![]() ![]() ![]() It was also legal for home insurance premiums to be raised based on the breed of dog owned. Kathy Hochul signed legislation last October barring the practice. “It really is the biggest myth going that you can determine their behavior.”Īnd those misperceptions have resulted in insurance carriers historically having the right to decline issuing homeowners insurance to pit bull owners and other breeds, including German shepherds or Doberman pinschers, until Gov. “There’s no evidence that any breed of an animal is inherently more violent,” said Ashley Jeffrey Bouck, chief executive officer of the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. ![]() An entire industry has cropped up over the past several decades that encourages the breed's stereotype, critics say, including products like muscle builder and the dog’s image in pop culture, as well as outsized media coverage of attacks.īut advocates contend the breed has been co-opted by irresponsible owners, many of whom view them as a menacing status symbol rather than a beloved pet. "Removing this arbitrary and discriminatory impediment for thousands of responsible New York dog owners is simply the right thing to do," said Bill Ketzer, senior director of state legislation for the ASPCA: Eastern Division, in a statement.Īmong the previously prohibited canines are pit bulls, a breed with a reputation for being aggressive. “It’s not fair to the animals and not fair to the homeowners who want to give their pets loving homes,” said Libby Post, executive director of the NYS Animal Protection Federation.įor pet rescue shelters and animal rights advocates, lifting the restrictions on what they have long contended are unfairly maligned breeds is long overdue. ALBANY - A new state law prohibits insurance companies from refusing to provide insurance to homeowners based on dog breeds, a move that's drawing praise from pet owners who say some dogs are unfairly maligned as inherently violent. ![]()
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