Pet sitter insurance — what you actually need to protect your business

Pet sitting creates a specific risk profile that catches many sitters by surprise: the pets in your care are someone else's property under the law, and harm to them (escape, injury, death) creates direct liability that standard GL doesn't cover. Add the home-access exposure (theft accusations, property damage) and the case for proper insurance is straightforward. Here's what coverage actually looks like.

What pet sitter insurance covers

• General liability ($1M): third-party injury (sitter's actions cause someone to be hurt), property damage in client homes.
• Care, custody & control (CCC): covers harm to the pets in your care. THE most important coverage for sitters.
• Janitorial / dishonesty bond: protects clients from theft allegations — even when nothing was taken.
• Optional: workers comp if you hire other sitters.

What it costs

• Solo pet sitter, annual coverage: $350–$700/year for $1M GL + CCC
• Janitorial bond ($10K-$25K): +$100–$200/year
• Multi-sitter business: $800–$2,000/year + workers comp once you hire

Why CCC is the #1 coverage for sitters

Pet sitting puts you in care of someone's pet for hours or days. The most common claims involve harm to the pet itself:

• Pet escape — door ajar, fence jumped, slipped harness. Recovery costs, replacement value, emotional distress claims.
• Pet injury — slip on wet floor, eating something it shouldn't, allergic reaction.
• Pet death — health condition undisclosed, sudden cardiac event, accidental harm.
• Pet illness — kennel cough, parasites, GI issues that started in your care.

Standard GL excludes these — they're "property in your care" claims, which CCC specifically covers. Without CCC, you're personally on the hook.

Home-access exposure

Pet sitters often have access to clients' homes for days at a time — keys, alarm codes, mail. Two issues:

• Property damage: covered by GL. Broken vase, water damage from forgotten faucet, scratched floors.
• Theft allegations: NOT covered by GL. Standard liability policies exclude employee dishonesty and theft accusations. A janitorial bond is what covers this — it pays out to the client if you or an employee is accused of theft, and protects your reputation even when nothing was taken.

The pre-existing condition documentation issue

Many pet sitter CCC claims hinge on whether a health issue was pre-existing or developed under your care. The defense: document everything. Before each new client, get the owner to sign a sheet listing: current medications, known allergies, pre-existing conditions, vet contact info, behavioral issues. This protects you when "my dog seemed fine before you watched him" becomes the claim.

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Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Coverage availability and pricing vary by state and applicant. Always verify requirements with your state licensing board and confirm policy terms directly with your carrier before relying on this information.