Exotic insurance

By THIS IS MONEY
Updated:

 

I HAVE a friend who has an emergency animal shelter. It is not for public display. She has a variety of animals such as dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, big cats, wolves, etc. She is non-profit and needs some type of liability cover for exotic animals. Where can she get it? TJ, Wooster, OH.

Linda Whitney says: Firstly, her choice depends on where the shelter is. Your email address indicates you are in the US, and if the shelter is there too, animal insurance specialists tell me that your friend should check what insurance is required with the state in which the centre is based.

But if the shelter is in the UK, she has a choice of insurers. Exotic Direct (01444 482 946) will cover animal shelters. It points out that by law animal shelters in the UK must have public liability insurance if they keep dangerous wild animals and that this cover is a pre-requisite for getting a Dangerous Wild Animals Licence.

Shelter owners also need to get employer liability insurance not just for employees but for casuals and volunteers too.

Exotic Direct provides shelters with public liability cover but not cover for animal death or vet fees. Other than cover for shelters it can also insure almost all kinds pets other than cats, dogs and horses, and in these cases cover includes death, vet fees and theft. Cliverton (01263 869 388) will also quote for animal shelters and any kind of animal you care to mention.

While we're on the subject of exotics, Golden Valley (01981 240 356) doesn't cover shelters but it dies specialise in cover for birds, including birds of prey.

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