A guide to help professional dog walkers and pet sitters with the process of obtaining pet sitting liability insurance and bonding. In order to protect yourself, your clients, and their pets, it’s crucial for you as a professional pet sitter to have the appropriate pet sitting liability insurance coverage. All the information you require about pet sitting insurance in 2023 will be covered in this article.

It can be risky to start a dog walking or pet sitting service. Any kind of business venture comes with some risk, in fact. The starting expenses for a pet-sitting or dog-walking business are not the only thing included in this. You run the danger of losing opportunities as well as your time and efforts. You are still making an investment, even if it isn’t in the millions. Your company’s objective is to return your investment, but occasionally this may not happen, which adds risk.

Why Do You Need Liability Insurance For Pet Sitting?

Liability insurance for pet sitters is essential for protecting your enterprise. It protects you in case of incidents, injury, or damages that develop while you are taking care of a client’s pet. Your business may be at risk if you don’t have insurance since you can be responsible for high medical or legal costs.

By passing the risk to an insurance carrier who then charges you a fee, pet sitting insurance now fits into this puzzle by reducing your risk for specific acts and/or occurrences. To make payments more manageable for their customers, your insurance carrier shares the risk of numerous clients.

Tips4insurance strongly advises pet sitters and dog walkers to carry some type of pet sitting insurance in order to reduce their risk. In the event of an accident, pet sitting insurance can protect you financially. It can also provide you, your team, and your clients piece of mind. Imagine you had to choose between two contractors to build your house, but one of them had insurance and the other didn’t. Which one would you choose?

While the specific goods covered by a pet-sitting insurance policy can vary from carrier to carrier, it’s crucial to check for two essential ones.

General Liability

Your company is covered by general liability insurance in the event its operations result in property damage, personal injury, or bodily harm. Although general liability insurance can be comprehensive, it does not completely shield your company from risk. However, the foundation of pet sitting insurance is general liability. Examples of situations where General Liability may protect you include when you were walking a dog and the dog bit someone who just happened to be walking by you. Another scenario would be if you left the dog in the spare bedroom without putting him in your care, and after you left, the dog ate the brand-new leather couch in the living room. Pet sitters and dog walkers are covered by general liability insurance in case of third-party claims brought against them as a result of carelessness on the part of you or a member of your staff.

Bonding

You might have heard professionals refer to themselves as “Insured and Bonded.” Being covered by an insurance policy is represented by the Insured portion. The bonding component is really distinct. Being “Bonded” protects your company from theft or the enigmatic disappearance of your clients’ personal goods, even though this is technically not insurance. Bonding can assist safeguard your company against the horrible scenario of a client’s watch going missing while their pets were in your care.

Pet Care Insurance Providers

In the USA, there are numerous companies that provide pet sitting Liability insurance. The two companies that Time To Pet customers most frequently choose for their pet business insurance are Business Insurers of the Carolinas and Pet Sitters Associates. The four main suppliers are as follows:

• Business Insurers of the Carolinas —  since 1992, providing coverage. must belong to PSI or NAPPS.
• Pet Sitters Associates —  since 1998, providing coverage. Numerous choices are available from Pet Sitters Associates, including a business listing service.
• Kennel Pro — offering three different packages.
• Pet Care Insurance — offers products for a variety of pet care specialists.

How much does pet-sitting liability insurance cost?

The price of pet sitting insurance might differ based on a variety of elements, such as the amount of protection you require, the scale of your operation, and your location. Average annual costs for pet sitting insurance range from $250 to $500. In contrast to the potential expenditures of an uninsured incident, the cost of the policy is quite low. For a quote that is customized for your company, we strongly advise getting in touch with one of the suppliers listed above.

Tips for Choosing the Right Pet Sitting liability Insurance

Here are some things to keep in mind while selecting pet sitting insurance:

• Confirm that the coverage consists of bonding and general liability insurance.
• Make sure the team behind the insurance product is able to respond to your inquiries and will be available in the future if you require their help.
• Ensure the coverage limits fit your needs by checking them.
• You should carefully read the policy to understand any exclusions or restrictions.
• Think about the reputation and customer support of the provider. Asking around to see whether any coworkers have used the supplier before is the best method to do this.
• Compare pricing and coverage by obtaining various quotes.

Different Forms of Insurance

You might want to think about a variety of additional insurance options that are outside the purview of pet sitting software. They could consist of:

• Worker’s compensation – Can offer coverage for your employees who sustain injuries at work.
• Commercial Auto Insurance- can protect you and your team from harm when dealing with traffic accidents
• Umbrella Policies — To assist close any coverage gaps in your insurance policy.

Additional Pet Sitting liability Insurance Resources

Pet Care Insurance in Canada

• Binks Pet Sitters Insurance — A general insurance provider, Binks offers plans and policies for a wide range of specialized businesses and commercial needs.
• PROfur Insurance for Pet Care Professionals – In the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, pet care professionals can purchase a specialized insurance coverage called PROfur.

Pet Care Insurance in the UK

• Pet Business Insurance —All kind of pet companies can get insurance protection from Pet Business Insurance.
• Cliverton- The majority of animal-related professions are covered by insurance programmes offered by Cliverton, including mobile grooming, pet taxi, dog walking, pet sitting, and much more.

Conclusion

Any professional pet sitter must have pet sitting liability insurance. In the event of mishaps, injuries, or damage, it safeguards you, your clients, and their animals. You can make sure you have the correct insurance coverage to safeguard your company and offer you piece of mind by being aware of the different types of coverage that are available, what pet sitting insurance covers, and how to find the best provider. In order to run your pet care business stress-free, make sure to invest in the appropriate pet sitting insurance policy.

Questions/Answers

Que. What risks come with dog sitting?

Ans. Pet sitting carries certain basic risks, including the possibility of scratches and bites, although these incidents are frequently avoidable. Look out for any signals of apprehension or hostility in your furry clientele. You should move back and leave them alone if they start to cower, raise their fur, tuck their tail or snarl.

Que. What are the benefits of being a pet sitter?

Ans. The Advantages of Working as a Pet Sitter

Use the additional money to support your passions, whether it be saving, going on a dream vacation, or paying off debt. Spend less. Pet sitting will not only increase your income but also reduce it. You don’t have to pay for the energy, internet, water, etc. for the day or days that you are caring for the person’s pets.

Que. Are dog walkers liable?

Ans. According to the law, a dog’s owner is always held accountable for the animal, While they are in charge of the dog, a dog walker is designated as being in control of it. As a result, the Act imposes obligations on dog walkers and provides for criminal penalties as well.

Que. What is the difference between pet hosting and pet sitting?

Ans. Pet sitting is the care of a pet in its own home. Some owners could think this to be better because their pets might feel more at home, comfortable, and friendly in this atmosphere and in pet hosting, the animal is cared for at the pet sitter’s residence.

Que. What do pet owners look for in pet sitters?

Ans. Pet sitters that make you feel at ease by keeping in regular contact with you while they are caring for your pet are the finest. They may call you so your pet can hear your voice on the phone or they may text you pictures of your pet during the day to let you know that they just got back from a walk with them.