The city of Schenectady might require dog owners to have general liability insurance in case their pooch bites or mauls another animal or person. This proposal is not just for dogs on a list or individual dogs who have been labeled as dangerous due to past incidents. This is a blanket policy that would cover every dog over 20lbs. For home owners with proper insurance chances are as long as your insurance company knows about your Golden Retriever or Greyhound your dog is most likely covered under your existing policy. Though there are some insurance companies that will not insure specific breeds already so it would likely be a slippery slope for those who are Renting and would need to go out and get coverage for their dog. Those renting and wanting to buy a policy for their Brittney Spaniel would likely pay about $100 – $200 per year meaning it would be an expense but something that might be able to be included in your household budget. Those trying to get an insurance policy on their Mastiff or Rottweiler would probably have to get very specialized insurance which could cost many times that amount in effect highly penalizing someone for their choice of breed whether that dog has its CGC or is a Delta Therapy Dog or just a couch potato.
The proposal basically says without saying that every dog in Schenectady over 20lbs is a dangerous dog. Is that a place you would want to live with your pet?
The city already knows that those who would comply are not the ones that they are really worried about anyway. They know that past dog attacks have for the most part come from dogs who are not licensed or properly vaccinated so the new proposal wouldn’t do much to the very people they want to target. They also know that the only way to fine someone who does not get insurance on their dog would be after an attack or incident as trying to monitor this new law any other way would cost the city even more money then they already spend on Animal Control each year. If they could monitor and properly enforce their license law the truth is they could weed out the problem owners. Those who just want to own specific breeds because they are imposing intimidating or cool.
If this proposal wasn’t bad enough there was a second one against dog owners. The proposal is to take the wait period on dog’s picked up as strays from 8 days to 3 days. Dog’s not picked up by the 3rd day would either be put up for adoption or euthanized. Dog’s adopted out after the 3 days would legally belong to the new owner whether you were out of town and the dog got loose while the pet sitter was watching them or if you actually live in another city and somehow your dog managed to get out of your fence and make it to Schenectady with or without help.
Hmmm what about the little dogs that bite?? I think the idea is good actually but it shouldn’t be limited to dogs over 20 pounds.
My cousin’s son was bitten by the neighbors dog a couple weeks ago. They take no responsibility for it. They deny that their dog bites. Poor boy has a nasty wound that was left open for the infection to drain and heal on it’s own. I don’t know that every dog owner should require insurance but there should be some consequence for the owner.
Actually I think this is an awesome idea! Our daughter was attacked by a dog almost 3 years ago and they were uninsured. It has been an uphill battle to get her bills covered by them. There is no excuse for not covering yourself with insurance. Our daughter was 6 at the time and is still undergoing treatments and surgeries for her attack. I wish this bill would be in every city in every state!
I, too, agree that this proposal is a good idea. I think it should be for all dogs, though, regardless of size. People with bigger, more aggressive breeds of dogs should pay more for insurance. Just like people with faster, or more expensive cars pay more for insurance. I don’t agree with lowering the 8 day waiting period to 3 days, though. As you pointed out, there could be other reasons for the dog being out, which would not necessarily make them a “stray”.
Boy, I sure hope we don’t get a law like that HERE! Mom wouldn’t be able to afford to keep us. 🙁
I think it makes sense to require insurance if the dog has a history of biting but to force people with well trained, well behaved dogs to buy expensive insurance based on their dog’s WEIGHT is ludicrous!
Talk about BSL…
HERO
I’m not really sure what I think about the whole thing. It’s iffy I suppose.
But regarding the “Only 20+ lbs” is absolutely ridiculous. I have 2 big pitbulls, and I am so sick and tired of the stereotype. IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE DOG IS TRAINED! A little dog can be more vicious than a big dog! I have never been hurt, or bitten by a big dog, I can however think of 4 separate occasions where I have been bitten (2 times blood was actually drawn) by a dog well under 20lbs.
People need to open their minds and realize big dogs are not bad!
I don’t think a law like this would fly, they even state in the article that the ones who SHOULD get the insurance wouldn’t and the only way you would know if after the dog attacks. All a law like this would do is punish the responsible owners who actually take care of their dogs.
That’s actually a pretty good idea…however, I know some people that couldn’t afford that though they love their dogs as family.
Thanks for sharing the info. I’ll be passing it along.
Blessings,
Kristine