THE LIST

http://www.icanewfriend.com/

I've posted about THINKING about getting another dog for Blue and someone said to me - "Does your insurance company allow German Shepherds?" and I was like "What?! Why won't they allow a Shepherd?" So I called my insurance agent and told her that I was JUST thinking about maybe getting a puppy for my dog. I said that I was thinking of either a Golden Retriever or a German Shepherd. And I told her that someone had told me to make sure that my insurance company allowed those breeds. WELL! She practically interrupted me and told me that ALL the companies that she writes insurance for would drop me if I got a German Shepherd. She said it was on "The List"!
To be honest, I really didn't like her tone and I asked what else was on the list? She rambled off a few breeds and said there were more. So, I told her that I work at a veterinarian clinic and I'd like to know exactly what is not allowed before something crossed my path and I feel in love with it. So she emailed me the list. Here it is:
"The unacceptable dog breed list is below and they include, but are not limited to:"...(OK, I know what that lingo means. It means definitely NOT any of those breeds but "not limited to" means they can throw some other breed in there if they decide to!)
Amercian Staffordshire Terrier

http://www.recycler.com/

Chow

Doberman

German Shepherd

http://www.sheprescue.org/

Husky

http://www.dailypuppy.com/puppies/

Malamute

http://www.dailypuppy.com/puppies/
Pit Bull

http://www.4luvofdog.com/d/matty.html

Rottweiler

Any dog with a prior bite history

to be honest, I've been going back and forth in my thoughts about EVEN getting another dog and if I did, I've been leaning towards a Golden Retriever but most likely a Mutt. Probably not a puppy. The problem is that I have a REAL problem with anyone telling me what I can and can't do! It also makes me angry that they list specific breeds when there is good and bad in every breed. Yes, Yes, I realize that some dogs on the list belong to horrible people who use them for dog-fighting. Or for status symbols and try to make them mean so that they look tough in the Hood but this is ridiculous! I have had little daydreams of living out in the country with lots of land and lots of rescues. But insurance companies reach everywhere! Grrrrrrr
This explains why so many of the pets that come to the clinic are listed as "lab mixes" or "boxer mixes" yet that's not what I see when I look at them.
I still don't know what I am going to do except I'm pretty sure I am changing my insurance company.