Insurance for dogs with Compulsory Civil Liability

On September 29, 2023, the Animal Welfare Law came into force and was approved by the Government. This new regulation requires people who have dogs in their care to have dog insurance. Through this Law, the Government seeks to guarantee decent living conditions for companion animals.

What is mandatory dog insurance?

The Animal Welfare Law has brought with it numerous changes with the aim of improving the care and protection of companion animals : the ban on selling dogs, cats and ferrets; the imposition of courses to have a dog and the new control of potentially dangerous dogs (PPP) are some of these modifications. However, the most recent rule is the requirement for dog owners to take out liability insurance for dogs. As contemplated in article 30.3 of the Animal Welfare Law in the BOE: “in the case of keeping dogs and for the entire life of the animal, the owner must take out and maintain in force liability insurance civil liability for damages to third parties , which includes in its coverage the people responsible for the animal, for an amount sufficient to cover the possible expenses derived, which will be established by regulation”. Insurance for dogs was already mandatory in some communities – such as Madrid, the Basque Country and La Rioja – or if the breed of dog was considered dangerous. However, once the regulatory development of Law 7/2023 takes place, all dog owners will have to take out liability insurance for their pets.

What does dog insurance cover?

Dog insurance must be broad enough to cover any possible expenses related to incidents caused by the animal, both to people and property as well as to objects or other dogs. Depending on the company and the breed of the dog, the civil liability insurance for dogs offers capital coverage that is between 60,000 euros and 300,000 euros in damages . In addition, until now, and with the exception of those potentially dangerous, dogs could be included in home insurance. So there is a possibility that owners already have dog insurance and don’t know about it. Allianz Home Insurance protects both your home and most importantly, its inhabitants, including dogs, so if you have Allianz home insurance, your dog’s civil liability is covered. On the other hand, it should be noted that while dog liability insurance covers damage to third parties, it does not cover serious personal accidents. For this, it will be necessary to take out life insurance.

What is the penalty if I do not take out insurance for my dog?

Those people who are in charge of this animal and do not have dog insurance will be subject to “light” penalties. These can range from a simple warning to a fine ranging from 500 to 10,000 euros , as stated in the “Offences and penalties” section of the Ministry of the Interior.

Why do I have to take a course to have a dog?

With the entry into force of the new Animal Welfare Law, anyone who wants to add a dog to their family will not only have to take out civil liability insurance for dogs, but will also have to take a mandatory course. This offers the basic knowledge about raising and maintaining the animal, and can be done both online and at the vet’s consultation. In addition, the training will include a simple test to test what you have learned. The measures adopted by the Government have as their main objective to ensure animal welfare and provide pets with a dignified life. However, it also includes measures that facilitate the coexistence of pets with other people and regulate the obligations of their owners to guarantee it.