Does My New York State Homeowner's Insurance Policy Cover the Loss of a Pet Due to a House Fire?

August 20, 2019

Many (if not most) homeowners policies specifically exclude “Animals, birds or fish” from “personal property” coverage. An example of a standard ISO Homeowners policy wording is shown below:

However, some companies offer limited coverage for loss of pets under Personal Property: Here is an example of a company’s policy that provides limited pet coverage.

Notice that the form limits coverage to:

A specific location - “on the “residence premises”
A limited number of perils (types of losses)
A specific dollar amount

It might be interesting to note that this particular company allows that amount to be increased with the purchase of an enhancement endorsement. The only way to know if your policy includes coverage would be to search the policy for the term “animal(s)” to see how the form responds. Coverage for pets lost to fire or other perils would be found - or - excluded under the Personal Property coverage part of a homeowners policy. If you are looking for a policy that provides coverage for your pet, ask your agent or company representative about the options available. Have more questions about your Homeowner's Insurance Policy? We LOVE to Help! Call us today by dialing 607-324-7500

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Auto Rates and Finger Prints: Both are Unique to You!

By Jeff Ryan • April 7, 2026

Factors You Can’t Easily Control These factors are built into your profile, but still play a major role: Your location: Claim trends, traffic, and weather patterns where you principally drive. Your age and driving experience: Especially for younger drivers. Other drivers in your household: Their age and driving history. The vehicle you own: Unique to the Year, Make, Model, and Sub-model’s damageability and cost of parts/labor. These factors significantly influence price differences, but they don’t tell the whole story. Factors You Can Control This is where habits and wise decisions can make a real difference: Your driving habits: Minimizing tickets and accidents can have a direct impact. Your coverage choices: Liability limits, deductibles, and optional coverages can vary widely. Your insurance consistency: Avoiding lapses in coverage. Your annual mileage: How much and how often you drive. Discount opportunities: Bundling, pay-in-full, NYS defensive driving course. Your Insurance Score (Yes—You Can Influence It) Insurance companies use a credit-based insurance score as part of their rating process. While it’s based on financial behaviors, it is not permanent—and it can be improved over time. Simple habits like: Paying bills on time Reducing outstanding debt Avoiding excessive credit inquiries… can positively impact your score—and in turn, your insurance rates. Your insurance score is under your control and a worthy mid to long-term project in and of itself. For more information on what you can do to positively influence your score, see: Great 8 Tip #8 - What's Credit Got to Do with Insurance? How Can I Improve My Auto Insurance Score Why Comparing Rates Doesn’t Work When someone says, “I only pay…” , the uniqueness of their fingerprint is missing. What are their: Deductibles Driving history Insurance score Household profile Coverage limits: what they may be giving up in terms of protection. Price without context can be misleading and discouraging.