[ewesaidit]

Hi 
having just been made redundant I am contemplating cancelling my pet insurance for my two dogs which is currently costing me about £80 a month (one is 9 now and the other is 7) This is on the basis that I will raid the piggy bank in the unfortunate event that I need to but I would really like to have public liability cover
they are always on a lead unless in a safe open environment but it would still make me feel better to have cover
does anyone know how I can achieve this? - is it possible to add it on to e.g. a smallholder insurance policy         when I changed to a different pet insurance provider a couple of years ago and asked about this when I did the phoning round bit but none of the pet insurers seemed to offer liability cover separately
any ideas welcomed thanks
 

[shygirl]

i had 3rd party only insurance for yrs for my gsd as she used to chase cars. it was about £12 a month with entertainment and leisure.

[doganjo]

I joined the Dogs Trust a few years ago for the main reason that my dogs are insured.  Provided your dogs aren't working Gun dogs they insure them for PL.  As a pensioner I get a reduced rate too.  Not sure how much it is - maybe £25 a year full rate?  You do get begging letters every now and them but I ignore them unless it's something close to my heart that I want to support anyway.

[shygirl]

I joined the Dogs Trust a few years ago for the main reason that my dogs are insured.  Provided your dogs aren't working Gun dogs they insure them for PL.  As a pensioner I get a reduced rate too.  Not sure how much it is - maybe £25 a year full rate?  You do get begging letters every now and them but I ignore them unless it's something close to my heart that I want to support anyway.

thats sounds great,a bit like getting 3rd party ins when you join the pony club. il remember that 

[doganjo]

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/giving/membership/#.UbpSR-fVCSo

Dogs Trust Membership
 
Join today for only £25 a year (or £12.50 if you're
over 60) and get lots of benefits for you and your dog!

With membership of the UK's largest dog welfare charity you'll get such a lot for your money:

Unlimited access to VetfoneTM – a 24 hour emergency advice service from veterinary professionals.
3rd party insurance for your dog – up to £1,000,000 per claim if your dog causes damage or injury to another person, their property or pets (an excess of £200 applies for the UK and £500 in the Republic of Ireland).  For 16 year olds and over.
Peace of mind with our free Canine Care Card. The guarantee that Dogs Trust will take care of your dog should anything happen to you.
Wag! Magazine three times a year – packed full of doggy news, stories and tips.
Plus you'll be helping Dogs Trust give a second chance of happiness to more than 16,000 dogs a year!

[Roxy]

A few years back, two of my dogs chased a fox, and did not return.  Following local radio appeal, someone rang to say they had got among their sheep, and they had shot them.  These dogs had grown up with hens, cows, goats etc.  and walked freely in the fields with us, so this in itself was a major shock hearing 7 sheep had been attacked and had to be destroyed.   
 
Upon the advice of the farmer, he told me to contact my house insurers.  I did so, and was amazed to learn my dogs were covered on the household policy for public liability.  So, the farmer was recompensed through the insurers.

[in the hills]

Roxy, that is a good suggestion.


I'd forgotten until reading your post about a conversation with a lady who owned a spaniel. She suspected that it might chase sheep and only exercised it in a fenced piece of woodland that was well used by many dog walkers. One day it took chase after some sheep that had managed to get in the wood via a broken fence. She lost the dog for several hours and was eventually told by other dog walkers that it had been caught by a local farmer. She was horrified when she went to collect her that she was covered in blood and  had attacked several sheep and led to some drowning in the river. The farmer was very reasonable about it and she had claimed on her house insurance. Don't know any more details of what type house insurance she had but sounds like that is a possibility.

[Roxy]

My house insurance is nothing special - just building and contents.  To be honest, could not see anything in the small print about dogs.  All I did was write a letter explaining what had happened, and we had spent a week hunting for the dogs......which apparantly had been shot the following morning.  I also said I wanted the matter dealt with as soon as possible, as it was distressing to lose my dogs in such circumstances.  I never heard another thing, and the farmer got his money......and my insurance did not go up either!!!

[doganjo]

A few years back, two of my dogs chased a fox, and did not return.  Following local radio appeal, someone rang to say they had got among their sheep, and they had shot them.  These dogs had grown up with hens, cows, goats etc.  and walked freely in the fields with us, so this in itself was a major shock hearing 7 sheep had been attacked and had to be destroyed.   
 
Upon the advice of the farmer, he told me to contact my house insurers.  I did so, and was amazed to learn my dogs were covered on the household policy for public liability.  So, the farmer was recompensed through the insurers.

Best check the small print though, that's not the case with all policies.

[ewesaidit]

        Thanks for all the replies folks, that's great.  Will check out the home insurance situation first then if no joy there the Dogs Trust and E&L options to explore further.    Just remembered that I haven't checked out my smallholder insurance - that might be a possibility too.   
 

[shygirl]

our pup has petplan insurance but as i have customers visiting the farm- he is exempt for 3rd party on our farm (incase he bites them). hes covered away from the farm though. i do have business insurance anyway but i thought it was ridiculous.