a half old female pit. I live in california and I need to find an ins. company that will cover my baby. Anyone with any suggestions would be more than helpful. Also … I am 8 months pregnant and I havn’t been worried about a thing happening wit my pit and my baby, she is not aggressive @ all and has never bit anyone and im sure everything will be fine but my family is on my rear about it and are trying to freak me out and I don’t want to worry cuz like I said she is a great dog but they are starting to get in my head but I don’t ever want to lose my dog. she is my family!Does anyone have any suggestions that would ensure me that no incidents will ever happen. If so I would appreciate it. Thank You!!!
State Farm!! state farm does not dicriminate against pitbulls. i have 2 and they wrote me renters insurance no problem. affordable too. $500,000 liability for under $200. i called everywhere and only state farm was able to help. thank you state farm!!
NEED
PIT BULL INSURANCE ?
(NO PRIOR BITE HISTORY)
As a current owner of an American Staffordshire terrier, I know how important she is to me and my husband. She is not only a great dog she is part of our family. We at FARMERS would love to help you with your Insurance needs. Please contact Angel Kerns – Associate Agent @ 614-443-5000
Insuring Pit Bull Dogs
(Ohio Revised Code Section 955.22E)
Dogs that are a “breed of dog commonly known as a Pit Bull” are automatically considered to be vicious under Ohio law. Owners of these dogs must maintain at least $100,000 of liability insurance coverage on these animals. The maximum penalty for a violation of this section is a $1,000 fine and up to six months imprisonment. If you have any questions regarding these laws, please contact a Field Supervisor at the Department of Animal Control’s Enforcement Division at 462-3400.
Call today for a FREE Quote!
614-443-5000
Ask for Angel
1301 S High Street Columbus, Ohio 43206
I thought this site is to be informative on renter insurance that would accept PITBULL!!!
I love this website and the love for Pitbulls, yet I need HELP ASAP or I’m going to lose my boy. I live in NJ and its like a needle in a hack stack to find insurance to cover my dog. Someone please help and let me know where I should look beatriz03future@yahoo.com
I think its a bunch of bs its from closed minded people ill just leave it at that what they dont realize is this breed has been around since the 1800s they are war heros they are wonderfull pets i have a male and a pom she is meaner then he is it just upsets me people need to do there homework before they tell the bs if anyone feels the same please email mkholley2@yahoo.com
its realy good to hear what an employee from an insurance co. has to say. Jill, your right about, “not allowing certain breeds of dogs is similar to not allowing people with certain driving records to hold a policy, too.” thats a good point. when i get on these forums and read about rates going up, or some companies will not accept, “what should i do?” It makes me wonder.. If only all these people, including myslelf,on these posts and other thousands the same, just get together and take your piece of advice and start from the bottom. Talking to the agents, the the local, and even state gov, might change things. But if wont happen if we just keep settling on paying more and even dropping policys.
What happen to protesting?
I’ve had a pit for 4 yrs, and owned my home for 4 yrs as well. No bite history. I used to have All risk insurance, but they have decided to not renew my policy. So now my new “only” option according to my agent might be Foremost which is a branch of Farmers. With both insurances my rates are higher than they should be because of the dog, even though both policies have an exclusion to any liabilities that my happen involving the dog. I think next time, I will say he is a mixed breed heavy on the lab side, what else can you do.
First, I would like to assure you that I am not in favor of breed discrimination.
I work for a national insurance company. Most insurance companies will not accept the following breeds of dogs: American Staffordshire Terriers; Pit Bull Terriers; German Shepherds; Akita; Chow Chow; Huskies; Great Danes; Presa Canario (Canary Dogs); Bull Mastiff; Rottweiler or any mix of the above. Always specifically ask before you take a policy!
Most large insurance companies have actuaries who calculate the level of risk for any given scenarios. Dogs are no different. The dogs on the list are large dogs with the potential to do a great deal of harm if they attack a human. Think about how big a Dane is, for example, compared to a small child. Think also about how intense your Am Staff can be when playing with other dogs. They are also dogs involved in high-profile cases of human attack.
The insurance industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries out there. By and large, they are only allowed to practice such discrimination because they have actual evidence to back it up. If you don’t like it, then you will have to lobby your state insurance regulatory body and your state legislators, because currently the industry is regulated on the state level.
Is it discriminatory? Sure. However, not allowing certain breeds of dogs is similar to not allowing people with certain driving records to hold a policy, too. Some companies do not accept drivers with, say, more than one DUI in 5 years because they are a bigger risk than the company wants to accept. This keeps prices down for those of you with good driving records.
You as the owner are liable for the actions of your dog. That means if some small child antagonizes your dog (despite the fact that you have repeatedly asked the child not to do it) and your dog bites that child’s face, your insurance company will likely pay out for that. If your liability is at $100,000 and the medical expenses + “damages” total more, you can be held responsible for that. Some companies have weird exclusions built into their policies, so READ YOUR POLICY!
All of that being said, I understand that you as responsible dog owners are getting a raw deal. The only way to change that is to, as I said, start with state law. You might even start with your local insurance professionals (agents, for example). If enough insurance agents have a fair, balanced view of certain breeds, then things CAN CHANGE!
Travelers Insurance is no longer big dog friendly; Chow, Dobie, Rottie , Pits, etc.
