Editorial: December 15, 2023

Split the Dishes and Maybe the Dog

It is a law in the State of New York that the best interests of a companion animal must be considered when awarding possession in a marital divorce. Companion animals include dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals living in or near the home and cared for by the owners. Not included in the companion-animal list are farm animals or livestock. “Dogs, cats and other companion animals have historically been regarded by New York law as property, much like a bed or desk. This means if a couple gets divorced, the court will recognize the pet as personal property that will be divided between the parties,” according to tullylaw.com.

If Insurance Allows ... Whether They Are Heros Or Not

Two dogs that by their photographs appear to be German Shepherd-like breeds (Huk’s breed not identified) were honored this year. K9 Huk and his canine officer Cheth Plaugher of the sheriff’s office in Jacksonville, Florida, were responding to a vehicle pursuit with gunfire. Huk’s bravery resulted in the loss of a limb. K9 Loki and his canine officer from the Michigan Department of State Police were successful in finding a lost three-year-old. 

While we celebrate these heroic deeds, some homeowners insurance companies would have denied home insurance to the owners of these two dogs. Other insurance companies focus on each dog on an individual basis. In 2021, according to the Insurance Information Institute, there were 17,989 dog-bite liability claims, which resulted in $882 million paid by the insurance companies. The following breeds are responsible for high number of dog-bite claims:

Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls (a term used to include several bull-and-terrier breeds, including American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers), Rottweilers, Chow Chows, wolf dogs and hybrids, Presa Canarios, Akitas, German Shepherd Dogs, Huskies, Mastiffs and Alaskan Malamutes.

But No Matter What … Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and Thank You

As were close out 2023, all of us at Dog News want to take this opportunity to wish you the best of this holiday season and best wishes for a healthy, happy and winning 2024. We thank you for your support.