Written by Info Expert on February 20, 2010 | Posted in Pets and Animals

Insurance fraud is on the increase.

All too aware of the problem, major insurance companies like Top Dog Insurance have recently issued a series of warnings to members of the public intent on receiving big payouts for every little incident. The problem relates to all types of insurance, irrespective of whether it be for home, car, or personal injury. As pet insurance is another bone of contention and there have been many cases of people abusing the system, it is relevant to issue a few warnings in terms of dog insurance.

First of all, as with all other types of insurance, shopping around before signing on the dotted line is advisable.

Study the policy carefully. The importance of reading the small print cannot be over-emphasised. Only then will you know exactly what is and what is not covered… in other words, what you can and cannot claim for.

When filling up those forms, don’t try to be clever by pretending your dog cost more than he did. If the insurers find out that you’ve been lying, they are perfectly within their rights to invalidate the policy and pay nothing. Worse, if the matter is serious enough, they could report you to the police, with possible criminal charges following. The police will then start investigating all your other claims.

Negligence is something else insurance companies frown on.

If you’ve left your dog to roam the streets and he causes an accident, that is regarded as an act of negligence and you are unlikely to receive a payout.

An astonishing number of people still think it quite in order to lock the dog out of the house all day while they are at work, keeping fingers crossed that he doesn’t get up to any mischief while they’re apart. On their return, they calmly invite him indoors for dinner, possibly take him for a walk, come back, tuck him up for the night. And then throw him out in the morning after breakfast.

The performance is repeated next day… and the next… and the next. Until there’s an accident.

Leaving a dog to his own resources all day is a gross act of negligence. Apart from anything else, the unfortunate animal could be picked up and taken to the dog pound.

It is illegal to walk your dog off the lead on a public highway. The dangers of doing so are obvious. A boisterous dog bounding along the pavement could all too easily trip someone up.

Another hazard of dogs being allowed off the lead in public places is the animal’s urge to dart across the road to greet another dog or to sniff out a bitch on heat.

Either way, the action is likely to endanger not just the dog’s own life, but that of any drivers swerving to avoid him.

Responsible dog ownership is the only way to avoid all this.

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