… and is it worth it?

Pet ownership brings huge rewards but it also carries extensive responsibilities. One question many owners ask themselves is whether pet insurance is really worth it?

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) only around 40% of pet owners in the UK have pet insurance. Yet ABI members paid out more than £1billion in claims for the third consecutive year in 2024. So with vets fees seemingly continuing to rise, it is worth asking yourself : can you afford not to be insured?

Why many pet owners choose insurance

While pet insurance is a personal choice, many dog owners decide to take out cover for peace of mind. A suitable policy may allow you to make decisions about your pet’s care without worrying solely about the treatment cost at what would inevitably be a very stressful time.

You should do your homework before you take out insurance.  Points you may wish to consider include:-

• The cost of the policy
• The scope of cover (what’s included)
• The terms and conditions (what’s excluded)
• >The insurer’s reputation for handling claims

Why would a firm of Solicitors want to promote pet insurance

Why wouldn’t we!  In particular, you should consider the importance of having third party liability cover as part of that pet insurance (also known as public liability insurance) as we’ve seen too many cases where someone doesn’t have cover and the impact it can have. Not every pet insurance policy includes public liability cover so bear this in mind if having this cover is important to you. From our experience, the absence of third party liability insurance can have serious financial and legal consequences for pet owners.

Some of the risks of not having third party liability cover

We frequently act for dog owners who have no cover for third party liability claims so have first hand experience of the problems that can arise if there’s a claim for compensation, most commonly from a dog bite incident.  In those circumstances, owners may face risks, such as:-

• There’s unlikely to be Legal Aid available to defend the claim
• Even if you successfully defend the claim, you generally can’t get back your legal costs if the Claimant was being advised on a ‘no win, no fee’ arrangement
• Can you imagine how stressful it can be if you don’t have the back-up of an insurer to deal with the claim

If liability is established, enforcement could be by various methods, including:-

• • Recovery of money directly from your bank
  • Attachment of earnings to take the money from your salary
  • A Charging Order against your home
  • Bankruptcy proceedings
  • Bailiffs attending to seize your belongings

Provided you have the right cover, these outcomes can often be avoided.

Key questions to ask when considering third party liability cover (NB not all of these will necessarily be relevant to you, and so you need to determine what, if any, of these issues are relevant for your particular circumstances):

• What is the amount of cover available?
• How much is the policy excess?
• Are you covered if you take the dog into work?
• Are you covered if you’re looking after a dog for a friend or family member?
• Does the policy protect you if fostering or volunteering for a rescue?
• Are you covered if you’re paying for someone else to look after your dog?
• What is the position with family members or invited visitors who are injured?
• Does the policy cover dog bite incidents, and does it also include dog on other animal incidents and damage to property?
• Does the policy also cover representation in criminal proceedings?

Important points to be aware of

• If your dog has had a previous incident, you must notify your insurers before taking out the policy. Failure to do so may mean they could void the policy for material non-disclosure
• You’re probably only covered for incidents that take place during the course of your policy

If there’s an incident (a) you must notify your insurers, and (b) never admit liability or offer to make payment without first having obtained your insurers permission.

Trevor Cooper, Solicitor

How we can help

If you need specialist legal advice in relation to your dog (or cat), please call us at Cooper & Co Solicitors on our landline number of 01227 20 33 20 during normal office hours.  Subject to a conflict check, we can usually offer a fixed fee telephone call for £75 + VAT for up to 20 minutes.

DISCLAIMER

This blog is provided for general information and does not constitute legal advice. You should always seek tailored advice from a suitably qualified and experienced lawyer. We do not sell insurance nor do we recommend any particular insurance provider or policy.

Cooper & Co Solicitors, 19 Palace Street, Canterbury, CT1 2DZ.

Tel : 01227 20 33 20
Email : admin@doglaw.co.uk 
Website : www.doglaw.co.uk

Regulated & authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority | SRA 258139