Numerous businesses that provide pet care services should consider purchasing pet sitter insurance to safeguard themselves from legal action. Getting insurance is a smart move for any pet-sitting business.
Pet sitter insurance is not required to operate a dog walking or pet sitting business, but it is strongly suggested. If your personnel are entering the residences of your clients, you should also consider obtaining a bond. Pet sitters can choose from four major insurance companies in the United States.
What is Pet Sitter Insurance, and Why is it Important?
Insurance, whether it be for a pet sitter or anything else, is not a particularly riveting topic. Practically everyone would instead not think about the specifics of their liability insurance.
Let’s get down to business
- If you own a business where pets are cared for, you may want to look into pet sitter insurance. Dog walking is one example of this broader category.
- If you provide pet sitting services, you are transporting pets to your site or entering clients’ homes to care for their animals.
- Liability, bonds, and licenses are crucial concepts to grasp. At the end of the piece, I explain both the bond and the “licensing,” which are simple concepts.
- General liability insurance protects you and your business from injuries or property damage while working as a pet sitter. Suppose an accident or negligence occurs due to your or your workers’ actions. In that case, the insurance will cover the cost of legal representation and any settlements that result.
- The most significant portion protects against injury and property damage. And it’s meant for problems involving the owners’ animals and property.
- Mistakes and carelessness can result in various costs, including replacing broken household objects, paying for veterinary care for a pet in your care, or settling claims against you for damages caused by your dog to third parties.
- They address issues like insurance and surety bonds that are essential to running a successful pet business.
Responsibility and Coverage in Case of Accident
Ensuring your pet sitting business against the following risks is usual to practice:
If a pet under your care gets hurt or sick:
For example: If the animal in your care causes harm to another animal or human
Suppose:
- You are visiting a client’s home and accidentally do some damage.
- You forget to put a dog in a crate or room, and damage results
- Case in point: you need a locksmith since you lost your house keys.
In addition, liability insurance is essential for a variety of other reasons:
There are primarily four major insurance providers in the United States that cater to pet sitting businesses. All the information I could discover is included in the list below. If you’re starting, go with the lowest option. Also, check out the page that features comparison tables of pet sitter insurance providers in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. First, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the “Care, Custody, and Control” provision of your liability policy.
Having responsibility for someone’s well-being; having custody of; exercising authority over. If an incident occurs while your pet is in your “care, custody, and control,” you will be covered. It protects the central location, which is crucial for pet-related businesses like daycares, kennels, and pet trainers. This protection is typically included, though not always, by insurance policies—each of the featured companies in this piece. If you are insured by a business not listed here, you should verify that you have this protection.
Exactly why is Pet Sitting Insurance Necessary?
In most cases, taking care of a pet for another person is a positive experience for everyone involved. Nobody likes to get their hands on a bill for many thousand dollars or pounds once the sitting is over. The Worst-Case-Scenario klaxon needs to go off before diving into specifics concerning pet caregivers’ insurance. The language used in insurance policies is intentionally meant to strike fear into the hearts of consumers. You can count on them to do that.
If something extremely improbable were to happen but could cause significant financial harm, insurance would be there to help. Just because they tend to focus on the negative aspects of insurance doesn’t mean home sitting and pet care are without their risks. Please find out more about our pet sitting Accident & Third-Party Liability cover and pet owners’ insurance.
When can you expect to receive your Pet Sitters Certification of Insurance?
Many insurance policies commence the moment your money clears the insurer’s account. The paperwork could take a few extra days, but the electronic confirmation should go through. Documents may not arrive on time if you wait until the last minute. Sending them to your sitting address is an option, but you should set this up plenty of time before the sit. Buying insurance on the spur of the moment is not a good idea because of the policy’s complexity (or paw).
Search for the ideal pet sitting job:
Since it’s unlikely that Max or Bella will accidentally knock over the television, pet sitting is a stress-free and rewarding way to see the world. Check out current home sitting openings if you need temporary employment.
Pet sitters’ insurance protects whom?
If the pet causes: death or injury to a person; or loss or damage to their property, the sitter is protected by the policy from having to pay damages and costs “to others which originate from any single event occurring during a sit.” This coverage will shield you from legal responsibility should the pet harm you or anyone else you care for. The homeowner’s liability policy will protect you when you’re sitting. Typically, pet owners may rely on their insurance to pay for veterinary care.
What kind of insurance do you need if you want to work as a pet sitter or dog walker?
- Insurance Against Legal Obligations to Others
The barest minimum of protection is public liability insurance. Your bookings will determine the type of coverage and associated expenses as they relate to:
- Overnight stays at the residences of this clientele.
- Stopping by their houses for a bit.
- “Home boarding” is staying at someone’s house.
- In most cases, insurance also.
- Carpet stains are an example of accidental damage to a customer’s property.
- The pet gets hurt or disappears while in your care.
- Equipment malfunctions due to random events.
- Employer’s Liability Insurance
Employer’s liability insurance is necessary if you have employees caring for clients’ dogs. This will cover medical expenses, lost wages, and legal fees if an employee is injured.
- Car or Van Insurance
When applying for auto or van insurance, you must list “pet sitter” or “dog walker” as your occupation, even if it’s merely a side gig. Dog walking, pet sitting, and taking pets to the vet require transportation, so be sure you’re properly insured.
Conclusion:
Since it’s unlikely will accidentally knock over the television, pet sitter insurance is a stress-free and rewarding way to see the world.
