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There are more than 30 million pets in Germany. In some cases, insurance is only mandatory for dogs. But other owners should also secure their animals.
Almost half of all Germans had a cat, a dog, birds or fish in 2023. According to the Central Association of Zoological Specialists, around 34 million pets live together with people in the apartment. But no matter how nice and great you are, you can also prepare trouble, says Elke Weidenbach from the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center in the Podcast “Gold & Asche: Project Insurance” of the ARD finance editor. “A pet can always cause damage.”
Podcast “Gold & Asche: Insurance Project”
Step by step the most important thing in the world of insurance – with backgrounds and independent, understandable and brought to the point. Together with experts, the ARD finance editor The most important questions in nine episodes: Which insurance companies are a must – which can you do without? And what do you have to consider?
The podcast “Gold & Asche: Project Insurance” will be available weekly in the ARD audio and wherever there are podcasts.
Episode 1: Social Insurance – Basics and Borders (April 9)
Episode 2: statutory vs. private health insurance (April 9)
Episode 3: Liability, KfZ & Pets – What is mandatory, what makes sense? (April 16)
Episode 4: The occupational disability insurance and its alternatives (April 23)
Episode 5: Protect the family correctly (April 30)
Episode 6: Living & Weather Risks – Protection for your own home (May 7th)
Episode 7: Secure health costs – from dental additional dental to sick leave (May 14th)
Episode 8: Strict well -secured and travel (May 21) (May 21)
Bonus sequence: behind the scenes – how insurance ticks (open)
Mandatory Dog owner liability In some federal states
Pet owners basically adhere to the damage caused by the pet – regardless of whether they have done everything right or not. If you have small animals like a hamster or a cat, that's not a problem. Which they are protected by private liability insurance anyway. However, they do not cover damage caused by dog or horses.
For this reason, there are even a duty to liability insurance for dogs and breed. It applies to dog owners in six federal states: Berlin, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. In all others there is also dog liability insurance for certain dogs.
These prerequisites have been softened in recent years, says Henriette Neubert von Finanztip. “But most of the federal states say that you have to have liability insurance for a dog classified as dangerously. This is sometimes a breed. But this is now an individual topic much more often.” For example, if the dog has ever become conspicuous. Or he has a back height of at least 25 centimeters.
All dog owners should conclude liability
If the obligation to liability for dog is disregarded, a fine of up to 10,000 euros threatens. The only federal state that completely dispenses with compulsory insurance is Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. But even if you only have a small dog or live in this state, Neubert advises liability insurance. “It can tear out of the leash, run across the street and cause an accident.” If that happens, costs of several hundred thousand euros can be paid to the dog owner.
A liability can protect against this. Incidentally, this applies not only to dogs, but also to larger other animals for which no liability is provided. When a horse tramples the strawberries from the farmer, the holder also comes up. In the event of a commercial use of animals, insurance is necessary anyway.
The offers for such insurance are relatively similar. However, one should make sure that certain services are in any case included: an appropriate sum insured, the coverage of damage abroad and the co -insurance of damage caused by conditional intent – for example in the disregard for leash obligation – rent axis damage and apartments.
In addition, cover damage should be insured, i.e. if a bitch inherited is pregnant against the will of the owner. This can mean costs for abortion or breeding the puppies. Good policies are available for small dogs from 43 euros a year, and from 60 euros a year for large dogs. According to the finance tip, an animal is usually up to a size of 45 centimeters as a small dog. Depending on the insurer, other classifications are also possible.
health insurance Not recommended for pets
One is the obligation to provide liability insurance. But what if you want to secure the cat or hamster financially from illness? Neubert does not recommend such pet insurance. “It is simply incredibly expensive for the risk that is secured.” For a tariff without many exclusions, you pay a few hundred euros a year on insurance contributions. “I just don't see the cost-benefit ratio as positive.”
Veterinary costs are often very high. At the same time, ordinary insurance is also very expensive. In the case of cheaper tariffs, only 60 percent of the costs are covered and many diseases such as genetic defects are excluded. It is therefore recommended to put some money aside and save before buying a pet. And: Consumers should consider beforehand whether and what size they can afford. Because this includes not only the acquisition costs or feed, but also illness costs.
The only thing that experts recommend in the context is an OP insurance for horses. The relationship between costs and contributions is in a more positive relationship, says Neubert. Elke Weidenbach from the NRW consumer center has a similar opinion. It also only finds health insurance sensibly in horses because general anesthesia surgery is very complex and therefore very expensive. “You should not go to the purchase of an animal so blue -eyed, but really keep the costs. I doubt whether the insurance cover, which must also be paid monthly, in many cases.”
