Thursday, February 9, 2012

Answers > Can Your Homeowners Insurance Policy Be Cancelled if You Get a Big Dog?

Can Your Homeowners Insurance Policy Be Cancelled if You Get a Big Dog?

by Pennsylvania Insurance on September 7, 2011

I know someone who had a policy that was cancelled because of a big dog that her friend gave her. Is that allowed?

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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Katharine R August 17, 2010 at 4:39 pm

yes, it’s allowed. It has nothing to do with the size of the dog, but rather the breed. Certain homeowners policies will not insure homes with certain breeds of dogs; usually dogs like pit bulls, rottweilers, and dobermans.

donald e August 17, 2010 at 5:35 pm

yes it can be its a liability issue, u need to check with insurer to be sure they will cover the particular breed that you are giving a home to

mbrcatz17 August 17, 2010 at 6:31 pm

Yes. It’s called “increase in hazard”, and that reason should have been listed on the cancellation notice.

MJ August 17, 2010 at 7:29 pm

Yep, depending on the breed it is a liability risk to have a large or vicious animal

JustMe August 17, 2010 at 8:23 pm

Yes very much so. Certain breed’s of dogs will void a home owners insurance policy. This is based usually on vicious breeds who tend to generage alot of liability claims. It states this clearly in your policy. If your friends looks at her HO3 policy she will see which specific breeds will cancel her policy. Also many HO3 policies place exclusions against trampolines & swimming pools.

If she chooses to keep the dog – she will have to go through an excess/surplus company to get her homeowners insurance. She will pay about 3x the amount she was paying prior. Its up to her if the dog is worth keeping.

Queen B August 17, 2010 at 8:33 pm

yes. insurance companies have a list of banned dogs. once the company found out about the dog, it increased the liability hazard and they can and do cancel policies for this.

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