Pet Sitters Insurance

Pet sitters insurance is a must-have business tool for any professional pet sitting business, but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Pet sitters insurance is not the most exciting tool you'll every buy, bit it is an important investment for any professional pet sitting business.

• Pet in your care is injured or eats something harmful
  
  
• Pet in your care runs away
  
  
• Pet in your care bites someone
  
  
• Pet in your care is attacked by another dog/animal
  
  
• Pet in your care damages the property of others
  

When choosing a policy it's a good idea to pick one specifically designed for pet sitting. You can probably buy a general liability policy from a local agency, but it may not cover the pets in your care.

Below are three companies that currently offer pet sitters insurance for a pet sitting business.

Pet Sitters Associates, LLC
This is a no frills pet sitting association that includes pet sitters insurance with your membership starting at $164 per year. The special property endorsement is also available for $95 per year.

I chose Pet Sitters Associates, LLC for my own business. Not only is it the least expensive coverage I found, but it also offers some extra goodies that are either not available with other insurers or are much more expensive.


Business Insurers of the Carolinas
This coverage is only available to pet sitters who are also members of NAPPS (National Association of Professional Pet Sitters) or PSI (Pet Sitters International). These organizations have a lot to offer their members, but if you’re just looking for pet sitters insurance, they are a little pricey. Annual membership fees start at $140 - $160 and the insurance policy starts at $274 per year.


Mourer Foster, Inc.
Located right here in Michigan, Mourer Foster, Inc. offers policies specifically for pet businesses. A pet sitters insurance policy starts at around $350 but the general liability limits are double the policies found above.

Some of the coverages that may be available are:

Bodily Injury or Property Damage
Bodily injury or property damage protects you in the event that there is property damage or an injury to others (someone other than the pet sitter or pet owner). For example, if you were walking a dog and it bit someone or jumped on their brand new Ferrari and scratched the paint you would be covered.

Each Occurrence and General Aggregate
Each occurrence is the total amount your policy will pay for a single incident. The general aggregate is the total amount your policy will pay during the entire policy term – usually one year.

Personal and Advertising Injury
Personal and Advertising Injury protects you in case another person or business claims that you said or did something that damaged them in some way or that you committed a copyright or trademark infringement. For example if you put out an ad comparing yourself to another company and say something negative about the other company that isn’t true, personal and advertising injury can protect you if you’re sued.

Products and Completed Operations
Products and Completed Operations coverage protects you in case there is injury or damage due to a product that you sold or gave away, such as promotional items. The injury or damage must occur away from property you own or lease.

One interesting thing to know about this coverage is that you’re only covered as long as you carry the policy. So, if an injury or damage occurs due to a product you sold or gave away and you no longer have your policy, then you will not be covered.

Fire Legal Damage
Fire Legal Damage sounds much better than it actually is because it only covers property that you rent or lease – and then only for fire damage caused by you. It doesn’t cover property you own or the property of your clients. Of course, if you rent office space, it’s a nice addition to your policy in case you ever forget to turn off the coffee pot.

Loss of Pets in Your Care
Loss of Pets coverage protects you in the event a pet in your care is ever injured, killed, lost or stolen. It also provides coverage for pets when you are transporting them.

Veterinarian Expense
Veterinarian Expense takes your coverage one step further. It will actually pay for a pet’s medical expenses due to injury or illness even when it’s not your fault. Just like General Liability, Loss of Pets and Veterinarian Expense coverage normally has a limit for Each Occurrence and a limit for General Aggregate.

Lost Key Coverage
Should you lose your client’s house keys, this protection will cover the cost of installing new locks and purchasing new keys. However, it probably won’t cover the cost for a locksmith to get you into the door or any damage that may occur when you try to get into a house without the key.

Medical Expense
Medical Expense coverage will help pay medical bills in the event that someone (other than the pet sitter or pet owner) is injured by a pet in your care. This coverage is available even when there is no lawsuit.

What About a Dishonesty Bond?

A dishonesty bond offers protection in case a client's property is stolen. Once the crime has been proven – which can take many months, the bond will pay the damage amount - up to the policy limit. In some cases the insurance company will go after the guilty party to recover the money, otherwise, the business owner may be responsible for repayment.

If you have employees, a dishonesty bond is a vital expense. Not only does it protect your business in case of theft, it also lets you know that your employees are bond-able and offers credibility for your business.

If you’re a sole proprietor a bond is not a necessity, but some pet sitters still choose to be bonded because it sounds good to potential clients. If you work in a highly competitive area, it may be a good idea.

Return from Pet Sitters Insurance to Home Page