Italians are a notoriously animal-loving people, so much so that, according to official data, 55% of our compatriots live with dogs or cats. For years the world of insurance has also been addressing them and Facile.it, the Italian comparator of insurance products, has decided to analyze this market which, with as many as 14 million insurable subjects in Italy, has potentially mind-boggling values: overand 532 million euros for civil liability coverage alone.
The cost that dog or cat owners have to bear to insure their four-legged friend is substantially linked to two factors: the age and breed of the animal.
Insure a cat or dog of breeds deemed not at risk it costs less than 40 euros per year (76 euros from the second year onwards), but if our pet belongs to a breed classified as "at risk" the premium can cost up to 60% more.
To define the "risk" are tables that always include breeds such as Pitbull, Rottweiler and Argentine Dogo, even if there are many other variations that lead companies to consider particular types of dogs or cats "risky". It is therefore better to check how the insurance considers our animal before proceeding with the stipulation of the coverage contract.
Interestingly, particularly young dogs and cats (under the age of six months) or elderly (over 10 years) enjoy discounts important compared to their aged counterparts between these extremes; if our pet has already passed the age of six months, but has not yet turned ten, insuring it will cost practically double. Life (insurance) easy then for senior dogs? Actually no: some companies do not accept to insure the animal if it is more than eight years old unless, in some sense, it is already "their customer"; It is therefore possible to enter into the contract if it is a renewal or if you have already been insured for at least 24 months with the company.
It has been calculated that every family with a dog or cat copes with it an average monthly expense of around 300 euros; a sign that the four-legged friend is taken into account, an essential feature also to enjoy the insurance coverage which, in the event that it is ascertained that the dog or cat is mistreated by the owner, is not valid.
Liability coverage related to dogs and cats does not only cover damages which can cause to third parties or their property, but also the health of the animal, while excluding specific cases such as
injuries or illnesses deriving from its use for hunting or clandestine fights, its "professional" use (for example in the case of police or rescue dogs) or the simple non-registration in the canine registry.
As with human beings, dogs and cats can also get sick during the holiday; therefore, if we usually travel with them, we can also take out travel insurance in Fido's name that guarantees further benefits, such as veterinary visits in other states or an assistance service that will inform the owner of the availability of pet facilities friendly.
«Dog and cat insurance», declared Giordano Gala, BU manager of Facile.it, «are an increasingly sought-after product online and offline. This tells the great love of Italians for their animals, but also the growing awareness that insurance coverage can be a great help in many fields of our daily life, including the relationship with our pets.
