Aug 22, 2008 9:57 pm US/Eastern
Lynn Requires Vicious Dogs To Be Insured
News Reporter Jim Smith
LYNN (WBZ) ―
Could your dog be a safety risk to your neighbors? That's the question being raised in Lynn where a controversial dog policy just passed by the city council.
The policy is part of an effort to make the streets a safer place.
The scars on Julie Potter can still be seen eight months after she was attacked by a pit bull while jogging in Lynn.
"There was so much blood," she said. "I could hear horns beeping. I thought it would be over, but it went on forever. The dog kept on going after me."
Attacks from pit bulls and other breeds are so out of control in Lynn that the city will now require owners of vicious dogs and their landlords to take out a $250,000 insurance policy.
One insurance agent told WBZ dogs that have already become vicious are ineligible for insurance.
The list of dogs ineligible for insurance includes Akitas, pit bulls, bull mastiffs, chows, Dobermans, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers.
But exceptions are sometimes made especially if the dogs haven't bitten anyone.
"In addition to the insurance, the city is also considering outfitting dangerous dogs with microchips, tracing the owners immediately if there's a problem.
But for dogs that have already been a problem insurance may be tough to find.
Most insurance companies will include dogs and other animals in homeowner policies.
But certain breeds bring higher premiums, and if the dog bites someone the pet could be excluded from the policy.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
