Following a number of events involving dogs over the past few weeks, it will no doubt be more difficult to insure dogs that are regarded as dangerous.

While some insurers already refused to insure dangerous breeds, a few more recently decided to tighten their underwriting standards and are no longer willing to insure such dogs.

The breeds that are most frequently regarded as dangerous are pit bulls and Rottweilers. Dobermans are also on the refusal list for various insurance companies.

Please note that owners are responsible at all times for their dogs' behaviour:

• While the animal is under the owner's supervision (e.g. when being walked, when the owner is visiting a third party or at the owner's own home).
• While the dog is under the supervision of a third party (e.g. a neighbour is looking after the dog while the owner is away).
• When the animal has escaped or gotten lost.

The law is very strict with respect to dog owners and is based on "liability without fault". That means that someone who suffers damages due to a dog's behaviour is not required to prove that the owner was personally at fault; the victim only needs to prove that the animal caused damage.

An article (in French) in Journal Métro on June 7 provides a good summary of the approach taken by various insurers in this regard.