Do pet sitters and boarders need to consider public liability insurance?
Scroll any dog sitting or boarding website and the one thing you’ll notice in every sitter’s profile is a selfie of them with a huge grin and a pet they’ve once looked after. If there’s an industry that loves their job and clients more than any other, it’s this one. Until something goes wrong.
The business of pet sitting
Pet sitters’ and boarders’ insurance is one way to cover your business, the furry and not-so furry pets in your care, if an accident happens while performing the job you love. Regardless of whether you work as a casual or full-time pet sitter or boarder, there are a number of different risk exposures that are unique to your industry.
While there currently is no regulation requiring pet sitters and boarders to have specific insurance in place when looking after a client’s pet, Marsh recommends considering public liability insurance to help cover your business from the unexpected.
What is public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance can help cover your pet sitting or boarding business if a client, their pet or a member of the public is injured due to your business activities. It can also help cover you in instances where damage to a person’s property has occurred.
When liability barks…
The following situations are generic examples of where pet sitters’ and boarders’ public liability insurance may help to cover your business in the event of a claim.
- Accidentally damaging your client’s property while staying at their home.
- Minding multiple pets can open your business up to the risk of animal verse animal altercations.
- Some cats like to wander and some dogs like to dig escape tunnels. While you can put in place preventative measures to try and stop them, there will be situations where they still manage to escape. If a pet under your care was to become injured, on or off the client’s property, you might be liable to pay any expenses associated with that incident, including vet costs.
Go over your policy with a fine-toothed comb
The inclusions and exclusions within an insurer’s public liability policy may vary depending on your provider. Marsh recommends you read your product disclosure statement or contact your provider to learn more about the specific details of your cover.
Don’t just rollover, take the lead with Marsh
Marsh can help pet sitters and boarders take out public liability insurance that’s competitively priced and tailored to meet the unique risk exposures of the pet services industry.
As insurance brokers, our support does not end once your insurance has been arranged. We provide continued support for our pet professional clients and will advocate on your behalf in the event of a claim.
Speak to our team members today and call 1300 361 353 to get a competitive quote for pet service insurance.
