Topical Issues

Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, said:    

“While we understand the desire to reduce the number of attacks by dogs, making insurance compulsory for all dog owners is much more difficult than it looks. There is currently no stand alone third party insurance cover for the owners of dangerous dogs, and no desire by insurers to provide  cover against this very high risk. Making it compulsory for pet owners would still not make it compulsory for insurers to offer the cover. While pet insurance policies will usually include third party liability cover for dog owners, this would not cover dangerous dogs as defined under The Dangerous Dogs Act, and other specified breeds.  Some home insurance policies may cover the owners liability but, again, dangerous dogs will be excluded.  

There are also practical issues that would need to be addressed. Even if third party insurance was available, how would such a system be enforced, especially as many of the owners of dangerous dogs would be unlikely to take out insurance, even if it was compulsory. And would someone who was attacked by an uninsured dog be entitled to compensation, and if so from whom?  

We will be setting out our concerns around the insurance aspects of these proposals in our response to the consultation exercise.”