Pet Sitting Insurance USA Comparison Chart, Dog Walking and Pet Sitter Liability

by Professional United Pet Sitters LLC

The following companies are known to provide quality pet sitting insurance to individual pet sitters as well as professional pet sitting businesses.  Contact the companies directly for more details. 

If you provide pet sitter insurance, including care/custody/control, and would like to be listed, please send us an email.

Disclaimers

Printable Version:  Updated Jan 15, 2019

 

Professional United Pet Sitters LLC  is NOT affiliated with any pet sitter and dog walker liability insurance companies, including the ones listed below.  

Professional United Pet Sitters LLC does NOT offer or endorse ANY Pet Sitter insurance, business insurance, health insurance, or bonding. 

 

Pet sitter insurance companies are listed below for your convenience only. 
No pet sitter insurance is included with membership to PUPS.

 

Professional United Pet Sitters LLC, PetSits.Com, Happy At Home Pet Sitters, and the owners are not liable for errors in or related to information presented here.   Please contact the companies directly for more current information.  The information listed is the limited understanding we have based on the info we’ve received.  It may be right, or it may be inaccurate.  Or the insurance may be changing while we speak.  This is just for information purposes only, and we can not and do not guarantee the accuracy in any way at any time. We are not personally or professionally affiliated with any insurance listed below.   www.PetSits.Com

 

Provided through:

PSA,  Pet Sitter Associates LLC

Choice Plus Insurance Services  

Mourer-Foster, Inc.
Kennel Pro
 

 

  Veracity Insurance
 

 

Website PetSitsLLC.com ChoicePlusIs.com KennelPro.net PetCareIns.com
You must be a member of PSA (free membership) None None None
Cost per year (annual) One Policy available

$199 Base Rate for one member.

$10 Handling Fee
Charges are based on number of employee pet sitters.

Each additional covered person (spouse, partners, employees, ICs)
+$90 each

Many additional
optional coverages available. 

Please visit petsitllc.com/pet-business-insurance-options for more information on each.  You will see some of them listed in multiple categories below.*

We here at PUPS especially recommend adding the "Broadened Property Damage Coverage & Bond"  option if you choose PSA. It adds coverage for numerous things for only an additional $100

Premiums start at $425

 

Multiple plans available. Contact for additional options

Silver (Base) Plan is
described in this chart

$425 Base Rate

Includes coverage for employees and spouse

Up to 5 ICs for no extra $

There are many flexible options for adding additional coverage, (including such things as foster care coverage and farm coverage), as well as increasing the limits on the base plan coverage.

 

 

Premiums start at $139/year or $13.33/month  
Deductible The only deductible on the PSA program policy is the $500 off-leash deductible
for when a client pet is voluntarily released from its leash outside of the above-
ground fenced yard of the pet owner or the pet sitter (if the optional pet daycare
& boarding coverage is purchased)
No General Liability, Animal Bailee or Pet Groomers Professional Liability Deductible: $100 Deductable on Veterinay Expense Reimbursement $250 for care, custody, and control claims only

No deductible on other claims

No General Liability, Animal Bailee or Pet Groomers Professional Liability Deductible;

$500 Deductible on Veterinary Expense Reimbursement

Is there a discount available? Yes
$15 for PUPS members
No $25 discount to all who pay in full.  $75 discount to all Payway members.

Yes

$5 off for PUPS members

Is bonding available?

Note: bonding generally applies only when subject is convicted of theft in criminal court or proven guilty of a crime.  Restitution may be sought by the insurance company.

Optional

Bond coverage is available as part of the optional "Broadened Property Damage Coverage & Bond" ($100).  See website for more information

Optional

$10,000 of Employee Dishonesty Insurance Coverage

And

Optional bond available
$10,000 limit
$25,000 limit
$50,000 limit

Optional bond available

$100 for $10,000 limit
$183 for $25,000 limit
$266 for $50,000 limit


 

Optional

$10,000 of Employee Dishonesty Insurance Coverage 

 

Is theft insurance (without conviction/separate from bonding) available?

 
Optional

Theft coverage is available for employees and ICs as part of the optional
"Broadened Property Damage Coverage & Bond" ($100)
Optional No

Possibly

(we are double checking now!)

