The Animal Is Yours. So Is the Liability.
Coverage for the harm an animal can do to someone else
Animal liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage caused by an animal you own or that is in your care. A dog bite, a horse kick, a steer that gets loose on a roadway, an animal that spooks and injures a visitor — each is a liability claim against the business or owner responsible for the animal. What surprises most owners is that this is exactly the exposure general liability and farm policies are quick to exclude or limit: many carriers carve out specific breeds, exotic animals, or equine activities, and a standard policy may not respond at all when the animal is the cause of the loss. This coverage fills that gap.
For any operation built around animals, the animal itself is the single most likely source of a serious claim — and the one a standard policy is least likely to cover.
What Animal Liability Covers
Animal liability insurance typically provides:
Bodily Injury From Animals — Injury to third parties from bites, kicks, scratches, attacks, or an animal that knocks someone down.
Property Damage Caused by Animals — Damage to others' property, including livestock that escape and damage vehicles or land.
Escape & Roadway Incidents — Claims arising when livestock or animals get loose and cause an accident off the property.
Animals in Your Care, Custody & Control — Liability for animals boarded, handled, or kept on behalf of others, where included.
Defense Costs — Legal defense for covered animal-related claims.
What It Does Not Cover
Animal liability policies commonly exclude:
Injury to the owner, handler, or employees (covered under workers' compensation)
Specific dangerous breeds or exotic animals, unless scheduled and underwritten
Intentional acts or animals knowingly kept despite a bite history, per policy terms
Veterinary professional liability (a separate coverage)
Mortality or loss of the animal itself (covered under animal mortality / livestock coverage)
Coverage depends heavily on the species, breed, and how the animals are used.
Who Needs Animal Liability?
Animal liability coverage is important for:
Farms, ranches, and hobby farms with livestock
Equine operations, boarding stables, and riding programs
Kennels, pet boarding, daycare, and breeders
Petting zoos, animal exhibits, and animal-assisted programs
Animal shelters, rescues, and sanctuaries
Any business that keeps, handles, or displays animals around the public
If animals and the public share your space, this is a primary exposure.
How Coverage Is Structured
Animal liability is typically arranged as:
A standalone animal liability policy for owners whose base policy excludes it
An endorsement or buy-back restoring coverage a farm or GL policy carved out
Coverage scheduled by species, breed, and number of animals
Care, custody, and control terms for animals kept on others' behalf
Limits and any breed or activity warranties the carrier requires
What the policy schedules — and what it quietly excludes — matters more than the limit.
Real-World Claim Examples
A dog bites a visitor or customer and a serious-injury claim follows
A horse kicks a rider, handler, or bystander
Cattle get loose on a road and cause a vehicle accident
An animal at a petting zoo or exhibit injures a child
A boarded animal escapes and damages a neighbor's property
In each case, a standard GL or farm policy may exclude the animal exposure — this coverage responds.
Why Proper Placement Matters
Animal liability coverage varies widely based on:
The species and breeds involved and whether any are excluded
How animals interact with the public
Whether animals are owned or kept in your care
Fencing, containment, and handling practices
Any breed or activity warranties the carrier imposes
A policy that excludes the exact animal driving the risk leaves the business exposed.
Our Approach
At Cory Washington & Co., we read animal exposures the way a claim will — by species, breed, and how the public interacts with the animals — and we place coverage that actually schedules them rather than quietly excluding them. For animal-centered operations, see our equine and horse stable, farm, pet boarding and daycare, and animal shelter and rescue pages.
The animal is yours — we make sure the liability doesn't catch you uncovered.
All insurance descriptions on this website are provided by Cory Washington & Co. LLC strictly for general informational purposes. They are not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, legal, financial, or insurance advice. The information presented is general in nature and does not guarantee the availability, terms, conditions, or scope of any insurance coverage. Actual coverage is determined solely by the specific policy language issued by the insurer and remains subject to underwriting approval. Nothing on this website creates or implies an agent-client relationship, binds coverage, or alters any existing policy. Cory Washington & Co. LLC expressly disclaims any liability for actions taken, or not taken, based on the content provided here. For advice regarding your particular situation, please consult directly with a licensed insurance professional at Cory Washington & Co. LLC or another qualified insurance professional, and always review your policy documents in full.
See what to confirm in a animal liability policy — what's standard, what's often limited, and what to add if needed — plus the gap most often missed, in the Animal Liability Policy Feature Checklist.
Complete the Animal Liability Supplemental online in a few guided steps, download the fillable PDF, or browse all applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get animal liability insurance through Cory Washington & Co.?
Request a quote or contact our team. We start with a short conversation about your operations, analyze your exposures, then negotiate animal liability insurance across multiple carriers that compete for your account and present options with the trade-offs explained. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
How are animal liability insurance premiums priced?
Premiums vary from business to business. The main drivers of animal liability insurance pricing are the nature of your operations, your revenue and payroll, your loss history, and the limits you carry. Rather than quote a flat figure, we negotiate across several markets and walk you through the options, so you only pay for the protection you actually need.
Is animal liability insurance mandatory?
Whether animal liability insurance is strictly required depends on your state, your contracts, and your lenders or clients. Even where it is not mandatory, going without it can leave serious financial gaps. We assess your exposure and any contractual requirements, then structure coverage that meets both.
What if another agency has already declined or non-renewed my coverage?
Difficult, specialty, and previously-declined placements are a core part of our work. We access excess & surplus (E&S) and specialty markets that many generalist agencies cannot, and we explain the trade-offs clearly so you can decide with confidence.
Available in all 50 states. See how requirements differ in California, Texas, Florida, New York, or choose your state.