You might not know it, but home insurance and animals often have a complicated relationship. What kinds of things can be covered, and what aren’t? From a loyal pet’s mishap to an invasion of pests, there are plenty of questions about where your home insurance can step in. Knowing the basics can help you understand which risks are yours to manage and which fall under your policy’s protection.
Most home insurance policies provide liability coverage for injuries caused by pets, such as dog or cat bites that harm other people. This coverage generally includes medical bills, legal expenses, and even settlements if your pet injures a visitor on your property or someone away from home. However, coverage can vary widely based on your insurer, the type of pet you have, and your pet’s history.
Some insurance providers impose breed restrictions or may exclude certain breeds. Additionally, pets with a history of aggression or households with multiple animals may face exclusions or limits on animal-related claims. This means liability coverage may not extend to all pets equally. If you have questions about coverage, consult your insurance agent or broker for clarification.
This question has two differing types of property damage:
If your pet damages someone else’s property, your home insurance’s liability coverage may help cover the costs to repair or replace the property—whether it’s a dog knocking over a neighbour’s statue or a cat scratching a friend’s sofa. This coverage can prevent unexpected out-of-pocket expenses, but there are often restrictions. Some policies exclude certain breeds or high-risk pets, or place caps on payout amounts for pet-related damage.
If your pet damages your own property—such as chewing furniture, scratching floors, or tearing up carpeting—home insurance typically won’t cover the repairs. Most policies exclude damage caused by pets to items within your own home, as it’s seen as preventable or part of routine pet ownership.
However, if you have named an item on your property insurance, that item may be covered by your insurance policy. Hearing aids a are common item to be lost, damaged, or event eaten by pets. Naming hearing aids on your insurance can broaden the coverage to include "mysterious disappearance" which can include damage from animals.
Across Canada, there are many different types of pests that start to wreak havoc on a home and their owners. This can include:
After a surprising news story was released in October about a Saskatchewan family being forced out of their home by a colony of protected bats, there were many questions about what home insurance could do to help.
In nearly all cases, the answer is unfortunately no, insurance will not cover the cost to remove animals, nor will it cover the cost to repair or replace damaged property caused by the animals. Generally speaking, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to ensure they have proper measures in place to keep pests and animals out as a part of home maintenance. If animals make it into your home, you as the homeowner will be responsible for their removal and the property damage.
However, like most things in life, there are exceptions to this rule. Large animals that make their way into your home and cause property damage can be covered under your insurance. Animals like bears have the fortitude and ability to get access to your home and cause thousands in property damage in a short amount of time. This type of claim may have animal and geographic restrictions. If you have questions about your coverage options for large animal break-ins, talk to your agent or broker to see if you’re properly covered.
Similar to animals, insects can easily create an infestation in a home and cause thousands in property damage and extermination. These can often include:
Similarly to animal infestations, the answer is almost always no, insurance will not cover insect infestations. Insect damage or removal costs related to insects typically fall under the homeowner’s responsibility, since insurers expect regular upkeep to prevent these issues.
According to the Alberta Beekeeper Commission, there are regional associations that can assist with honey bee removal. If you have a honey bee swarm in your home or on your property, it is requested that the extermination of bees should be considered as a last resort only.
If you have suffered a bed bug infestation, there are a few things that should be noted. A common misconception is that home insurance will cover bed bug infestations if they happen suddenly, but insurers almost always exclude bed bugs because infestations are considered preventable with routine maintenance. Another myth is that bed bugs only infest dirty homes; in reality, they can spread in any environment, regardless of cleanliness. The Alberta Residential Landlord Association has excellent resources on the owner and tenant responsibility in the event of a bed bug infestation.
While termites are not generally as pervasive of an issue in Canada as they can be in our neighbour to the south, long stretches of warm weather have begun to foster an environment where termites can grow. Some simple ways to help prevent termites include:
While we might not like to believe that this level of evil exists in the world, there are cases where someone will deliberately infest a property with insects. If proven, acts like these can result in steep fines, lawsuits, and jail time for the vandal, but the question could be asked: If it is an act of vandalism, will home insurance cover the cost of the damages?
This is an incredibly complicated topic that doesn’t appear to have a clear answer on the legal or insurance front. Generally speaking, it would be incredibly challenging to prove an intentional infestation of your property to the insurance company. It would likely be easier to sue the person responsible for the damages in civil court.
The short answer to this question is no, home insurance will not cover accidents or illnesses to your pet. If your pet were to pass away as a result of a covered home insurance event, some insurance companies will pay for cremation or burial services for a pet.
If you’d like financial protection for your dog or cat getting sick or hurt, Pet Shield Insurance is an affordable option to help cover veterinary bills. They are one of the only insurance companies that cover dental cleanings as a part of their coverage in addition to accident and injury coverage. They offer competitive premiums that don’t go up with the age of your pets, no long-term contracts that you can cancel at any time, and 80% coverage up to your limit for each incident of illness or accident. If your pet is sick 10 times a year, your coverage limit applies to each vet visit individually, not cumulatively through the month or year.
If you're interested in an estimate for pet insurance, click the link below to start an online quote.
Animals and home insurance have an interesting and sometimes complicated relationship. It is even more complicated since nearly all insurance providers have different rules and policy wordings for how coverage and claims are applied. In order to get the most well-rounded coverage that fits your needs, work with an experienced insurance broker to help you get the coverage you're looking for.
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