Square One warns dog bite incidents are on the rise
Dog-related emergency room visits at a children’s hospital increased nearly 300% after the promulgation of stay-at-home orders in March 2020.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 7, 2021 / CNW / – Lawsuits against dog owners may be rare, but there is evidence that they are becoming more frequent.
According to a study published in The Journal of Pediatrics, dog-related emergency room visits at a children’s hospital increased by almost 300% after the promulgation of stay-at-home orders in March 2020. A recent study of UK found a similar increase.
Several factors can contribute to this, including more time spent at home with dogs and higher stress in dogs due to increased household activity. However, it is also true that more households have dogs now than in 2019. More than a third of Canadian households now have dogs, and the pet industry’s sales increased 5% in 2020. .
Dog bite lawsuits can go on for years and cost tens of thousands of dollars, even if no physical injury has occurred. For this reason, dog owners should note the importance of having insurance coverage that includes dog liability.
“Not everyone is aware that in Canada, many home insurance policies will cover the cost of your defense in the event someone claims to have been injured by your pet, ”explains Stefan Tirschler, Product + Subscription Manager at Square One Insurance Services. “This is essential coverage for any dog owner, because defending against such a lawsuit without insurance can be frightening and costly, even if your dog did not cause any harm.”
Whether they cover dogs or not, many home insurers Canada Learn about dogs during the quote process, often asking if certain breeds are present in the house. It is not because these races are inherently more dangerous. However, certain breeds of dogs appear more frequently in trials than others.
There are several reasons for this. Some dogs are simply bigger than others and therefore can more easily injure a human if they attack. Additionally, public perception of certain breeds may cause someone to feel more threatened by some dogs than others, and take legal action when they might not have done so otherwise. .
With this higher frequency of lawsuits for certain breeds, home insurers are increasingly likely to ask questions about dogs in the home, as they can charge a higher premium in exchange for dog liability coverage, for example. example.
It is important for dog owners, new and old alike, to be aware of the risks associated with dog aggression and how best to take care of their dog.
“It is essential that anyone adopting or purchasing a dog knows that dogs of all breeds can bite under certain circumstances,” explains Dr. Rebecca ledger. “Focusing on a dog’s breed risks owners letting their guard down and overlooking more relevant factors that are necessary to keep their dog from biting.
“In the vast majority of dog bite cases, the dog responds to a challenge. Most often, dogs bite because they are afraid for their well-being and bite to protect themselves, or when trying to protect a resource that they value, such as territory or food.
“A dog’s propensity to bite in these situations depends on many factors including, but not limited to, his genetics, the type of experiences the dog has had as a puppy and as an adult.” , the level and type of training he has had, his age and also his physical health. “
To learn more about dogs and home insurance coverage, including Dr. Ledger’s tips for managing aggression and caring for dogs, visit www.squareone.ca/dogs.
Contact: Aneel Mattu
Marketing Manager
[email protected]
1.866.331.6933 ext 127
SOURCE Square One Insurance Services