Civil liability insurance for dogs covers the damage and injuries they may cause to other animals, people or property. But many people do not know whether they are required to take it out. If that is your case, read on.
Civil liability for pets
If you have a pet, whatever it may be, you are obliged to answer for the damage it causes. And if you do not have civil liability insurance for pets, you will have to pay for repairing the damage or compensation for the injuries. This will include medical and veterinary expenses.
Are you required to take out insurance for dogs?
As you can see, taking out pet insurance can get you out of a tight spot. But, despite how useful these coverage mechanisms are, in general you will not be obliged to take them out. Obviously, if your cat does not leave the house it will not cause any kind of problem to third parties; dogs, however, are another story.
Since you walk your dog several times a day and let it play with other animals, there is indeed a risk that it causes damage – especially if it is a potentially dangerous dog. If your dog is classified as such, even if it is a complete softie, you will have to register it and take out insurance.
The powers of the autonomous communities
Remember that the autonomous communities have powers to regulate public safety. Therefore, nothing stops them from passing rules that require you to take out animal insurance even if your dog is not potentially dangerous.
Currently, both the Community of Madrid and the Basque Country have passed legislation to this effect. So if you live there, you already know what you have to do: take out your dog insurance.
Which dogs are potentially dangerous?
As we have seen, the autonomous communities can determine which animals are considered potentially dangerous. However, Royal Decree 287/2002 establishes that, throughout Spanish territory, the following breeds are considered as such:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Rottweiler
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Tosa Inu
- Akita Inu
There are certain characteristics that will cause dogs of other breeds to be considered potentially dangerous dogs (PPP), such as their musculature, weight or level of aggression.
What does owning a potentially dangerous dog involve?
In addition to taking out the corresponding civil liability insurance for pets, you will have to obtain a licence to own a PPP, which will include a physical and psychological examination.
Your dog must wear a muzzle in public places, and you must keep it on a lead or chain shorter than 2 metres. In addition, you can never walk more than two dogs at once. If the animal is on a property, it must be properly enclosed or you will have to keep it tied up. Finally, if your dog were stolen or escaped, you would have to report it to the register within 48 hours.
Remember: civil liability insurance for dogs does not mean the state considers your companion specifically a violent animal, just as it does not consider us all bad drivers. It is simply a precaution. In fact, taking it out would be a good idea for all dog owners.
In short, civil liability insurance for dogs is like third-party insurance for cars. There is also veterinary insurance, which is the all-risk insurance for dogs since it covers the damage, both from an accident and from an illness your dog suffers – that is, it pays the vet’s bills.
