Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Animals? (Dogs, Cats, Chickens, and Exotic Pets)

Pets and animals can be an important part of any home. We would know, as the Berry Insurance team would feel incomplete without our office dogs Shredder and Rider!

Whether dog, cat, or something entirely unique, it’s understandable you want to assure your beloved companion is protected if they are ever harmed, or if they harm property or others. With such a variety of pets to choose from, you may be wondering how home insurance would cover your family’s specific pet situation. 

In this article we’ll review how different pets are covered by home insurance and other options you can look into for protection. 

Are pets covered under homeowners insurance? 

Personal liability coverage on your homeowners insurance policy protects you when someone is injured on your property and sues you for liability, covering medical expenses or any legal fees/settlements. This coverage typically extends in regards to your pets injuring another person or property. This also applies outside of your property, such as at a park or friends house.

However, there may be restrictions on coverage from your insurance provider for your pet or its specific breed. This makes it crucial to update your insurance agent on any new pets on your property, so you can be certain of what coverage you will receive in the event of a claim.  

What pet-related issues are not covered by homeowners insurance?

As your homeowners insurance would typically only cover pets through personal liability to others, your policy would not cover damage to your own home caused by your pets. 

So, if your dogs tear up your sofa while you are away or your cat knocks down every breakable object on a high shelf, it would not be covered by your homeowners policy. 

It is also important to note that pets' illness or injury is also not covered by homeowners insurance policies. Instead, separate pet insurance is offered as an additional policy to help cover medical and wellness care for your pets. 

Homeowners' policies may also lack coverage for situations involving pet theft or death. While some carriers may offer small amounts of coverage if a pet is stolen or runs away, it is usually not included in standard policies. We recommend tracking microchips, specifically designed collars, and keeping a close eye on your pets to thwart any would-be thieves. 

How does homeowners insurance handle different types of pets? 

As there has been a significant increase of individuals keeping unique or exotic pets on their property, a pets coverage on a homeowners policy is never clear cut. 

Insurance carriers can limit or deny coverage if the assessment of the pets breed or history proves to be too much of a risk to insure. 

Cats and dogs:

As they are both more common housepets, cats and dogs are treated similarly by insurance providers. Both are typically covered by personal liability coverage if they bite, scratch, or harm another's body or property in or outside of your home. 

However, when insuring cats and dogs, agents and insurance carriers will take in the pets history of bites or other past damages caused by the pet for determining whether or not they pose too big of a risk to insure. 

Insurance carriers will usually have restrictions based on certain breeds that are deemed to be violent, aggressive or exotic. For example, home insurance can be limited on homes with cats deemed more exotic, such as Savannah, Bengal, or Egyptian Mau. Similarly, most insurance carriers will have restrictions based on dog breeds such as Pit bulls, German shepherds, and many others. 

As dog bite claims rank as one of the most common home insurance claims, it’s important to make sure you will be covered if your dog ever causes damage or injury. For the full list of restricted dog breeds and how dog bites are handled by homeowners policies, check out this article: Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Dog Bites?

Chickens (and backyard animals): 

If you keep chickens or other common farm animals, such as pigs or goats, in your backyard then your insurance provider may extend liability coverage for any damage to others they could cause. As this can vary between carriers, we recommend reaching out to your insurance agent or provider to discuss your specific situation and policy. 

If you are raising these chickens or other animals with the intention of using them in a business venture, such as selling eggs or milk at a local farmers market, then your coverage may be limited under a homeowners policy. You would instead have to look into business insurance coverages, either through home-based or full commercial policies. 

To cover possible chicken or backyard animal theft or death, you may be able to get a specialty farm insurance policy, but we do not offer that at Berry Insurance. 

If you’re wondering about coverage for any external chicken coops or pens on your property, they would be covered under “other structures” on your homeowners policy. 

Exotic pets: 

Numerous types of pets can be considered “exotic” by insurance carriers, even some you may be surprised about. To insurance carriers, the term “exotic” can refer to any animal that is not domesticated or a farm animal. This can even include common pets like hamsters or gerbils, depending on your insurance provider and their restrictions. 

Liability insurance coverage to exotic pets can vary depending on the type of pet and how much risk an insurance carrier views them as. Even the most tamed or domesticated exotic pet can still be a potential threat to others, leading to costly insurance claims or lawsuits. 

Exotic pets that would likely not be excluded: 

• Ferrets
• Fish
• Small birds
• Rodents (hamsters, gerbils, rats, etc.)

Exotic pets that would likely be excluded: 

• Certain snakes
• Most reptiles
• Monkeys
• Big cats

If you are unsure if your specific pet would be considered exotic, or if it would qualify for coverage on your homeowners policy, reach out to your insurance agent today to see how you and your pet are covered. 

Adding personal umbrella coverage to your policy can be useful if you are looking to cover any pets with added risk exposure. 

Covering your pet

Pets can help to fill a home with love and wonderful memories for you and your family. But it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to owning any type of pet. Updating your policy for any new furry, feathered, or scaly member of your family is recommended to make sure you know how you will be covered in the event of claim.

If you are interested in acquiring a separate pet insurance policy to protect their own health and wellness, it’s great to know which insurance provider would be the best for you. For our recommendations of the top 5 insurance providers that offer pet insurance, read this guide:5 Best Pet Insurance Companies for MA Pet Owners.