Dogs Put $489M Bite on Home Insurance Industry

Some dog breeds too risky to cover, insurers say

Though the number of bite claims has not changed much in the past 10 years, costs have risen because medical care costs more. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were close to 27,800 reconstructive procedures, including ones for children, to repair dog bites in 2012. Most homeowners' policies, says the Institute, provide liability coverage of $100,000 to $300,000. If the claim exceeds the limit, the dog owner is responsible for all damages above that amount, including legal expenses. Most insurance companies insure homeowners with dogs, according to the Institute. But some charge more to people owning breeds that an insurer may regard as bite-prone, such as pit bulls and Rottweilers.
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Dog bites officer who was enforcing downtown camping law

According to the article, more than a third of patients presenting to the emergency department with animal bites received inappropriate treatment, that small study found. Among 98 patients seen with bites over the course of a year, only 63 (64%) were discharged on the appropriate antibiotic, according to Stephanie Fenwick, PharmD, of the Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, and Sarah Rotman, PharmD, of the University of Cincinnati. The latest problem with dogbite is the emergence of MRSA [methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus] bacteria as the most common identifiable cause of skin and soft-tissue infections seen in the emergency department. Treatment of dog bite depends on the type of bacteria the "oral flora" that's in the dog's mouth and the bacteria already on the skin of the bite victim. Amoxicillin-clavulanate is recommended as first-line treatment in most instances, she explained. Treatment may include antibiotics. In the study, only 57% of patients were given amoxicillin-clavulanate monotherapy. The wounds treated in the study included 55 dog bites, 29 human bites, and 13 cat bites.
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Martin said dogs tagged as being from a dangerous breed often end up in animal shelters because their owners fear they'll lose their liability coverage. Companies that do discriminate against dog breeds are literally tearing families apart, Temma Martin, Best Friends Animal Society "They're difficult to adopt out for the reason that people feel like they're going to have a hard time in getting home owner's insurance," Martin said. State Farm Insurance Agent Bonita Vanderkooi said her agency gladly covers dogs deemed as risky, but there are two questions they will ask first. They want to know if the dog has ever bitten anyone, and if so, they want to details. Then they also ask if the dogs have been trained for guard or attack purposes.
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Treating dog bites

Pete Simpson with Portland police. Raw video: Homeless man arrested at Terry Schrunk Plaza Thats when 22-year-old Daniel Thompsons dog lunged at the female officer and bit her left arm, Simpson said. Thompson (pictured right) grabbed the dog, and police said he became verbally abusive. He then lost control of the animal, which turned on Thompson and bit his right arm, Simpson said. Police brought a pole and took control of the animal and then arrested Thompson after a struggle with officers. He was issued citations related to the sidewalk ordinance and for his uncontrolled dog. Police discovered Thompson is a registered sex offender in St.
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Homeless sex offender arrested after dog bites cop

Pete Simpson. As Dunbar stopped to take a picture of a campsite, a man's dog lunged at her and bit her on the left arm. "I extended my arm to take a photo of him and the dog just lunged over both of them and came at me (and) attached to my arm," she said. That's when police said the dog's owner, Daniel Thompson, grabbed the animal and started yelling at the officer, Simpson said. The officer had a bruise on her arm, but the dog did not break the skin. While waiting for animal control officers to arrive, Simpson said Thompson continued to yell at the officers. At one point, the dog got loose again and bit Thompson. A sergeant then got the dog under control but Thompson continued to struggle with officers, Simpson said.
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