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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 care 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 who 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: Protects your business from third-party property damage and personal injury. For example, if a dog walker’s dog bites a pedestrian, this insurance would cover the medical treatment costs.
  • Professional liability insurance: Also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, it covers damage caused by mistakes or negligence. For example, if a pet groomer uses a shampoo that triggers an allergic reaction, this insurance would cover the vet bills.
  • Equipment and tools coverage: Ensures your work tools, like grooming equipment or pet transportation gear, are protected from theft or damage.
  • Commercial auto insurance: Required if you use a vehicle for your pet care business, offering protection in case of accidents, theft, or damage.
  • Care, custody, and control insurance: Covers situations where a pet gets hurt or lost while in your care.
  • Business interruption insurance: Helps cover bills like rent and payroll if your business stops generating income due to a fire or natural disaster.

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 care 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: Your 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 the risk of damage and theft is considered greater.

How pet care insurance protects your business in various situations

Business Interruption

Michael has grooming shop, Pretty Paws, located in a busy commercial complex. One day, a fire broke out and damaged his shop and the equipment inside. Thankfully, there were no pets in the store at the time, but Michael had to take a break from welcoming clients because the premises and equipment was unusable. Thankfully, he had business interruption insurance, which supported him during the period he was unable to generate revenue.

What was covered?

  • Lost income: Michael received financial help from business interruption insurance for the income he missed when his pet grooming shop, Pretty Paws, was closed because of fire damage. This helped him stay financially stable during the shutdown.
  • Bills and expenses: The insurance helped cover Michael's business expenses for things like rent, utilities and employee wages.
  • Fixing costs: The insurance also helped pay for fixing the shop and replacing damaged equipment, so things could get back to how they were before the fire.
  • Moving temporarily: If Michael had needed to move to a temporary space to keep his business open, the insurance coverage would have helped cover the costs of setting up the new location.

Client Pet Injury

Samantha is a pet sitter. She takes care of several different pets while their owners are on vacation. One day, a dog she was walking got loose and was hit by a car. The dog required medical attention, which Samantha had to pay for. Luckily, her pet care insurance covered the incident and she was reimbursed after filing a claim.

What was covered?

  • Medical expenses: Samantha's pet care insurance took care of the vet bills needed to treat the dog's injury. This meant Samantha only had to pay the deductible.
  • Liability coverage: If the dog's own sought to sue Samantha, her policy's liability coverage would help pay the legal costs.

Frequently asked questions about pet care insurance

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Do I really need pet care insurance if I work alone?

Although it's not mandatory, even sole proprietors should consider getting pet care insurance. It protects you from unexpected costs due to accidents or claims that could otherwise jeopardize your business. Moreover, some clients require proof of insurance before hiring pet service providers. So, while it may feel like overkill for someone who only pet-sits part-time, insurance can be an immensely valuable asset in numerous situations. And because the cost of pet care insurance tends to scale with the size of a business and the amount of revenue it generates, getting protection should be relatively cheap.

Do I need pet service insurance if I work for Rover?

Rover is a well-known online service that links pet owners with reliable pet sitters and dog walkers. It helps pet owners find trustworthy care for their pets, whether they require someone to watch over them during travel or just need a dog walker for the day. Services available include dog boarding, house sitting, drop-in visits, doggy daycare, and dog walking.

Here's what you need to know when it comes to Rover and pet service insurance:

  • Rover's coverage: Rover offers the Rover Guarantee, which covers vet care for up to $25,000, but it doesn't cover every situation, like negligence. Their policy also only covers the pet and not the sitter, which is why many Rover sitter's choose to get their own additional coverage.
  • Additional insurance benefits: If you are working for Rover, you should definitely consider getting personal liability insurance, which will cover you for situations that Rover's coverage might not include. Since you will be servicing different clients and their pets, a lot of different situations can arise, especially pet owners blaming you for things that might not be your fault. Furthermore, a full pet service insurance package will provide you with broader protection, including personal injuries, extra property damage, and legal fees, making sure you're covered for any situation. .
  • Situations where you will not be insured by Rover: Client suing you for poor care of their pet, you fall down the stairs and hurt yourself while at a clients house, a client accuses you of theft, or a dog biting you are some examples.

What does pet care insurance cover?

Pet care insurance usually covers a range of liabilities, including bodily injury, property damage, pet injuries and professional negligence. Specific policies may offer additional coverage tailored to the unique needs of your pet service business.

Is pet service insurance expensive?

The cost of pet service insurance varies widely based on factors, like the size of your business, the type of services you offer and your claims history. On average, you can expect to pay between $500 to $2,000 annually for a basic policy, but some business will pay more or less than this range.

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