Liability limits

$2,000,000 Annual Aggregate

$1,000,000 Each Occurrence

$5,000 Medical Expense

$1,000,000 Personal/Ad Inj

$2,000,000 Products/Completed Ops

$100,000 Damage to Premises Rented to You

$5,000 Medical

$2,000 Lost/stolen key

$1,000 Per Occurrence Each vet expense (no liability necessary)

$5,000 Aggregate Vet Expense

$30,000 annually and $15,000 per occurrence CCC/Animal Bailee - pets lost, stolen, injured, or killed in your care.

 

 

Coverage for damage to client's property is an optional add on
IMPORTANT: You must add the optional '
Broadened Property Damage Coverage & Bond" to cover things like accidental breakage or damage to the client's property (such as household items) caused by you / your children / employees & ICs.
(+ $100 per year, not per person)

 

Other various optional coverages are available.

$2,000,000 General Aggregate

$2,000,000 Product/Co-Ops Agg

$1,000,000 Each Occurrence

$1,000,000 Personal/Ad Injury

$300,000 Damage to Rented Premises

$10,000 Medical Expense

 

Coverage for Bodily Injury, Property Damage and Personal & Advertising Injury to which this insurance applies

 

And

 

$4,000,000 Annul Aggregate

$2,000,000 Each Occurrence

$10,000 Medical Expense

$2,000,000 Personal/Ad Inj

$100,000 Damage to Premises Rented By Sitter (also fire)

No lost key coverage

$4,000,000 Products and Completed Operations

$10,000+ CCC/Animal Bailee Each Occurrence

$25,000+ CCC/Animal Bailee Aggregate*

  *includes Vet Expense

 

Coverage for damage to client's property is optional

$4,000,000 Annual Aggregate

$2,000,000 Each Occurrence

$10,000 Medical Expense

$2,000,000 Personal/Ad Inj

$300,000 Damage to Premises Rented By Sitter (also fire)

$2,000 Lost/stolen key

$4,000,000 Products and Completed Operations

$10,000+ CCC/Animal Bailee Each Occurence*

$25,000+ CCC/Animal Bailee Aggregate*

   *includes Vet Expense

 

Coverage for damage to client's property is included.

Basic Policy:

$2,000,000 General Aggregate

$2,000,000 Product/Co-Ops Agg

$1,000,000 Each Occurrence

$1,000,000 Personal/Ad Injury

$300,000 Damage to Rented Premises

$10,000 Medical Expense

 

Coverage for Bodily Injury, Property Damage and Personal & Advertising Injury to which this insurance applies.

 

 

 

 

Is care, custody, and control / Animal Bailee included?

If you care for horses, livestock, or show animals, it is up to you to be sure your coverage is high enough!

(covers if you are liable for damage/death/injury/illness of a pet - including vet care, property replacement, etc)

Yes


Up to $15,000 per occurrence of loss to pets. 

Maximum $30,000 annually.

Higher limits are available with the purchase of
the "Optional Expanded Coverage for Client Pets" coverage ($50).

Yes

Many Coverage Options

Yes

$10,000 Aggregate, $5,000 per occurrence is included

 

Higher coverage limits are available.

Yes

Basic policy includes $5,000 limit with a $10,000 Aggregate limit

Higher limits available

the ability to increase your limit up to $1 Million

 

Coverage: Domestic animals belonging to others, while in your care, custody or control for examination, treatment, grooming, boarding or breeding including while in transit in your vehicle.

Is there coverage for claims with no pet sitter negligence?

(this can be used if you need to take the pet to the emergency vet and the client is unwilling to reimburse you for the visit)

Yes

Coverage is available up to $1000 per occurrence (or $5000 annually).
Higher limits are available with the purchase of
the "Optional Expanded Coverage for Client Pets" coverage ($50).

Yes


Coverage included as part of care, custody, control/Animal Bailee up to chosen limit.

Yes


Coverage included as part of care, custody, control/Animal Bailee up to chosen limit.

 

 

Yes


Coverage included as part of the Animal Bailee limit chosen

 

 

Effective date If paying with a credit card, coverage is effective at the date and time of
purchase. You can also choose a future effective date.
You determine effective date You determine effective date You determine effective date
Are ICs, spouse & employees covered

Note:  ICs should always get their own coverage in the own business name separately through their own business.  It is best  for you to also cover them also with your policy through your business.

Coverage applies only to legal situations.  I.e. if you do something illegal like prescribe medications without a veterinary license, coverage does not apply.

Basically the business owner is covered under the base rate.

Limited temporary help, which is generally help you pay less than $600 per year, is also covered with no extra charge.

