Posted on 02/15/2005 12:50:38 PM PST by ambrose
woof
I was asked about my dogs and horses alike by Pemco... they each have their own liabilities.
That pdf graphic accompanying the story lists boxers and mastiffs as "restricted" by at least one insurance company.
Which tells me someone at these companies made their decisions on how the dog looks. I've NEVER met a boxer or mastiff that was anything but overly friendly and extremely loyal and dedicated to its family.
The only reason one would ever attack is in defense of home and family, in which case someone probably has it coming anyway.
Boxers look mean, but are real goofballs.
Insurance is really the only form of socialism that we Americans will abide. We all pay into a large pot, and that money goes to pay the claims of the few. I don't want my company to have to cover liability for something they knew was dangerous anyway, like a dangerous breed of dog. I don't want to have to pay more in premiums because someone else keeps dangerous dogs. If insurance policys began excluding certain breeds of doge, another company would pop up and for a hefty premium they would cover the dogs. Lets say that the premiums were based on the number of claims made based on breed, but deduct from that specialized training that the dog and owner have been through, and how well confiined the dogs are.
Restriction of coverage.... exclusion of dog bite or dog liability claims, for example, would be an excellent way for the company to handle it.
If they put "Pit Bull Mix" on there, I could lose my insurance, not to mention forfeiture if a breed-specific ban ever came into play.
They are both a quarter Pit and half what is listed, so I'm not lying...
I work for one of those insurance companies and we do take "blacklisted" dogs - but they have to meet specific criteria. They have to have obedience training, have a signed certificate from the vet stating that they haven't been aggressive, have to be owned for over 1 year, among other things. As far as I know, the only way a policy would be cancelled or non-renewed is if none of these criteria are met.
My insurance is great - they have no restrictions on dogs. (which is why we can own a Pit & still have a preferred insurance company)
I think this needs to be done on a case by case basis. Individual dog's temperament should be factored into an insurance company's policy in this matter.
Gee, I wonder what they do about seeing eye dogs. Bunch of facists.
I saw that PDF too. It made me want to hug every one of those "dangerous" dogs.
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Amen. The meanest dog I know is a runt white miniature schnauzer. She's killed two cats (and been an accessory to the murder of at least one more), and once treed a sow bear with a cub. She hates other dogs, cats, livestock, people, and every other entity in the universe except her owner, who she barely tolerates.
And then there's her bad points...
Wow, that's one mean dog!
You ain't kidding. She's the only dog I've ever met that I didn't like, and that takes some doing.
"Well, the people who buy assault weapons are probably a lot different than the people who don't."
Brainless bigot.
The scariest run-in with them happened about a year and a half ago. I'd been unloading items from my truck, including my then infant daughter. I had just placed my daughter, who was strapped in her car seat, on the floor of our garage when one of the little monsters just bolted across the street and straight on to our property.
The little creep was headed straight at my daughter, it even came IN TO our garage.
Luckily, the kitchen door was open and my (much bigger dog) Ursa had come out to see what the commotion was about. The schnauzer decided she'd better turn tail. But it took a while for me to calm down after that. Nasty, nasty, nasty little dogs.
It sure is hard to dislike a dog or a cat for that matter.
That sounds like the mini-schnauzer I mentioned. Nasty little beast. Glad everything turned out all right.
In all fairness, one of the sweetest dogs I ever knew was also a miniature schnauzer, owned by the same folks who own the demon schnauzer. When he died about a year ago they were heartbroken, and I was pretty sad myself.
(The folks who own the demon have several other dogs, and all except the demon are treasures. I don't blame them for the demon.)
Other than the creeps that live across the street, I actually haven't met too many mini schnauzers. Although there is another one who lives in our neighborhood. His name is Puccinni and he seems friendly enough.
Recently, I learned that my dad had owned a standard schnauzer some thirty years ago. Friendly dog, but rambunctuous as anything.
I'm reminded of Bill Murray in Stripes: "Folks, avoid the schnitzel, I hear they're using schnauzer!"
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