Pet Sitter Insurance: What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself

Bella

August 7, 2024

Let’s face it, accidents happen. This is especially true if your business revolves around unpredictable furry friends. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your pet-sitting business, securing pet sitter insurance is not just a smart business move, but crucial for peace of mind.

You handle those furry companions with care, but having solid insurance coverage as a pet sitter means you’re protected financially if an unexpected event occurs. This can involve covering vet bills if a client’s pet gets injured, safeguarding you if a pet causes damage to a client’s property, or dealing with liability if a pet under your watch hurts someone. But there is more than just one pet sitter insurance coverage to know about. Do you know them all?

General liability insurance is a must have type of insurance for all Pet Sitters. This type of insurance provides you with protection against bodily injury or property damage incidents/claims that occur to a third party, directly or indirectly due to negligence on behalf of you/your business (including all employees and/or independent contractors working on behalf of your business).

The third party could be another dog or pedestrian walking through a park or on a public street, or it could be your client(s) or a friend or even family member that accompanies you while walking a client’s dog. For example, consider a client’s dog you are walking gets in a scuffle and injures the neighbor’s dog (property damage) or if the client’s neighbor attempts to pet the dog you’re walking and is bitten or knocked down by the dog suffering an injury (bodily injury).

General liability insurance provides legal defense and (if you or your team member are found to be negligent for the property damage or bodily injury), also covers the amount(s) awarded to or settled on by your insurance company and the injured party, up to the liability limit you purchase on your policy.

For many other types of businesses, outside of the pet care industry, the coverage described above would be sufficient, but due to exclusions found under a typical general liability policy, pet sitters require added coverage, sometimes known as endorsements or riders, to properly protect them, which are as follows:

Animal Bailee Coverage/Pet Care Professional Liability/Animal Floater/Care, Custody, or Control Coverage for Pets

All of the above are names or titles used by insurance companies that specialize in the pet care industry to describe how their company will cover your client’s pet(s) while they are in your care, custody or control (or in the care, custody or control of someone working on behalf of your business). This often includes if a pet in your care suffers an accidental injury, suddenly becomes ill, or even passes away.

Depending on the insurer (your insurance company), and the type of policy you purchase, you may even have multiple forms that determine coverage for the client’s pets in your care, custody, or control. For example, purchase a business owners policy via one of the large national insurers such as CNA or Travelers. Your policy may have both an animal bailee coverage form which is often a property insurance coverage form, and you may also have a pet care professional liability form.

Animal Bailee or Animal Floater Coverage

The animal bailee or animal floater coverage form may come with a sublimit, and cover accidental injuries to your client’s pets, while the pet care or pet groomer professional liability coverage form may be used to cover incidents or “wrongful acts” that you (or your team) are found to be negligent for, that arise out of errors or omissions as a professional pet care provider (which differs from general liability form described above, that covers a third party).

There are also insurers that utilize only one coverage form that combine coverage for both accidental injuries as well as errors and omissions causing injuries to the client’s pets in your care, custody, or control. Regardless of which pet sitter insurance company you choose, and/or the coverage form(s) they include in your policy, it is vital to you and your business that you comprehend what is, and what isn’t covered by the policy, as well as the liability limit included, whether an accidental injury or an error or omission on the part of your business.

Veterinarian Expense aka Vet Medical Coverage (Regardless of Fault)

Another very important consideration for all pet care business owners purchasing general liability insurance, is what is known as vet medical or vet expense, regardless of fault, coverage. This coverage is often included, but often only to a very small sublimit, so be sure to read the fine print. As pet sitters, we all are aware the accidents can and will occur to pets, at any given time, at any given place.

Many of these accidents are not your fault or the fault of your employee or contractor. However, when they occur on your watch, you may very well be looked to by your clients to pay for them, as in their (the client’s) eyes, they may believe you/your team were responsible/negligent, even though your insurance company or a judge or jury finds no negligence on your part.

For example, if you let a client’s dog out in their back yard, as instructed by your client, for a potty break, and the dog ingests a poisonous weed/grass, or a stick, rock, toy, etc., or is even bitten by a snake, or steps on a foxtail, etc. etc., all would be considered accidental injuries. While these are not your fault, it can result in expensive vet bills. Even if you indicate in your client contracts you are not responsible for these types of incidents, don’t be surprised if they still attempt to place the blame on you.

Most pet sitter insurance companies will include coverage for these types of claims, and therefore highly recommended, if you want to prevent the possibility of losing your number one client over an incident that a good pet sitter insurance policy would have covered with no issues..

Bonding for Pet Sitters

While not technically insurance, an employee dishonesty bond serves as a financial safety net for your clients. If an unfortunate event like theft of your client’s property happens while their home is under your watch, and it’s proven to be due to dishonest actions by one of your employees (or independent contractors, depending on the definition of an employee in your bond/policy), the bond will cover the client’s losses, and look to the dishonest employee to recoup the loss. Employee dishonesty coverage is all about giving that extra layer of assurance and protection for both you and your client.

Additional Coverages for Pet Sitter Insurance

You’ll want to think through additional coverages depending on your business needs. For example, if you are considering hiring additional dog walkers you’ll want to think about the types of coverage you need to add to your policy.

