OUCH! The pocket book pain of dog bites under Louisiana law.

Louisiana does not have an automatic free first bite law and therefore it is necessary for homeowners to have adequate homeowner’s insurance, even though the risk of a dog bite is low.

Across the United States, people own approximately 78.2 million dogs. It’s likely that the overwhelming majority of these dog owners treat their pets as a member of the family and provide a very comfortable lifestyle for them. But do we create a safe environment for our pets and those that come in contact with them?

Most of us could not imagine our pets biting a family member, neighbor, friend, acquaintance or even a stranger. We would be mortified.  But it happens. And, when it happens, it can be quite expensive for insurers and dog owners alike.

As an avid dog owner, my purpose for this post is not to cast a negative view of dogs, because as you will see, the risk of a dog bite is fairly low. But instead the purpose is to create awareness that Louisiana does not have a free first bite law and to encourage those concerned to verify they have adequate homeowner’s insurance.