Pit Bull Terrier liability insurance

Can you get liability insurance for a Pit Bull in the UK?

Yes. It is a legal requirement in the UK for Pit Bulls to have Third Party Liability Insurance. This is a provision of The Dangerous Dogs Act.

Also known as Public Liability Insurance, Third Party Liability Insurance is designed to cover compensation and legal costs in the event that your dog injures someone or causes an accident.

Third Party Liability Insurance for Pit Bulls can be arranged by the specialist insurance company Brooks Braithwaite (Sussex) Limited. To get an application form, call 0345 982 5498.

By joining our free Pit Bull Insurance group, you'll be able to:

• See details of the liability cover available for Pit Bulls
• Find out how to get an application pack

Anyone who thinks pitbulls are innately vicious has not spent time with my kind friend Ghost pic.twitter.com/kkaGwpqMbR

— Brett Scott (@Suitpossum) March 17, 2016

How much does Pit Bull liability cover cost?

The cost of third party liability insurance for a Pit Bull is around £79 per year. Call Brooks Braithwaite (Sussex) Limited on 0345 982 5498 to find out more. Lines are open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday.

What are the alternatives?

Third party liability insurance is included with membership of the Dogs Trust.

As it is a legal requirement to have third party liability insurance, the consequences of owning an uninsured Pit Bull can be severe. Owners can be fined and even imprisoned, while uninsured Pit Bulls can be seized by the police and put down.

I grew up with a pit bull, and they aren’t devil dogs. They're the best, says @MaryWakefield http://t.co/PvcJDfVXJh pic.twitter.com/rHjQaprdZs

— The Spectator (@spectator) May 7, 2015

The Dangerous Dogs Act

In 1991, the UK Government passed The Dangerous Dogs Act. This controversial piece of legislation was intended to respond to a number of attacks by dogs on children, which had been the subject of sensationalized reporting by the press.

The Dangerous Dogs Act banned four breeds in the UK:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Fila Brasileiro
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino

As a result, keeping, breeding, and selling these dogs is illegal. However, owners can apply to the courts for an exemption. If the dog is judged not to be a threat to public safety, he or she is added to the Index of Exempted Dogs.

Critics of the act include the RSPCA, who argue that it puts unfair emphasis on the dog, rather than the owner. Other issues relate to putting the act into practice. For example, courts have to determine the dog's breed based on its appearance, which has led to Staffies and English Bull Terriers being wrongly classified as Pit Bulls.

By Sam Gilbert