Coverage Type	What it Covers
Lost Key Coverage	The cost to replace locks or re-key a client’s home if keys are lost.
Workers Compensation Insurance	Provides coverage (all related medical payments, including surgeries, hospital bills, prescriptions, and rehab/physical therapy (as needed) for injuries suffered on the job by you or your employees. Also includes disability ratings and coverage if you or your employee are unable to work for a period of time, after a short waiting period (typically between 3 – 7 days depending on your state).
Non-Owned Auto Insurance	Additional auto liability protection if an employee gets into an accident, causing bodily injury or property damage to a third party, while driving their personal vehicle on behalf of your pet sitting business.

Evaluating Pet Sitter Insurance Providers

Choosing the right insurer can be a head-scratcher. Factors to consider are the specific needs of your pet-sitting business and budget. Compare policies and what each offers (General Liability, Animal Bailee, or Bonding).

It’s a good practice to thoroughly research and even have direct conversations with different insurance providers. You’ll want to find out about things like what a typical insurance policy costs and if they offer month-to-month coverage or require a longer policy period. By being proactive and informed, you can choose a policy that best fits your needs.

Conclusion

Investing in the right pet sitter insurance coverage is an important part of being a responsible and successful business owner in the pet care industry. It protects you from the unexpected and demonstrates to clients that you are serious about their pets’ well-being. I always suggest taking the time to find the right insurance will help you care for those furry friends with confidence, knowing you’re covered, no matter what challenges arise.

This article has been written with the help of David Pearsall, CIC, with Business Insurers of the Carolinas, a licensed property & casualty agent/agency in all 50 states. He advised the above information as a follow-up to our recent podcast. Bella Vasta or Jump Consulting is not a licensed agent on insurance coverage and we recommend speaking to David for all your coverage needs and questions. David has been helping this industry for decades and a trusted resource and friend of Jump Consulting.

FAQ

What insurance does a pet sitter need?

Pet sitters need three types of coverage: general liability (covers property damage and injury claims), care custody and control / animal bailee coverage (covers harm to pets in your care — most general liability policies exclude this), and bonding (protects against employee theft if you have staff). Independent pet sitters can get all three through specialty providers like Pet Care Insurance, Pet Sitters Insurance, or Pet Care Insurance for as little as $200-400 per year.

Does Rover provide insurance for pet sitters?

Rover provides limited coverage through the Rover Guarantee, but it’s NOT the same as pet sitter insurance. The Rover Guarantee only covers vet bills up to $25,000 if a pet is injured during a Rover-booked stay, with strict eligibility requirements. It does not cover property damage, third-party injuries, or work outside of Rover bookings. Independent pet sitters who book clients off-platform need their own liability and bailee coverage on top of Rover.

What does pet sitter insurance cover?

Pet sitter insurance typically covers four things: bodily injury to third parties (someone’s bitten on a walk), property damage (broken vase, stained carpet), care custody and control (the pet itself getting hurt while you’re sitting), and your own equipment (lost keys, stolen leashes). Some policies add lost-key coverage and bonding for employee theft. Always read the fine print on care custody and control — that’s where most claims happen and where most general liability policies exclude coverage.

Do pet sitters need their own insurance?

Yes. Even if you book clients through Rover, Wag, or a similar platform, their built-in coverage has gaps that leave you personally liable in many scenarios. Independent pet sitters who book clients off-platform absolutely need their own policy. Annual cost runs $200-500 for solo sitters with proper coverage. Compare that to even one minor claim — a chipped tooth at the vet, a broken lamp — and the policy pays for itself in a single incident.

How much does pet sitter insurance cost?

Pet sitter insurance costs $200-500 per year for solo independent sitters with general liability + care custody and control coverage. Add bonding for employees and the cost increases by $100-200. Multi-sitter businesses with 5+ employees typically pay $800-2,000 per year. Coverage limits typically start at $1M per occurrence. The cheapest policies skip animal bailee coverage — which is the coverage you’ll most likely need to use.

What’s the difference between Rover Guarantee and pet sitter insurance?

The Rover Guarantee is a limited reimbursement program for Rover-booked stays only. It covers vet bills up to $25,000 if a pet is injured under specific conditions. Pet sitter insurance is a full liability policy that covers you across all your work — Rover bookings, off-platform clients, walks, daycare, boarding. The Rover Guarantee is included free with Rover bookings. Independent insurance costs $200-500/year. Most pros carry both: Rover Guarantee for Rover work, independent insurance as backup.

What is animal bailee coverage?

Animal bailee coverage (sometimes called Care Custody and Control coverage) is the part of pet sitter insurance that covers the pet itself when something happens while it’s in your care — the dog gets hit by a car on your walk, the cat needs emergency surgery after eating something at your house. Most general liability policies EXCLUDE bailee coverage by default, which is why pet sitters need a specialty pet care insurance policy. Without bailee coverage, vet bills come out of your pocket.

What’s the best insurance for pet sitters?

The top three pet sitter insurance providers in the US are Pet Care Insurance (PCI), Pet Sitters Insurance, and Business Insurers of the Carolinas. All three offer specialty coverage including animal bailee, lost-key coverage, and bonding. PCI is the most popular for solo sitters because of low minimums (~$209/year). Pet Sitters Insurance offers stronger coverage for multi-sitter businesses. Compare quotes from at least two before buying — coverage limits and exclusions vary.