New law in Arizona may allow insured dogs to walk off-leash

New legislation has been proposed in Arizona that would allow pet owners to walk their dogs off the leash assuming that those animals are adequately insured. Lawmakers in the state are debating whether or not to let people who have insured their pets forgo the current leash laws and homeowner association rules because the coverage will pay for any injuries that could occur as a result of the behavior. Senator Lori Klein (R-Anthem) created the proposed legislation that would negate the current county ordinances that say that dogs on public…

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Animal liability takes a bite out of the insurance industry

Almost one thousand Americans are treated in emergency rooms every day as a result of dog bites. Estimates show that in 2009 insurance companies paid out a total of 412 million dollars in claims for dog bites. In a survey recently conducted by State Farm, they reveal the states with the highest amount of claims for dog bites. Topping the list was California. According to the State Farm survey, California rated the highest in dog bite claims filed. Last year, California had 369 claims filed on insurance because of dog…

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