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What is pet care insurance? 

Pets are family, and every pet-owner wants the best for their furry friends. That's why so many of them turn to pet care service professionals for help.

If you have a pet care business that offers services like grooming, walking, boarding or training, it’s a good idea to protect yourself with a pet care insurance policy. Working with animals can be as unpredictable as it is fulfilling, and the numerous uncertainties you face may potentially result in litigation, damaged property or interruption to business operations if you're not properly covered.

Pet car insurance is a combination of coverages focusing on personal and professional liability, damaged property and injured or lost pets. It is a customizable product that any pet service provider can shape to meet their own specific needs.

Is pet care insurance mandatory in Canada?

Those who provide pet care services in Canada are not legally required to have pet care insurance. But although not a legal requirement, most pet care businesses do operate under the protection of an insurance policy. Pet care providers who choose to get insurance mostly do so to a) protect themselves from a variety of perils, and b) meet the standard of any client that may request proof of insurance before enlisting their services.

While pet care insurance is not legally required, professionals who use a vehicle as part of their business operations must have a commercial auto insurance policy. Even if the vehicle used is the same as the one used for day-to-day travel and errands, commercial auto insurance is a requirement. Your personal auto insurance provider may deny your claim if they determine that the vehicle covered by your policy is used for purposes outside the scope of the coverage, such as business purposes.

Who needs pet insurance?

You should consider getting pet care insurance if you have a business in which you look after, train or care for pets belonging to your clients. This can include:

• Pet groomers: These are pet hairdressers who cut, wash and style a pet's fur.
• Dog trainers: Those work with dogs and their owners to teach obedience, modify behavior, or address specific issues
• Pet sitters: These caretakers look after pets when their owners are away.
• Dog walkers: This is someone who walks dogs on behalf of their clients; often they walk multiple dogs simultaneously, which can increase risk.
• Boarding kennel operators: Those who provide overnight and long-term pet-sitting in a specialized location.
• Animal rescue workers: Those who work with animals in need, rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming them.
• Pet store owners: These business owners handle and sell animals and pet supplies.

All of these jobs involve working with animals, which means pet insurance can help cover unexpected costs if something goes wrong.

What type of insurance policies do pet care providers need? 

• Commercial general liability insurance: This is important for any business, including those operating in the pet care services industry. It helps protect your business from third-party property damage and personal injury. For example, if a dog walker passes a pedestrian on the street and one of the dogs in their cares bites the person, the dog walker may be found liable. In that case, the dog walker would be required to pay for the pedestrian's medical treatment. But, a dog walker with commercial general liability insurance would be covered in such an event.
• Professional liability insurance: This is also known as called errors and omissions (E&O) insurance and covers a pet care provider for damage caused by mistakes or negligence. For example, if you are a pet groomer and accidentally use a shampoo on a poodle that triggers an allergic reaction that your client warned you about, professional liability insurance would help cover the resultant vet bills.
• Equipment and tools coverage: This makes sure the things you use for work, like grooming tools or pet transportation gear, are safe from theft or damage. If your specialized industry doesn't require pricey equipment - this is the case for most dog walkers, for example - you typically won't need this coverage since most items can be replaced at low cost.
• Commercial auto insurance: If you use a vehicle for your pet care business - e.g. picking up pets for boarding or daycare - you will be required to get this coverage. It offers protection for your work vehicle in case of accidents, theft or damage.
• Care, custody, and control insurance: This specialized insurance is for pet care providers. It covers situations where a pet gets hurt or lost while in your care.
• Business interruption insurance: This kicks in if your business stops generating income as a result of a fire or natural disaster. It helps cover bills, like rent and payroll.

How much does pet care insurance cost? 

The cost of pet care insurance varies widely depending on factors like the size of your business, the services you offer and the amount of coverage you require. A small pet care business may pay as little as $300 to $2,000 per year, though not every business will be in this range.

Keep in mind that these estimates may not be applicable to your own pet car business. To get a more accurate sense of the cost of insurance, you'll need to get a quote.

What factors affect your pet service insurance rate? 

Type of service: Depending on the specific service you provide, your premium will rise or fall. For example, a dog walker will likely pay less than a kennel or daycare, since the former does not have to insure property.

Type of coverage: Pet care insurance is a customizable product. The more perils you want to protect against, and the more coverage you want for each type of protection, will influence the cost of your policy.

Claim history: If you have a history of filing claims, your insurance will be more expensive because you'll be considered riskier to insure.

Coverage limits: You're insurance premiums will be affected by the coverage limit and deductible that you choose. The more you're willing to pay out of pocket when a claim is filed, the lower your premiums will be.

Location: Insurance costs can change depending on where you operate. Premiums tend to be higher in large cities like Toronto and Montreal, where risk of damage and theft is considered to be greater.