British pet owners paying the price for ‘pet-ty crime'
Britons are internationally renowned animal lovers, however, mixing a four-legged friend with the family sofa can be a costly recipe for disaster.
Home insurance expert Confused.com is calling for home insurance providers to provide greater clarity around cover for damage caused by pets. The call comes in response to a new home insurance study which revealed pets were responsible for over £3.3 billion of damage to UK households during the past year.
The survey, commissioned by the home insurance expert, discovered that up to one fifth of pet owners have experienced significant damage to their homes over the past 12 months, costing them an average of £690.
Pet owners have been forced to fund their pet's destructive habits, with up to 86% of respondents indicating that they were not covered for, or did not know if they were covered for, this type of damage.
Home insurance expert Confused.com has since discovered that none of the major insurance providers cover accidental damage caused by pets.
To combat ‘pet-ty' crime and help protect innocent pet owners, Confused.com is petitioning home insurance providers to encourage them to include pet damage within their current policy offering, in addition to providing updated and clearer policy information to existing customers who may already be covered.
Pet Owners can sign the Confused.com petition in support of home insurance that covers pet damage at confused.com/home-insurance/pet-petition
Mark Gabriel, Head of Home Insurance at Confused.com, says now is the time for insurance providers to step up and share responsibility with pet owners to ensure that their household is equipped to house a furry friend.
"The findings of this study send a clear message to insurance providers that there is a real need for tailored home insurance products for pet owners. The Confused.com petition provides pet owners with an opportunity to tell their insurers what they really want from their home insurance."
The scene of the crime
Almost half (48%) of respondents named the living room as the hub of ‘pet-ty crime', followed by the kitchen (23%), the garden (10%), the hallway and reception area (8%) and the bedroom (7%)
Carpet was named as the number one victim of pet crime - over 90% of respondents reported some sort of damage to their carpets - be it scratched, ripped or stained
If pets can't get to the carpet, they head to the sofa. Scratched, ripped and stained sofas account for 30% of pet related damage
Godfathers of pet crime
Man's alleged best friends, dogs, are the most common pet-ty crime offenders (55%)
The top five pet offenders include cats (29%), budgies/birds (8%) goldfish (2%), in addition to the latest pet trend micro-pigs (2%) Paws tear more than just the sofa apart
Damages caused by a pet to friends' or family's property or possessions has cost their owner an average £790 and in some cases, their relationship with that person
Nearly a third (31%) of those surveyed indicated they were no longer in contact with family and friends because of damages caused by their pet to a friend/family member's property
A quarter of male pet owners said that damage caused to friend's or family member's property had placed a strain on their relationship
Do the crime, do the time
A shocking 15% of owners admitted to giving away or having considered giving away their pet due to the damage they had caused
Over 15% of those surveyed indicated that damage to their home had put them off getting another pet
Prevention vs. Cure
Cat Hughes, pet psychologist from Puppy Professionals, said that most pet crimes are preventable, once you identify and treat the cause of the problem.
"I work with pet owners everyday who have spent time and money trying to create a more harmonious household. Whilst many would find it valuable to have the extra insurance of pet cover, prevention and dealing with the bad behaviour is the best way to protect your property.
"In most cases pets that are bored, under-exercised or worried about being left alone are more likely to cause damage at home."
Hughes suggests the following prevention tips for pet owners suffering from scratched floors and carpets:
1. Provide plenty of activities to keep your pet occupied. Cats love scratching posts and food-dispensing toys are ideal for all pets
2. Check whether your dog is worried about being left alone - scratched floors and carpets can be a sign that they are trying to get to you. If this is the case, practice leaving the dog alone for very short sessions and reward them with a tasty treat
3. Keep claws short the natural way and encourage your pet to exercise outside on a variety of surfaces