Farmers Insurance And Canine Constraints: Understanding Restricted Breeds

Farmers Insurance has recently changed its policy regarding dog bite liability insurance coverage for certain dog breeds. The company will no longer provide coverage for pit bulls, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids, and customers with these breeds must sign an exclusion waiver of liability coverage for dog bites in order to renew their policies. This decision has been met with criticism, as breed bans are illegal in California, and Farmers Insurance is being accused of adopting a blanket policy of exclusion. The company justifies its decision by stating that these three breeds accounted for 25% of dog bite claims and cause more harm when they attack. This change in policy highlights the ongoing debate surrounding breed-specific legislation and the potential impact on dog owners' insurance options.

Farmers Insurance no longer covers certain dog breeds

Farmers Insurance has changed its policy regarding dog bite liability insurance coverage for certain dog breeds. The company will no longer provide coverage for three breeds: pit bulls, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids. This decision has sparked controversy, with some arguing that the company is discriminating against dog owners based on the appearance of their dogs rather than individual risk factors.

Farmers Insurance is not cancelling existing policies, but the company is now requiring customers with these breeds to sign an exclusion waiver of liability coverage for dog bites. Without this signature, policies will not be renewed. This means that once existing policies lapse, homeowners will not receive liability coverage for dog bite claims if they choose to renew with Farmers Insurance.

The decision by Farmers Insurance is based on statistics showing that these three breeds accounted for 25% of dog bite claims and cause more harm when they attack than any other breed. However, critics argue that the company is making a blanket policy of exclusion without considering the individual behaviour of dogs or their owners.

Homeowners with restricted dog breeds may need to explore alternative insurance companies that do not have breed-specific restrictions or consider purchasing separate canine liability insurance to ensure coverage for any potential dog-related incidents.

It is important to note that insurance regulations and restricted breed lists can vary by state and company. Homeowners with restricted dog breeds should carefully review the policies of different insurance companies and consider their options to ensure adequate coverage.

Customers must sign an exclusion waiver for dog bites

Farmers Insurance has changed its policy regarding dog bite liability insurance coverage for certain dog breeds. The company will no longer provide coverage for pit bulls, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids. This means that if a dog of one of these breeds bites someone, Farmers Insurance will not cover the resulting medical bills or other costs.

To continue their policies, customers who own these breeds must sign an exclusion waiver of liability coverage for dog bites. Without this signature, their policies will not be renewed. This change in policy has surprised many dog owners, who feel that the insurance company is discriminating against them and their dogs based on breed, rather than individual risk factors.

By implementing this waiver, Farmers Insurance is effectively excluding certain dog breeds from coverage. This decision has been made based on statistics showing that these three breeds accounted for 25% of dog bite claims and cause more harm when they attack than other breeds. However, some people argue that the insurance company should adopt a policy that considers the individual owner and dog, rather than a blanket exclusion.

It is important to note that Farmers Insurance is not cancelling existing policies for customers with these dog breeds. However, when the policies lapse, homeowners will not receive liability coverage for dog bite claims if they renew their policies with Farmers Insurance. This change in policy highlights the potential financial implications for dog owners whose dogs are considered restricted breeds by insurance companies.

The three breeds are pit bulls, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids

Farmers Insurance has recently changed its policy regarding dog bite liability insurance coverage for certain dog breeds. The company has decided to stop providing coverage for three breeds: pit bulls, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids. This decision has surprised many dog owners, as Farmers Insurance is not cancelling existing policies, but instead, requiring customers with these breeds to sign an exclusion waiver of liability coverage for dog bites. Without this signature, the policy will not be renewed.

Pit bulls, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids are considered dangerous breeds by some, and they account for a significant number of dog bite claims. According to Erin Freeman, Farmers' chief communications officer, these three breeds accounted for 25% of dog bite claims and cause more harm when they attack than any other breed. This change in policy has been seen as a tactic to discourage dog owners from owning these breeds, as breed bans are illegal in California.

