Should My Dog Walker Be “Bonded and Insured”?
Lately we’ve had some inquiries about whether it’s really that important for a dog walker and/or pet care company to be bonded and insured. And since more and more walkers and pet sitters are moving off of Rover and Wag! and beginning to build their own pet care businesses, some of them, unfortunately, are not acquiring insurance for themselves or their companies—at least not at first.
Since insurance is a hefty expense for any dog walker and pet care company (especially if you purchase a significant scale of coverage like we do), these uninsured entities can offer lower prices for walks and pet care, which makes them appealing to potential customers as they are searching for pet care in this tough economic climate.
And with questions like “what exactly does it mean to be ‘Bonded and Insured?’” and “Is it really necessary for a pet care company to be bonded insured?” being asked so regularly, we thought we should break down what it all actually means and why it is SO IMPORTANT for a pet care company and/or dog walker to carry liability insurance and be bonded.
Here is a quick and basic rundown of what Insurance and Bonds are:
Insurance
Covers accidents or injuries that happen while the pet care company/dog walker is caring for your pets and home
Covers medical bills for injuries to your dog while in their care
Depending on extent of coverage, a policy may cover the medical bills for another pet or person who is injured by the dog while in the company’s care so you are protected against lawsuits
Bond
Also called a "dishonesty bond" or "fidelity bond"
Protects and reimburses the customer if the pet caretaker committed theft on their property
Also can protect the customer against fraud by a pet care company’s employee
Let’s start with Liability Insurance:
Reputable Pet Care companies carry a General Liablility Insurance (GL) that includes “Care Custody & Control” coverage (CCC), including Vet Medical Coverage. CCC coverage is what bumps up a standard GL package to one that covers your pets and your personal property while under the care of your walker and/or pet caretaker (including while in transit if in a pet taxi, etc). Veterinary expenses are also included to ensure that the pet sitter/pet care company is responsible for paying for the claims of any injury while under the pet caretaker’s care, regardless of fault.
Here are some examples of incidents that would be covered with this type of GL/CCC coverage:
Your pup in a dog walker’s care slipped on ice and cut its paw and needs to get stitches. Your vet bills will be covered for this incident.
A pet caretaker accidentally left the water on in your bathroom sink while pet sitting. While they were out of the house it leaked and caused your bathroom to be flooded and damaged. The costs of repair would be covered under their insurance.
While out on a walk your dog was spooked by a vehicle backfire and slipped out of his collar and ran into traffic. His leg was broken and required surgery. These costs would be paid for by the pet care company, under their insurance package.
Your dog suddenly bites another dog on the street and the bitten dog needs veterinary care. This cost would be covered by an insured pet care company.
When a customer hires a pet care company or a dog walker they are certainly looking for loving and reliable care for their pet but they are usually prioritizing their pet’s SAFETY. Especially with dog walking where your pup is out on the bustling streets and having daily interactions with other dogs, animals and people, there is always a risk that something might happen. The knowledge that your dog walker/pet care company is insured for these types of risky situations and potential incidents, offers you peace of mind knowing your pet is as safe as possible.
Now onto what it means for a pet care company to be BONDED:
Being bonded is really most important when a company has employees, but there are certain insurance companies that offer Bonds to single proprietors without employees. A Bond is NOT insurance, however. It’s a way of guaranteeing customers that if any theft occurred while the pet caretaker was in/on their property, the customer would be reimbursed the cost of the stolen item(s), as long as the company’s limit was high enough.
And there are differences in the types of Bonds that companies hold. For example, many insurance companies require a CONVICTION before they will pay out a bond. So a police report must be filed and through the courts the accused pet caretaker must be found guilty and convicted of the theft. However, certain insurance companies (such as ours, BIC) do NOT require a conviction and reimbursement for the stolen items can be paid out as long as there is sufficient evidence to the theft.
Being bonded is just an added level of protection that a company/dog walker can provide to their customers. It says that the company/pet caretaker understands and values the trust you are putting in them, every time you allow them to enter your home.
In Summary:
Hiring a pet care company or a dog walker who is insured and bonded ensures that you are hiring a pet caretaker who has illustrated a high level of professionalism, as well as a commitment to a set of standards of safety and accountability. It gives you an added level of comfort and ease, knowing your pet is in the best hands possible.
So when looking for pet care, keep in mind that the few dollars you are saving for a walk or an overnight pet sitting service through an uninsured company or individual might save you some money NOW but could end up costing you, significantly, in the long run.