Paraphrased from BC CTV News @ 6pm March 24/04
Reported by Lisa Rossington

Allstate Canada, one of the largest insurance providers in this country, has adopted a policy to decline home insurance to anyone who owns a Rottweiler, Pit Bull, German Shepherd, Doberman or any dog that is crossed with one of these breeds. Last year in Canada, there were 460,000 reported dog bites and in most cases, these four breeds were to blame. In one case, Allstate was forced to pay out $1 million for a single dog attack.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada says they are not against man's best friend, and this is only about insurance companies exposing themselves to a potential claim. They must be prudent in their business decisions in order to protect all of their policy holders, not just a few of them who own these dogs.

A Calgary man who was refused coverage by Allstate because he owns two of the black-listed breeds, said "If every insurance company goes that way, there are hundreds of thousands of dogs that'll be put down, and breeds that will become extinct..."

People who run animal shelters also fear for the worst. They are worried that this type of policy will discourage people from adopting dogs. Surrey SPCA is filled with dogs, the majority being Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, and Rottweiler crosses. Surrey SPCA Manager Kim Archibald says "If Allstate is your insurer, even if you don't have a dog and you feel strongly about this issue or if we can convince you to feel strongly about this issue, change insurance companies, make a statement."

One Pit Bull owner who was interviewed said "They are picking on the dogs, not the owner."