Denied insurance??*!*  our chow is a therapy dog MD It's one thing to deny insurance based on statistics -- that's simple breed discrimination; it's quite another to deny insurance based on breed,  when insurance applicants have demonstrated that their dog is exceptionally gentle and well-trained. That's just plain stupidity. We sent in our dog's exemplary service award, along with his advanced training certificates and additional information which demonstrate his gentle, obedient nature. But no, we got turned down anyway, even though our insurance agent wanted to see the exemplary award and everything else. Prior to denying our insurance, the agent told us we would also have to stop taking our dog to do therapy work with elderly people (imagine that; she wants to verify that he received an award and in the next breath, she's says 'no insurance if he continues his work' (it was demeaning, to say the least). We also can't have insurance because we live too close to a playground. (To get insurance for a chow, you must isolate your dog, never allow him to meet children or old people, and live far away from everyone... that's the gist of it, as far as I can tell.)

It's ironic because our dog loves children; he lays down on the ground and just wants to watch them. He loves getting cuddled. He just plain loves people and he has a noble demeanor. When he had hip dysplasia (now cured by two hip replacements by an excellent surgeon and veterinary care), he never complained; he just slowed down, was unable to walk and  sometimes groaned in obvious pain (but still, somehow, he remained a noble dog).

We're not alone: Insuring is impossible to do with some breeds reveals the bias and the sad results:

"Based on dog bite statistics researched by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Allstate recently comprised a list of eight dog breeds: Akitas, boxers, chow chows, Doberman pinschers, pit bulls, American Staffordshire bull terriers, rottweilers and wolf hybrids. "If you have any of these dogs, we will not give you homeowners insurance, period." ... [Los Angeles Daily News] (We don't have Allstate, but it might as well have been.)

What will happen with these breeds? I know we got our dog by good luck: we weren't looking for a chow, but here was this adorable dog, unclaimed, rejected and in need of a home. The fact is that our dog wasn't adopted sooner because he was a chow. We didn't know what a chow was: he was clearly alert, intelligent and gentle; that much we knew. It worked out for us... but it won't for other people who are being forced by statistics (which don't tell the whole story) to abandon their dogs to shelters. (more) (also Post-mauling backlash: Service dogs become swept up into hysteria )

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