Parker Woman: Insurance Co. 'Totaled' My Dog

Black Lab Mix Covered As 'Property' In Insurance Terms
By Lance Hernandez, 7NEWS Reporter

PARKER, Colo. -- Marcia Pinkstaff said she couldn’t believe it when her dog was hit by a minivan last week and the driver’s insurance company told her they’d pay for one or two trips to the vet and would then “total out” her dog.

“I don’t see how you could total out a family pet,” she said.

Pinkstaff was walking west in the crosswalk at Canterberry Parkway and East Idyllwilde Drive, in Parker, when an eastbound minivan made a left turn striking Sasha, a 9-year-old Lab mix.



Lab mix.


“She didn’t see us and she hit Sasha very, very hard,” Pinkstaff said. “Sasha has tears in her lungs, a tear in her diaphragm and liver damage.”

Farmers’ Insurance sent Pinkstaff a letter stating it would reimburse her for the initial trip to the vet and would consider paying for a follow up exam, but nothing more.

“I was horrified,” Pinkstaff told 7NEWS. “They said they were totaling out my dog. It broke my heart because she is like a child to me.”

“I’d never heard of anybody totaling out a dog before,” she added. “I think it’s horrible.”

An insurance industry source told 7NEWS that dogs are not covered the same way humans are.

“If a human is injured, they can be reimbursed for pain and suffering, lost wages and medical care,” the source said.

“A dog is considered property and is covered by the property damage part of a policy,” the source added.

In Pinkstaff’s case, the adjuster told her they were limiting how much they’d pay for property damage.

A spokesman for Farmers’ said the phrase “totaling out” is industry jargon and refers to the property damage part of a policy.

“I’m very sorry about the circumstances,” said Farmers’ Vice President of Media, Jerry Davies. “I have a dog, too.”

He said, “We have issued reimbursement of payment for the initial expenses and will continue to work with her on payment of those bills.”

Pinkstaff said she’s grateful that she wasn’t hit and is grateful that Sasha survived.

She told 7NEWS that Sasha has another appointment with the vet on Aug. 16.

“She has to have more blood tests and more x-rays,” Pinkstaff said. “The vet will determine whether her injuries are healing or if she needs surgery.”

Pinkstaff said some of her friends have delayed paying their mortgage to help her with her vet bills.

“I would like to see the driver’s insurance company take care of the bills,” she said. “And if the insurance won’t, I would like the driver to take care of it.”