Your children under 18 years old are covered at no extra charge.

Each other employee/IC/spouse is an additional $90. You do not need to identify each by name, just buy enough coverage to cover all employees at one time.
 
Your business entity determines the individuals insured under the policy, but typically the business owner, employees and spouses are insured.

Optional:  IC's can also be included as insured.

The business owner, employees, and spouse are included under the base rate.

$50 fee for each IC

Your business entity determines the individuals insured under the policy, but typically the business owner, employees and spouses are insured.

Optional:  IC's can also be included as insured.

 

Are under 18 year old employees covered to do pet sits alone? Yes
Minor employees of an adult owned business can be covered as regular employees. 

PSA will not sell insurance to minors who wish to be self-employed as a business owner.  The business owner (the one getting clients and setting up the contracts with clients) must be over age 18.
Yes Yes Yes
Can I bring my kids to sits?

Note - insurance coverage does not include injuries or damage to the children or the children's property.
Yes
You may bring your minor child to pet sits (whether they are helping you or just tagging along) and your coverage will apply.
Yes Yes Yes

Are all animals covered?

Note:  There is no coverage for injuries caused to or by personal pets or foster pets owned by the member, employees, or ICs

Yes
Yes, as long as the horses and farm animals are considered pets by their owners
and are not used as part of a for-profit business. It is okay if byproducts of the
farm animals are consumed (meat, milk, eggs), as long as the products are not
sold for profit.
Yes with limitations:   

Domestic animals belonging to others, while in your care, custody or control for examination, treatment, grooming, boarding or breeding including while in transit in your vehicle.

Yes with limitations:

Domestic animals that the insured is sitting or working with are covered. 

Incidental sitting of small farm animals / horses covered (less than 5% of gross receipts)

Large farm services is not be included in this coverage, but separate policy can be provided.

 Foster coverage is not included on the Base silver plan, but is on the Gold. 

Strays and pets of friends and Family are not covered.

Please note that the limit per occurrence is $5,000 - you will need to determine if this is enough to adequately cover your animals (such as horses, expensive breeds, etc). 

Yes with limitations:  

Domestic animals belonging to others, while in your care, custody or control for examination, treatment, grooming, boarding or breeding including while in transit in your vehicle.

Medicating covered Yes
When Compliant with state law.
Yes Yes
When Compliant with state law.
Yes
Is house-sitting (No pets) coverage available/included? Optional House-sitting endorsement is available only if house sitting is less than 45% of business income. 
+ $100
Yes Yes
  House-sitting must make up less than 25% of all gross receipts for housesitting coverage to apply

Optional

House-sitting coverage is available

Is pet taxi covered?

Note:  No auto-insurance is included - just coverage for the pet
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Are overnights at the client's home covered? Yes  Yes Yes Yes
Is boarding / day care covered at your own home?

Please note:  Coverage may not include damage to your own property

Optional '“Pet Daycare & Boarding Coverage”' is available.  Required for ANY pets taken to a pet sitter home or facility. Cost is per location, and restrictions and additional requirements apply.
+ $160
Yes Yes Yes

There are some limitations to the number of pets allowed.  Visit website for more information.

 

Is grooming covered?

 Optional “Pet Grooming” coverage is available.

+$100

No
grooming coverage is needed if just bathing, brushing or trimming nails. 

Optional 'grooming' coverage available Yes Basic grooming is included in your basic policy, but if the majority of your revenue is derived from grooming you should consider puchasing the Pet Groomers Professional Liability coverage available on the website
Is poop scooping only service (no pet sitting) covered? Yes
PSA is promoted by major Poop-scooping only organizations.
Yes Yes Yes
Is dog training covered?

Note:

'Basic dog obedience' (sit, stay, come) that is used in direct conjunction with pet sitting work is covered.

Optional “Dog/Cat Obedience
Training” coverage available for training outside of pet sitting work.
+$155

Optional coverage does not cover training for protection, guarding, fighting, or police work. 

Optional 'Training' coverage available Yes Yes

No Guard, Attach or Law Enforcement Training

Is online listing available

Optional

Optional listing in “Find A Provider” on PSA website
petsitllc.com/find-a-provider
+ 10

 

No

 

No

 

No

Insurance Provided By RPS Eau Claire Options depend on individual needs. Talisman Insurance, or others depending on individual needs Lloyds of London

*One major provider asked to be removed from side by side comparisons to other insurance providers.   This provider is also a good option, and if you'd like their name, email us.

