Our neighbors 3 dogs attacked our cat and 2 other small dogs this weekend. All 3 animals were in their own yard and there were several witnesses to this in the neighborood. Unfortunately, our cat died yesterday afternoon and we are deeply devastated. Not only have we lost our pet, we have 8 in medical bills. The neighbors have offered to pay but, they are more than likely not going to since they have 2 other animals vet bills as well. After speakin with the other 2 neighbors about their pets, they are roughly looking at over 00 from the 3 animals that their dogs attacked. I have tried to read online about homeowners insurance covering this and can only find discussions on the fact if you own certain breeds that your insurance will not write your homeowners policy. Does anyone know if their homeowners insurance would cover this issue or have advice on the best way to pursue this issue?
I am adding this detail to the posting as many of you have asked if this has been done. One of our neighbors did call animal control and 2 of the 3 were taken. The 3rd one was still running wild and could not be found. Yesterday afternoon our neighbor noticed that the dog was now in their owners back yard in the fence. We called animal control and they advised that there was nothing more they could do on the 3rd one? We were puzzled and didn’t ask anymore questions just assuming he was going on a law. We took the receipts to the owners and they told us that the other 2 dogs were going to be placed on a farm instead of being put down/ This is very frustrating knowing they they make gang up on animals there as well. I understand their pain as well being that they are their pets but it just doesn’t seem right to put them back in another potential situation of attaching other animals and that the 3rd dog is still in the neighborhood. Thanks to all responses and condolences.
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If someone's dogs kill my cat, does their homeowners insurance cover it?
Home | Insurance | Blog article: If someone’s dogs kill my cat, does their homeowners insurance cover it?
Bethy 1:01 pm on November 23, 2009 Permalink
#1 the dog that killed all of these animals should be put down and will be put down if you call animal control. there is no reason that this animal should be "loose" or alive.
and yes i do care about animals very much.
#2 no. homeowners will not cover this.
#3 they, the neighbors, should cover the cost of medical bills
#4 if they do not cover the cost of the medical bills i suggest you take this to small claims court ASAP
this happened with my dog…well he got attacked…my neighbor immediately told us she would cover the vet bill…we gave her the reciept of the the bill and she paid in full.
hah 1:01 pm on November 23, 2009 Permalink
Yes, it should, but that will involve alot of work, take em to small claims court and go for the max……this is an unforgivable situation…sorry for you.
coolhandven 1:01 pm on November 23, 2009 Permalink
It is not your concern HOW they pay but THAT they pay. Take them to small claims after filing a report with the local dog authorities (different everywhere) you could ask the local vet or pound how to go about doing this.
Krazeekerri 1:01 pm on November 23, 2009 Permalink
Oh I am so sorry about your cat. That must have been horrible for you. I don’t know if their insurance will pay, but did you contact the police just to let them know what happened. Are the neighbors going to do anything about these menace dogs? What happens if they attack a child next?
Once again, sorry for your loss.
Goldengal 1:01 pm on November 23, 2009 Permalink
Unless there is a specific mention in their insurance policy to cover this than no it’s not covered by their policy. Sorry!
Why haven’t the 3 of you call the dog warden or someone in your area to report this?
I’d present the neighbor with the bill and stand their until he writes a check out in front of you.
HuntingMan 1:01 pm on November 23, 2009 Permalink
Really sorry to hear about your cat. That has to hurt really deeply. Makes it even worse that it dragged out and she had alot of pain.
You can talk to your neighbors’ insurance agent and see what their policy covers. It’s not a standard coverage with some policies, but it is with others. In Michigan there are companies that will only cover animal bites to people but not to other animals. Also make sure you file a police report and cover all of your bases now. You’re going to need documentation up the wazoo because the odds are high that you might end up hiring a lawyer with your other neighbors and all suing the dogs’ owners in court. If that happens, you’ll need the paper trail in place now to make your case stick then.
Happy Little Trees 1:01 pm on November 23, 2009 Permalink
I do not know about the homeowner’s insurance, but I do know you need to call animal control right away to register reports. Also call the local police. There are leash laws. Try to petition other neighbors to do the same. If they are attacking pets, they will also start attacking people. If you see the dogs out, call the pound to pick them up asap. That will force the owners to have to pay money to pick them up. Rough dogs do not need to be about. We lost our beloved 16 year old cat to a neighbor’s two dalmations (10 years ago tomorrow to be exact)..the owner let them loose all the time..they killed neighborhood cats, maimed a rottweiler puppy for life, and then began attacking people. We called every time we saw them about. I sued the owner for emotional damages and used the money to help a no-kill shelter.
Eventually, a neighbor had enough and shot the dogs..sad but everyone got so tired of the negligent owner. I am so very sorry for your loss..please consider getting free legal advice.
Lynn L 1:01 pm on November 23, 2009 Permalink
Sorry about youre cat and the other dogs. I am a stay at home mother and love to watch court shows. You can’t even imagine how many cases like this are on there. Give them a certain amount of time to pay your vet bill, say a month. If they do not then take them to small claims court. And make sure you put in there that they pay the court costs for you having to take them do not ask for pain/suffering, no one ever gets that for losing a pet like that.(thay should) Keep track of everything, if you call them keep the phone bill with their number on it, if you contact them by letter keep a copy, if you have witnessess see if they will come on your behalf and testify, always take someone with you if you go to their house and discuss payments(another witness) to hear and see everything. if you see the last dog running around, if you can get it to come to you, tie it up and call the authorities, depending on where you are they should get warned and then fined everytime therafter. Sooner or later the authorities will get sick of getting called and do something about it. I can’t believe they haven’t already. You could try a petition, around the neighborhood, dangerous dog attacked other animals should be humanley euthanized, and then take that to the authorities. At least now you only have one to worry about not 3. You could try talking to your city council too, they might do something. Good Luck!! I do not think homeowners insurance cover that, I think they cover expenses if you have a dog that bites someone and you get sued(I think)
skeezycheeses 1:01 pm on November 23, 2009 Permalink
As an insurance agent, I can tell you that as far as the rules go in Georgia, their homeowner’s insurance would proabaly not cover the expenses associated with the passing of your cat…even though they really should. I would consider small claims court. I know it’s not about the money, it’s about the loss of a loved pet, but they should have to be responsible in some way.
dmarie2101 1:01 pm on November 23, 2009 Permalink
A lot of times it depends on if the dogs were added into the policy. Some companies are different and won’t cover pets, while other companies require you to "add them in" and still others do cover it. Just look into it and see. If it doesn’t the only thing you can do is take them to small claims court and even then it’s not for sure they will pay, but that would be best because then you have legal documentation that they owe you the money and they can’t screw you like they could if you didn’t. Very sorry about your cat and dogs, I hope the dogs recover. The animal control worker you talked to was full of sh*t. I live in a town that doesn’t have a leash law, and the only way they will come pick a dog up is if it’s a threat, which this one has proved itself to be. Call the police station and ask to speak to the animal control officer on duty. Tell him what’s going on and I bet you get a different answer, but if you don’t go over them to the commissioner. And make a report about the incident with your dogs and cat. Good luck.