- Almost 6,000*i claims made for canine and cat-related incidents during the last 5 years.
- Windows, carpets, sofas and electrical devices are common casualties of beloved furry mates.
- Claims embrace a canine headbutting and smashing a window, a full of life pair of cats smashing a TV, and an overzealous canine spilling paint everywhere in the front room throughout home renovations.
Aviva is warning pet homeowners to ensure they’ve the correct home cowl for his or her wants, after its inside knowledge confirmed a major variety of pet-related home insurance coverage claims during the last 5 years.
According to the insurer, dogs and cats have been accountable for almost 6,000* buyer claims, with home windows, carpets, sofas, and electrical devices resembling laptops, tablets and telephones, all common casualties of beloved furry mates.
Claims embrace:
- a canine who headbutted and smashed a window after seeing one other canine walk previous.
- an brisk pair of cats with the “zoomies” knocking over and smashing a TV whereas their proprietor slept.
- an overzealous canine spilling paint everywhere in the front room throughout home renovations.
Customers recurrently complained of tripping over their cats and dogs, ensuing within the unintended injury of their houses and belongings. However, in a single surprising twist, a canine tripped over a hoover, smashing a mirror to items within the course of.
Aviva additionally noticed quite a few claims from prospects who’ve misplaced gadgets whereas out walking the canine, with gadgets resembling earrings, bracelets, watches, and cell phones topping the record. In some instances, the gadgets misplaced had been significantly costly or sentimental.
Hazel Johnson, Director of Home and Motor Claims for Aviva, says: “With approximately 23 millionii cats and dogs living in homes across the UK, our four-legged friends can inadvertently cause damage to our homes. From curious cats knocking over TVs, to playful pups smashing windows, when it comes to pet-related claims, Aviva has seen them all.
From curious cats knocking over TVs, to playful pups smashing windows, when it comes to pet-related claims, Aviva has seen them all.
“While most home insurance policies exclude damage caused by chewing, scratching, tearing, or fouling by domestic animals, accidental damage cover for other incidents can be a valuable addition to standard home contents policies.
“As our claims data shows, expensive and sentimental items can also go walkies while people are strolling their pooches, so personal belongings cover can be useful, covering the loss of items outside the home, anywhere in the world. For more expensive items like hearing aids and engagement rings, customers should ensure they are specified on their home insurance policies in case they ever need to make a claim.”
Some Aviva home insurance coverage insurance policies do present cowl for belongings which have been swallowed by pets. One such buyer was helped by Aviva after discovering their rings had been eaten by a hungry hound.
Claims dug out from Aviva’s archives present that throughout the many years, prospects have confronted comparable challenges in safeguarding their houses and belongings in opposition to the surprising mishaps of their four-legged buddies.
In 1974, one in every of Aviva’s manufacturers, General Accident, had a declare from a lady who had dropped her diamond engagement ring which had been promptly swallowed by her canine. Similarly, in 1984, General Accident had a declare for an 18-carat diamond and ruby cluster ring and a gold bracelet that had been left on a shelf and eaten by a Great Dane. The declare was initially for complete loss, however the ring ultimately handed by means of the canine, nevertheless solely components of the bracelet had been recovered.
Additional pet-related claims from the final 5 years embrace:
- A love-drunk cat knocked a glass of purple wine onto a carpet after leaping up on the desk the place its homeowners had been seated. The wine additionally broken the partitions.
- The overenthusiastic brushing of a canine’s fur resulted in a diamond being pulled out of a buyer’s engagement ring.
- A buyer put in a declare after their canine jumped on a espresso desk, knocking off their laptop computer, leading to a smashed display.
- A buyer’s diamonds had been left within the dust after their bracelet fell off throughout a canine walk on the seashore.
- A cat with the “zoomies” jumped up on its proprietor, inflicting them to spill a glass of water over their laptop computer.
- Two playfighting Great Danes wreaked havoc by unintentionally knocking a TV off its stand, inflicting it to cease working fully.
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Sources:
i. Analysis of Aviva home insurance coverage UK claims knowledge between 2019 and 2023, referencing ‘dog and cat’ claims labeled as ‘accidental damage’, a complete of 5837 claims.
ii. UK Pet Population: UK Pet Food.