Additional Information:

Injury to yourself or your personal belongings (including pets)
As far as we know, no Pet Sitter insurance covers harm to yourself, people you bring along, personal pets you bring along or your personal / business belongings. 

If you are hurt in a client's home, this would be something that would usually be covered by Worker's Compensation.  Many business owning sitters do not have worker's comp for themselves (and some are not allowed to get it in their states to cover THEMSELVES), but must have it for their employees.  So you will want to consider looking into a worker's comp plan for yourself to cover injuries acquired on the job.  Or start a big savings account for emergencies!

The vast majority of health insurance plans do NOT cover injuries acquired while on the job.

You can try to sue a client for injuries acquired due to their negligence.   For example, if the roof caves in on your head, you could probably sue for your injuries.  The client's personal insurances may cover these situations. 

Injuries to yourself acquired from a pet in your care, under a pet sitting contract, may be entirely your responsibility.  Some states regulate that once you agree to take control of the pet by caring for it, you are entirely responsible for injuries caused by the pet to others or yourself.  Your Pet Sitter insurance will cover injuries to others (up to the limit), but not to your own person.  Other states have different standards, so you could try to sue the owner and hope for the best. 

As a side note, if a client pet (or any wild animal for that matter) bites you and you report it to a doctor, by law most if not all have to report it to the state.  Police will likely come to take information, and may take the dog/cat, no matter what the circumstances.  Vicious and dangerous hearings may result.  So obviously, don't lie and tell a doctor your own pet bit you to hide the truth!

Another side note - if you get bit and need a stitch or 2 and some antibiotics, it will cost lots - a lot more than you expect if you are used to having health insurance.  So just step back and rethink twice if you are a little nervous about any animal.  It's certainly not worth the cost!

Negligence Required
Pet Sitter insurance generally covers you ONLY if you were negligent in your duties.  If something is beyond your control, you are not covered or liable.  For example, if a broken sink starts to leak and you haven't touched it, you are not responsible.  There are a lot of fuzzy areas, and the pet sitter insurances above (at least the first 2) have a good track record of sorting out fuzzy items.

Exception:  Currently all four insurers listed above do include vet coverage for non-negligent situations as listed in the chart.  This means you can take an ill pet to the vet and trust that you will get reimbursed no matter the circumstances.

Considering a Claim
Consider placing a claim even if you think you are not covered.  Adjusters have the job of finding out what your coverage really is, so it can't hurt to file a claim (unless you are filing many and are about to get dropped).

 

Click here to return to the PUPS Pet Sitter Insurance Comparison summary page

 

Potential Areas Covered:

  • ALABAMA AL
  • ALASKA AK
  • AMERICAN SAMOA AS
  • ARIZONA AZ
  • ARKANSAS AR
  • CALIFORNIA CA
  • COLORADO CO
  • CONNECTICUT CT
  • DELAWARE DE
  • DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC
  • FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA FM
  • FLORIDA FL
  • GEORGIA GA
  • GUAM GU
  • HAWAII HI
  • IDAHO ID
  • ILLINOIS IL
  • INDIANA IN
  • IOWA IA
  • KANSAS KS
  • KENTUCKY KY
  • LOUISIANA LA
  • MAINE ME
  • MARSHALL ISLANDS MH
  • MARYLAND MD
  • MASSACHUSETTS MA
  • MICHIGAN MI
  • MINNESOTA MN
  • MISSISSIPPI MS
  • MISSOURI MO
  • MONTANA MT
  • NEBRASKA NE
  • NEVADA NV
  • NEW HAMPSHIRE NH
  • NEW JERSEY NJ
  • NEW MEXICO NM
  • NEW YORK NY
  • NORTH CAROLINA NC
  • NORTH DAKOTA ND
  • NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS MP
  • OHIO OH
  • OKLAHOMA OK
  • OREGON OR
  • PALAU PW
  • PENNSYLVANIA PA
  • PUERTO RICO PR
  • RHODE ISLAND RI
  • SOUTH CAROLINA SC
  • SOUTH DAKOTA SD
  • TENNESSEE TN
  • TEXAS TX
  • UTAH UT
  • VERMONT VT
  • VIRGIN ISLANDS VI
  • VIRGINIA VA
  • WASHINGTON WA
  • WEST VIRGINIA WV
  • WISCONSIN WI
  • WYOMING WY

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