by Morgan Dixon

Created on: November 05, 2008

Today, Insurance companies are not only worried about if you have a dog, but they are obsessed with the breed of the dog. The idea that some breeds are more vicious than others regardless of training by their owners is ridiculous. Some breeds can get your policy canceled before it's even active. Just a few on the list are; Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers and of course the American Staffordshire Terrier (pit bull). Now of course there have been reports of these particular breeds being involved in vicious attacks. The thing to take note is, what kind of owners were involved in those attacks.

More often then not, they were people who weren't home at the time and the dogs were loose in the yard. Some were people who didn't take good care of their animals and neglected them. Many were owners that didn't have proper fencing or signs telling the public that they had an animal on the property. And it must be said, some were just bad people that trained their pets to be menacing.

In almost all cases the homes were in disarray. Maybe that is the thing that most Insurance companies should be worried about. Not the breed, but if the homeowner has a dog and the yard is in bad condition. If the homeowner has a dog and there is no sign of proper caring for the animal, no dog house or food dish outside. If the homeowner has a dog and the yard is full of feces and waste. It seems that these would be of much more concern to an Insurance underwriter than the breed of the animal.

Lot's of homeowners view their pet as an extra step toward securing their home. The final layer defense for their families. It's a fact that many thieves will bypass a home that has a dog. Also, many homeowners have been awakened by their furry loved ones in the middle of the night when fire or other disaster threatened, allowing them a chance to stop or flea from the danger and call for help. In this light, it would seem that the animal would be considered an ally to the insurance company instead of a major concern.

In the end, who really has the authority to grant acceptance to one species of animal over another? When will the law see that this is just another form of ugly discrimination and put a stop to the practice of blacklisting dog breeds? And really, what degrees or licensing gave Insurance companies the okay to take away the right of man to have his "best friend" by his side in his castle?

Learn more about this author, Morgan Dixon.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.