How to make a claim against someone else's homeowners insurance

The policy belongs to the dog's owner. You are making what insurers call a third-party liability claim against it. That distinction matters: the adjuster handling your claim works for the insurer and owes you none of the duties they owe their own policyholder.

The insurance company's name, the policy number, and confirmation they have reported the incident. Most people will give you this if asked plainly. If they will not, the insurer can often locate a policy from the property address, and the animal control report will establish the address.

Once the claim is opened you will be assigned an adjuster and a claim number. Use that number on everything. Keep a dated log of every call, who you spoke to, and what was said.

Adjusters routinely request one early, often in the first call, while the injury is still developing and before you know what your treatment will involve. You can decline to give it immediately and arrange it for later. What you say in an early recorded statement can constrain the claim for the rest of its life.

Many policies carry a small guest medical payments coverage that pays regardless of fault, usually $1,000 to $5,000. It is often available quickly and does not require establishing liability. It is not a settlement and accepting it should not resolve the liability claim, but read anything you sign carefully.