Dog Walker and Pet Sitter Insurance: What You Need
Insurance for dog walkers and pet sitters: animal bailee coverage, general liability for bites and accidents, bonding, lost keys and working through apps.
Dog walkers and pet sitters care for animals in parks, on streets and inside clients' homes. That brings together several risks: harm to the pets themselves, harm caused by the pets to others, and responsibility for clients' homes and keys.
Animal bailee coverage
As with groomers, pets are generally treated as property in insurance. Standard general liability policies often exclude property in your care, custody or control. Animal bailee coverage is designed to help with vet bills or the value of a pet that's injured, lost or dies while in your care, depending on the policy. A dog slipping its leash and running into traffic is a classic example.
General liability: when pets cause harm
General liability addresses injuries and property damage to third parties: a dog you're walking knocks over a jogger, bites another dog's owner, or chews a neighbor's property. Ask how your policy treats bites and whether any breeds are excluded.
Keys, homes and bonding
- Lost key coverage can help pay to re-key locks if you lose a client's keys.
- Damage to the client's home while you're there may fall under general liability, subject to care, custody or control limitations.
- Fidelity bonds can reimburse clients for theft by you or an employee, which many clients find reassuring.
Working through apps and platforms
Many walkers and sitters find clients through apps. Some platforms offer protection programs, but these may not be insurance, may have low limits or many exclusions, and may only apply to bookings made through the app. Read the terms and consider whether your own policy is needed, especially if you also have private clients.
Coverage summary
| Scenario | Coverage to ask about |
|---|---|
| Pet injured or lost in your care | Animal bailee |
| Dog bites a person | General liability |
| Lost client keys | Lost key coverage |
| Theft accusation | Fidelity bond |
| Driving pets to the park or vet | Auto coverage for business use |
Reducing incidents
- Meet each pet first and record health, behavior and vet details.
- Use secure harnesses and check collars before every walk.
- Limit group walk sizes to what you can control.
- Use a key code system rather than labeling keys with addresses.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if a dog I'm walking bites someone?
Injuries to third parties caused by animals in your care are the kind of claim general liability is designed to address, though some policies have specific terms for animal bites. Confirm how your policy handles them.
Do I need insurance if I use a pet sitting app?
Some apps provide limited protection programs, but these may not be insurance and may have significant limits. Read the platform's terms and consider your own policy.
What is a pet sitter bond?
A fidelity bond that can reimburse clients if you or an employee is found to have stolen from them. It reassures clients but works differently from insurance.