A dog bite can be stressful for everyone involved. It can also create an unexpected insurance problem.
We’ve recently worked with Connecticut households whose homeowners insurance was cancelled or non-renewed following a dog bite claim. While finding replacement coverage can be more difficult and more expensive, a prior bite doesn’t necessarily mean there are no options.
The important question isn’t only “Where can I find insurance?”
It’s also “What can I do to reduce the chance of this happening again?”
Start With Responsible Dog Ownership
After a bite, an insurance company may want to understand not only what happened, but what has changed since the incident.
Depending on the circumstances, a dog owner might consider:
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Having the dog evaluated by a veterinarian and, when appropriate, a qualified trainer or behavioral professional.
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Following any requirements or recommendations from animal control.
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Using a leash and appropriate restraint outside a secure area.
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Reviewing fencing, gates and other potential escape points.
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Establishing procedures for securing the dog when visitors, contractors or delivery drivers arrive.
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Supervising interactions with children and unfamiliar people.
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Keeping records of training, evaluations and other steps taken after the incident.
The goal isn’t simply to satisfy an insurance company. It’s to identify how another incident could occur and take reasonable steps to reduce that possibility.
Think Beyond the Fence
Containment is important, but no single solution addresses every situation.
A physical fence or secure enclosure can provide separation between the dog and people approaching the property. An invisible or electronic fence may help keep a dog within a boundary, but it doesn’t physically prevent a delivery driver, neighbor, child or another animal from entering the dog’s space.
Think instead about layers of protection.
For example, a package delivery box positioned near the entrance to the property may reduce the need for delivery drivers to approach the house. Appropriate dog warning signage can alert visitors before entering an area where the dog may be present. Gates, locked entrances and a routine for securing the dog before opening the door can provide additional safeguards.
The better question isn’t simply, “Is my dog contained?”
It’s “How can I reduce unnecessary interactions between my dog and people entering the property?”
Who Else Has Care, Custody or Control of Your Dog?
Consider anyone who regularly handles or cares for the dog:
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Dog walkers
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Pet sitters
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Family members
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Neighbors
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Other regular caregivers
They should understand the dog’s history and the procedures you’ve established.
Keeping a list of regular caregivers, along with information about training, containment and other precautions, can also help create a more complete picture of how the dog is being managed following an incident.
Liability Can Also Be About What You Didn’t Do
Responsible ownership isn’t only about controlling the dog at the moment something happens.
Questions can also arise about precautions that weren’t taken.
Was a damaged gate left unrepaired? Was a known escape route not addressed? Was the dog left unsecured when a visitor arrived? Were recommendations following an earlier incident ignored?
None of these circumstances automatically determines legal responsibility. Every incident is different.
But they illustrate an important risk-management principle: responsible ownership involves identifying known concerns and taking reasonable steps to address them.
Create a Responsible Dog-Owner Profile
If you need to find homeowners insurance after a dog bite, gathering information in advance can help an insurance professional understand the situation.
Consider documenting:
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When and how the bite occurred
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Whether there were previous incidents
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Veterinary or behavioral evaluations
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Training completed since the incident
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Improvements to fencing, gates or containment
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Warning signage
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Delivery and visitor procedures
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Regular dog walkers, pet sitters or other caregivers
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Compliance with animal-control requirements
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Other steps taken to reduce the possibility of another incident
These measures don’t guarantee that an insurance company will accept the risk. Insurance companies have different underwriting guidelines.
But they can help demonstrate that the incident was taken seriously and meaningful steps have been taken to manage the risk going forward.
What About Your Homeowners Insurance?
A dog bite history can make homeowners insurance more difficult to place. Different insurance companies have different guidelines regarding dogs, bite histories and animal liability. Often the excess market is the only option available.
In most circumstances, securing stand-alone animal liability coverage while separately finding appropriate homeowners insurance will be the necessary path.
We’ve successfully used this approach in some situations, but it isn’t a solution for every household. Coverage availability, limits, exclusions and underwriting requirements vary.
A bite claim is also a good reason to review your overall liability protection. Depending on the circumstances and available coverage, that conversation may include whether an umbrella or excess liability policy should be considered.
Importantly, don’t assume an umbrella automatically provides coverage for a dog or fills a gap created by another policy. The policies need to be reviewed together.
Don’t Wait Until Your Coverage Ends
If you’ve received a cancellation or non-renewal notice following a dog bite, start addressing the situation early.
Gather the information surrounding the incident. Document the steps you’ve taken since then. Address containment and visitor access. Understand who regularly handles the dog. And give your insurance professional time to investigate available options.
Finding another insurance policy is important—but so is demonstrating what you’ve done to reduce the possibility of another incident.
A dog with a bite history may present a more difficult insurance risk. Responsible ownership means showing what has changed since the bite.
Insurance Considerations
This resource highlights insurance and risk-management issues dog owners may want to consider following a dog bite or animal liability claim. It does not guarantee insurance eligibility or determine how a particular policy will respond. Coverage, exclusions, underwriting requirements and availability vary by insurance company, policy and individual circumstances. Speak with your insurance professional about your specific situation.