Farmers Insurance's decision has sparked controversy, with dog advocates arguing that the company is condemning these breeds without considering individual dogs' behaviour or allowing owners to prove their dogs are not vicious. While the company justifies its decision based on risk analysis and dog bite statistics, critics argue that the focus should be on individual dogs' behaviour rather than their breed.

This change in policy highlights the challenges faced by owners of certain dog breeds when it comes to insurance coverage. It is important for dog owners to be aware of their insurance company's policies and restrictions regarding dog breeds to ensure they have adequate coverage in case of any incidents.

These breeds accounted for 25% of dog bite claims

Farmers Insurance has stopped covering dog bites for certain breeds, asking owners of pit bulls, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids to sign exclusion waivers of liability coverage for dog bites. The company's chief communications officer, Erin Freeman, stated that these breeds accounted for 25% of dog bite claims and caused more harm when they attacked than any other breed. This decision has been met with criticism, with dog trainer Candy Clemente stating that Farmers Insurance is "condemning these breeds indiscriminately without giving the homeowners a chance to prove their dogs are not vicious."

The change in policy has surprised many dog owners, who feel discriminated against based on their dog's breed rather than their individual responsibility or risk level. One owner, Dawn Capp, expressed her disappointment, stating that insurance companies should consider the individual owner and the dog's overall behavior rather than solely focusing on the breed.

Farmers Insurance is not the only company with breed restrictions. Other major insurance companies like Allstate, GEICO, Nationwide, and Travelers also have dog breed restrictions in some form, although the specific terms and conditions may vary by state. These restrictions can include higher rates, exclusions from coverage, or reduced coverage for certain breeds.

It is worth noting that some states, such as Connecticut, New York, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, prohibit or limit breed-based home insurance restrictions. Additionally, some insurance companies, like State Farm, do not consider dog breed when providing quotes for home insurance, focusing instead on the dog's bite history.

The decision by Farmers Insurance to exclude certain breeds from coverage highlights the ongoing debate surrounding breed-specific legislation. While insurance companies defend their decisions based on risk assessment and claim statistics, dog advocates argue that breed should not be the sole factor in determining coverage.

Dog advocates are fighting back against breed-specific legislation

Breed-specific legislation (BSL) refers to laws that ban or restrict certain types of dogs based on their appearance, usually because they are perceived as dangerous. These laws are often ineffective, expensive, and difficult to enforce, and they interfere with citizens' property rights. Dog advocates argue that BSL is discriminatory and that it is the behaviour of both the dog and the owner that should be targeted by legislation, not the breed of the dog.

In the US, BSL most frequently targets "pit bull types", but other breeds that are also sometimes banned include Rottweilers, Dobermans, and boxers. However, it is extremely difficult to determine a dog's breed or breed mix simply by looking at it. A study by Dr Victoria Voith found that in 87.5% of adopted dogs, breeds identified by DNA analyses were not the breeds stated by the adoption agencies. Animal shelter workers were only able to correctly identify a dog's breed 12.5% of the time.

In 2014, a national survey conducted by Luntz Global revealed that 94% of Americans don't believe that the government should dictate what breeds of dog they can own. As of 2019, 22 states had passed provisions against breed-restrictive legislation, and this number is increasing.

Dog advocates are fighting back against BSL by proposing alternative solutions to protect public safety. These include:

• Enforcing generic, non-breed-specific dangerous dog laws, with an emphasis on chronically irresponsible owners.
• Enforcing animal control ordinances such as leash laws.
• Prohibiting dog fighting.
• Encouraging neutering for dogs not intended for breeding.
• Implementing school-based and adult education programs that teach pet selection strategies, pet care and responsibility, and bite prevention.

Advocates also suggest that, rather than breed-specific laws, safe communities should be created by holding reckless owners accountable for dogs who are dangerous. They argue that it is the behaviour of the owner that is the root of the problem, and that communities deserve comprehensive dog laws that demand responsible dog ownership and hold reckless owners accountable.

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