Volusia to Require $500k Insurance for Dangerous Dog Owners

The Volusia County Council last week passed an ordinance requiring a minimum liability insurance for owners of dangerous dogs in unincorporated areas of the county, plus Pierson and Oak Hill. Those who own dogs classified as dangerous will soon need to carry a minimum of $500,000 in coverage. Dogs aren’t classified as dangerous merely on account of their breed. They meet the criteria if they’ve ‘aggressively bitten or attacked a person without provocation, inflicted serious injury, killed or seriously injured another animal off its owner’s property more than once, or approached a person in public in a menacing manner that threatens safety’. The call on whether a dog is classified as dangerous is made by Volusia County Animal Services. At this point the owner will be required to obtain a certificate of registration, take steps to keep the dog safely confined, put signs warning of the dangerous dog on their property, as well as to maintain the newly required $500,000 liability insurance. Violators of the new county ordinance are going to be subject to $500 fines, the county says. Further actions may include the impounding of the dog by animal control, and in extreme cases, humane euthanasia. The policy is expected to take effect in the coming weeks as it’s reviewed by the state government. The Florida state legislature is currently weighing passing similar laws across all counties.