Overview
A pet care service takes temporary custody of animals through dog walking, pet sitting, grooming, daycare, boarding, or training. Owners hand over animals they consider family, trusting the business to keep them safe, healthy, and secure. Work may happen at a facility, in clients' homes, or out on walks, and animals can bite, escape, get injured, or fall ill while in the operator's care. Beyond the animals themselves, the business interacts with owners, the public, and other pets, creating bite and injury exposure on multiple fronts. A program built for animal care may help address the unique custody, injury, and premises risks of the work.
Part of our personal services insurance guidance.
Risk profile
Pet care risk centers on responsibility for live animals that can be unpredictable. While a pet is in the operator's care, custody (bailee) exposure arises for injury, illness, escape, or death of the animal, and grooming or handling mistakes can lead to claims from upset owners. Animals can also bite or injure staff, other pets, or members of the public, creating bodily-injury liability during walks, daycare, or boarding. Facilities add premises and property exposure including kennels, equipment, and potential disease transmission between animals, while in-home sitting raises off-site liability and key-handling concerns. Staffing handlers and groomers introduces workers' compensation exposure from bites, scratches, and lifting.
Common risks
Injury or illness to animals in custody
While pets are in the operator's care, exposure arises if an animal is injured, becomes ill, escapes, or dies during boarding, daycare, or grooming.
Animal bites to staff and the public
Dogs and other pets may bite or injure handlers, other animals, or members of the public during walks, daycare, or handling.
Grooming and handling mistakes
Nicks, burns, or improper handling during grooming can lead to professional and care-custody claims from pet owners.
Escapes and lost animals
An animal that escapes a yard, kennel, or leash can be lost or injured, exposing the business to liability and owner claims.
Disease transmission between pets
Group settings such as daycare and boarding create the potential for illness to spread among animals in care.
In-home and key-handling exposure
Pet sitting in clients' homes adds off-site liability and concerns over entrusted keys and access to residences.
Employee injuries from animals
Handlers and groomers face bites, scratches, and lifting strain, raising workers' compensation considerations.
Recommended coverages
Coverages commonly relevant to pet care service operations. Not every business needs the same policies.
Core Coverage
Operational Coverage
Employee-Related Coverage
Why tailored insurance matters
Pet care is unusual because the business takes custody of living, unpredictable animals owners treat as family, so the most likely claims involve harm to pets in care rather than standard premises slips. A program should reflect whether the operation grooms, boards, walks, or sits in homes, whether animals are transported, and how many handlers are employed. Aligning general liability with care-custody and professional coverage may help ensure a claim over an injured, lost, or ill animal is addressed rather than excluded, subject to policy terms. Coverage availability depends on underwriting and the services provided.
Hypothetical claim examples
Dog injured during boarding
A boarded dog is injured while in care and the owner pursues veterinary costs. Care-custody and professional liability coverage may respond, depending on policy terms and the facts.
Bite during a group walk
A dog being walked bites a passerby who is injured. General liability coverage may respond to the resulting claim, subject to the specific policy and exclusions.
Animal escapes a yard
A pet escapes the daycare yard and is lost for a period. A policy may respond to liability and recovery-related costs, depending on policy terms and endorsements.
Hypothetical scenarios for illustration only. Coverage depends on the specific policy, endorsements, exclusions, and facts of each claim.
What affects insurance cost
- Services offered: walking, sitting, grooming, daycare, or boarding
- Number of animals in care at one time
- Whether animals are transported by vehicle
- Facility size, kennels, and equipment
- Number of handlers and total payroll
- Claims history and animal-screening practices
How much does it cost?
There is no single price for pet care service insurance — it depends on which of these coverages you carry and the specifics of your business. As a rough guide, here are general national averages for the coverages this business commonly needs.
- $500–$1,500 per year for many small businesses
- $500–$2,000 per year for many small firms
- $1,000–$3,000 per year for many small businesses
- $500–$3,000 per year, driven largely by payroll and job class codes
- $1,000–$3,000 per year, depending heavily on property value and location
- $1,500–$3,000 per vehicle per year
These are general national averages shown for comparison only — not a quote. Actual premiums vary widely with underwriting and depend on the factors above and the specifics of your business, including size, revenue, location, claims history, and the limits you choose. See how we estimate costs.
Coverage considerations
- Confirm care-custody coverage for animals in your charge
- Assess bite liability for walks, daycare, and boarding
- Review in-home sitting and key-handling exposure
- Consider auto coverage if you transport animals
- Evaluate workers' compensation for handlers and groomers
Common underwriting considerations
When insurers review a pet care service business, they commonly evaluate factors like these. This is educational information — nothing here is collected or submitted.
- Services performed on or for clients and the training behind them
- Licensing and certification status of practitioners
- Annual revenue, location count, and booth-renter or employee model
- Products used or sold on clients
- Claims history, especially treatment-related injury allegations
- Premises condition and client foot traffic
Common contractual insurance requirements
Contracts, leases, and licenses in this industry commonly impose insurance requirements such as these. Always review the specific wording in your own agreements.
- Salon and studio leases commonly require general liability with the landlord as additional insured
- State licensing boards for some services require proof of liability coverage
- Booth-rental agreements often require individual practitioners to carry their own coverage
- Event and mobile-service agreements request certificates of insurance
- Financed equipment carries lender insurance requirements
Common coverage mistakes
Mistakes businesses in this industry commonly make when arranging coverage — worth reviewing before you buy or renew.
- Assuming general liability covers claims arising from the service itself — many need professional liability
- Leaving booth renters' coverage unverified while sharing premises exposure
- Overlooking product exposure from items applied to or sold to clients
- Missing coverage for mobile and off-site services
- Underestimating employment-practices exposure as staff grows
Frequently asked questions
Does general liability cover injuries to the animals I care for?
Not usually. General liability addresses third-party injury, while harm to animals in your care typically falls to care-custody or professional coverage, subject to policy terms.
What if a dog I am walking bites someone?
General liability commonly responds to bodily-injury claims from bites that affect the public during walks or daycare, depending on the specific policy and exclusions.
Am I covered when pet sitting in a client's home?
In-home work can usually be addressed, but coverage should be confirmed for off-site liability and entrusted keys. Coverage availability depends on underwriting and operations.
Do I need coverage for grooming mistakes?
Yes. Nicks, burns, or handling errors during grooming may lead to claims that professional and care-custody coverage can help address, subject to policy terms.
Is transporting animals a separate exposure?
If you drive pets to walks or appointments, business auto is often needed because personal policies may not respond to business use, depending on the situation.
Do I need workers' compensation for handlers?
If you have employees, it is commonly required and helps with bites, scratches, and lifting injuries common to animal care, subject to applicable rules and underwriting.
How do I get a quote?
Call The Southern Agency at 1-800-777-1872 or request a quote online for guidance tailored to your pet care service business.