Comments on: If someone’s dogs kill my cat, does their homeowners insurance cover it?

By: dmarie2101

dmarie2101 — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:00:30 +0000

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 ***** 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.

By: skeezycheeses

skeezycheeses — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:18:00 +0000

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.

By: Lynn L

Lynn L — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:08:20 +0000

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)

By: Happy Little Trees

Happy Little Trees — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:43:06 +0000

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.

By: HuntingMan

HuntingMan — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:34:52 +0000

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.

By: Goldengal

Goldengal — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:03:38 +0000

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.

By: Krazeekerri

Krazeekerri — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:35:34 +0000

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.

By: coolhandven

coolhandven — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:51:38 +0000

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.

By: Bethy

Bethy — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:19:24 +0000

#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.

By: hah

hah — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:15:11 +0000

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.