Vicious Dogs Taking Bite Out of Homeowners Profits

With insurers paying out $250 million annually in claims for dog bites in the liability portion of homeowners policies, many are dropping customers and refusing those who own aggressive dog breeds, such as Pit Bulls, Chows, Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Rottweilers and Siberian Huskies, according to the insurance information institute. 

"Those breeds come up most often in claims," said Loretta Worters, a spokeswoman for the institute.  "Most companies insure homeowners who have dogs, unless there's been an incident where the dog has been aggressive and there's been a large claim," Worters said.

In that instance, an insurer probably would suggest that the owner give the dog away.  "If they don't, (the homeowner) may face a higher premium or the nonrenewal of their homeowners insurance policy," Worters said.  "Or, the insurance company may simply exclude the dog from the policy." 

In all lines of insurance, companies paid out about $1 billion last year in claims related to dog bites, the institute estimated.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 800,000 people were treated for bites in 1994, compared with about 580,000 in 1998.