I am having luck with State Farm and Farmers,in Las Vegas NV,about 20% higher than without a Pit
isn’t this discrimination. not only do these insurance companies make an uneducated and biased decision- likely based on media perception- but they don’t event try to fairly evaluate (ie: a mandatory behavioral assessment by an approved behaviourist at owners cost). it is probably fair to say that they are treating responsible pit-bull owners as if we were drug dealers who are generally involved in dog fighting. i for one would like to see the statistics on the breakdown of pit bulls owners who “viciously” attacked someone. categories could be those involved with drugs/felony/arrests versus persons who have no prior warnings/arrests, etc.
is there any potential for legal action based on discrimination or profiling?
Farmers Insurance will cover the dog if they do not have bite history. They do not discrimate against any type of dog. If you called one agent and they told you no, call another.
I just bought a pitbull puppy. I am thrilled and in love with him, he is very sweet and comes from a long line of sweet, loving, safe dogs. I am very annoyed at the reactions I get by my choice in a dog. I don’t like having to think of what I will have to do when I buy a house (I’m 22). It’s all hype and hysteria surrounding pitbulls. Lets hope it soon changes.
I just got renter’s insurance and own 2 dobermans. State Farm was no problem. I did check because I do want to rescue a pit in the future. In Ohio any pit bull type dog is considered vicious regardless of temperament. You cannot get insurance through State Farm if living in Ohio, but other states are okay. Getting your pit CGC certified through the canine good citizens test through AKC, I’ve heard, will take the place of having the insurance. Talking to your local APL or humane society should help determine if this is the case in your area. Often times a microchip can offset needing insurance also. Personally I’m glad I have the insurance. I will be moving out of state soon and it is more difficult to find a rental home with large dogs, but it shows responsibility if you have an insurance policy. I do think this hysteria is ridiculous. I wish they’d put as much time and effort into taking out animal abusers, neglecters and fighters as they do with BSL.
i totally agree with everyone on here. i have 3 wondeful pitbulls that would never bite anyone. my landlord,after 3 years of living here, now wants us to get renters insurance that covers our pitbulls and alot of insurance companys are ignorant to the breed, along with many other breeds. i think its totally ridiculous!!
I tried to renew my homeowner’s insurance in Virginia with Traveler’s/GEICO and they would not renew it because my dog is part pit bull, even though she has never had any incidents of any kind. I have my auto insurance through them as well, which I will now be changing due to this policy. Insurance companies are supposed to base their policies on numbers and facts, not ignorance and hysteria.
I truly think that people really need to wake up and smell the roses. Pits can be the most loving animals in the world. Yes, I under stand its the owners, not the dogs, punish the owner not the breed. Where I’m from pit bulls saved people; they were used to protect and serve. They were cop dogs – they can be trained and tamed. People should be more careful when selling, go through the background – I mean I wouldn’t sell a dog to someone that I think is going to fight. That is where most of the problems come from because if they were not sold to the criminals then the dog might have a chance of living a good life. I really hate that people are so terrified of pits. I have a pit and he is only a pup, 12 weeks, and I just recently moved with my gf and her parents. They were terrified of him and said things like ‘he is going to get big one day’, and it made me feel good to prove her parents wrong, and show them how smart and nice he can be. Then I had to move him in with my mom because their insurance wanted to drop them. Screw all insurance companies that don’t allow as y’all call it ‘bully breeds’.
i am so glad to know i’m not alone in this i have 2 pits and 4 children and they are great with my kids!!!! i was like everyone else in the begining i was terrified and then i went out to eat for lunch one day and there she was beautiful dog so she came home with me and we have been best friends ever since i just recently got the male about a week ago and my current insurance company dropped me because i had more than 1 of the breed so if anyone out there can help PLEASE my landlord has threatened to evict me unless i get insurance.
Thanks for such a great site! Your information was very helpful to me. I just adopted a Staffordshire Terrier and he’s such a love! I live in Ohio so I have had to deal with all of the laws, including insurance. I did find that State Farm would not cover a “Pit Bull” type breed under homeoweners insurance. They were, however, helpful in understanding my position and I found insurance with The Ohio Insurance Exchange. They do not have a website so you would have to find them in the Yellow Pages but they are very nice and helpful. Thanks again for a wonderful website and I hope this information is helpful to anyone out there looking to give a bully dog a home.
Awesome website! Wanted to let you know that I called Farmers insurance and they told me they would not offer home owners insurance to pit bull owners.
I called Farmers Insurance and they told me my dog was not an issue at all. I live in Carson City, Nv. so it may depend on your location
I think Pitt bulls deserve to live their life with their owners. I have to Pitts with some on the way and i can tell you my dogs have never even tried to bite a person. my 7month old nephew sits with my female pitt and plays with her on the floor and my male is always cleaning him up and kissing him. My family was afraid of pitt bulls untill they actually got to meet mine now they are defending their breed and praising them to everyone.. its not the breed its the owner.. if they are brought up to fight or be very protective they will be but if they are brought up to love and be a good companion they will. Punish the owners for their dog killing someone not the breed. A pug could bite or kill someone but they aren’t on the list. So why is it that pitt bulls are being demolished from state to state. it is wrong i guess every time a person kills or injures another person they should be killed too!!!