Whatever our differences, people love pets. Millions of people have cats, dogs or both, and consider these popular domesticated animals to be family members. Birds, fish, guinea pigs and even ferrets also are common in American homes, along with snakes and arachnids, despite the fact some people would rather play in traffic than have anything to do with a pet that slithers or walks on eight legs. |

Exotic pets, oh my!

Then there are pet owners who favor companions from the wilder side of the animal kingdom. These individuals keep tigers, bears and other large exotic animals as pets, but often with tragic outcomes. Consider the case of one man in Zanesville, Ohio, who kept 56 wild animals, including lions, tigers, bears and wolves on his farm. Then, in 2011, as part of a final suicidal act, he released all of them, which caused panic among his neighbors. Ultimately, local police and zoo personnel either tranquilized or euthanized the animals, bringing an unnecessary end to otherwise majestic animals. Here's another exotic pet situation gone tragically wrong: Travis, the chimpanzee, was an animal actor who appeared on television multiple times. In 2009, Travis escaped from his owner's home in Stamford, Conn., and took a set of car keys with him. When his owner, Sandra Herold, and one of the employees of her towing company, Charla Nash, attempted to retrieve the keys and usher the ape back into his home, the animal ferociously mauled Nash, who'd been holding one of his favorite toys. The woman lost her hands, nose, eyes and lips in addition to suffering severely damaged craniofacial bones and brain damage. At the time, Travis was 14 years old and weighed 250 pounds. When police responded to the scene, Travis remained agitated. After the chimp attempted to open the door of a squad car and smash its window, officers shot him. Nash filed suit against Travis' owner, who had no insurance for her home or business. Even if she'd had insurance, would there have been coverage? |

Exotic pet protection

In the aforementioned case, coverage would fall under the personal liability and medical payments section of the applicable homeowners policy. Under medical payments, coverage is available for medical expenses including surgical, X-ray, dental, ambulance, hospital, nursing, prosthetic devices and funeral services for up to three years after the covered accident. Of course, it's always prudent to review exclusions. But in this case, there are no exclusions for injuries caused directly by any sort of animal. So whether the pet is a cat, a monkey or a grizzly bear, there's coverage for any injuries the animal causes to others. |

But wait…

Just because coverage is provided, should an insured's pet cause injures, there may be extenuating insurance concerns. Before the policy is written, the agent is going to ask about any pets in the home, as many carriers still have restrictions against certain dog breeds, for instance. (Most state statutes, however, now refer to dangerous dogs based on the actions of the dog rather than its breed.) You can be sure that carriers will have questions related to any unusual pets. State laws vary regarding the type of exotic animals that private citizens are allowed to own as pets, and some states require licenses for certain animals. Others require a number of different permits, depending on the type of animal. For instance, in Delaware, if someone wants to own an ape, which includes certain chimpanzees, that individual may be required to obtain a Delaware Fish and Wildlife (DFW) endangered species permit, a Delaware Department of Agriculture Exotic Animal Permit, and any necessary federal permits. All animals entering Delaware also must have a valid health certificate, and the owner must comply with state requirements regarding the animal's housing, care and treatment. Conversely, Kansas does not require any permits or licenses, although owners may have to comply with federal laws and obtain federal permits. Permits aside, the carrier will want detailed information about the animal: Is it kept in a secure location? Is it allowed out of the house? Is it taken out for walks? What kind of training does the insured have with the animal, and what kind of training does the animal have? Travis, the ape, had been separated from his mother at three days old and hand-raised as a pet. He went shopping with his owners, ate at their table, and drank from a wine glass, and even bathed with them. But at the time of the attack, Travis was sick and on various medications. He also had the strength of five men. |

Slippery coverage issues

Just because an animal is considered legal and is available for sale doesn't necessarily mean it's a good animal to have for a pet. Wild animals, even those that are seemingly domesticated, retain their wild nature. Many zoos hand-rear young animals, but once they reach a certain size or age, the keepers no longer handle them or even attempt to enter their space. Keepers don't go into the habitat with the full-grown lions, for example, even if one was hand-raised as a cub. The animals are just too dangerous, even though they know and trust the keepers, and will obey commands so the keepers can administer medications, do health checks, and perform other caregiving tasks. Size is not the insurer's only concern. Reptiles and amphibians such as lizards, snakes, turtles, frogs and salamanders can all carry salmonella, not only on their skin but in their feces. They also can infect anything they touch. So a child changing a reptile's water dish can pick up salmonella. It is enough of an issue that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warns against having reptiles when there are young children in the home. The CDC spent several years investigating a multi-state outbreak of salmonella related to turtles. Between 2006 and 2014, a total of 921 people became ill, 156 people were hospitalized, and one infant died. While seemingly harmless, the proper handling of reptiles is important to prevent causing illness in people. Venomous snakes are an even more hazardous reptile exposure. If a venomous snake escapes its habitat and bites someone, the consequences can be dire. Many emergency rooms are not accustomed to treating such injuries and may not have antivenin available. |

The case for service animals

There are some unique situations in which an exotic animal may be useful in the home. Consider Helping Hands Monkey Helpers, which trains Capuchin monkeys to help those with spinal cord injuries or mobility issues with tasks that require more dexterity than a dog possesses. The organization raises and trains the monkeys, then matches them with approved applicants. Upon approval, the applicant is trained to care for the monkey, and the organization is available 24/7 for questions or concerns. It also sees that the animal's health care needs are met throughout its work life. These monkeys can turn pages, retrieve dropped objects, put straws into bottles, turn on buttons/switches for computers, televisions and other electronics, or reposition their owner's limbs in a wheelchair. They can even use a microwave and feed people. Capuchins weigh an average of 6 pounds and live for 30 to 40 years, so there's no risk of the monkey overpowering or injuring a human. In order for an animal to be considered a true service animal, it must be individually trained for the benefit of a person with a disability. Related: |

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