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Tips on Finding Homeowners' Insurance
- Shop around. Ask your dog-owning friends which company they use and
if they have had problems. Your dog's national
breed club may also have suggestions.
- Contact the insurance commissioner
in your state. The phone number can also be found in the state government
section of the blue pages of your phone book. The commissioner can provide
you with a list of all insurance companies doing business in your state.
Work your way down the list to find out who can provide you with coverage
that best suits your needs. When you speak to the commissioner, share
your frustration over companies' discriminatory practices. Specifically
ask him or her to review a cancellation or refusal to renew your policy.
Existing law may already prohibit insurance companies from discriminating
by breed, particularly if you live in Pennsylvania or Michigan.
- Agents within the same company may have different policies. Talk to
more than one representative for a particular carrier before giving
up.
- Show that the dog has completed some type of obedience training program, such as AKC's Canine Good Citizen program.
- Contact your state senator
or representative. Discuss your insurance problems and suggest that
he or she introduce legislation prohibiting insurance companies from
discriminating against homeowners based on the breed of dog they own.
The Government Relations department (doglaw@akc.org)
has materials to assist you in these efforts.
- As a last resort, consider buying a separate liability policy or separate
rider to your existing policy that is specifically directed towards
your dogs.
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