Insured and Bonded

November, 2012

Nikki's Pet Services is proud to announce that we are "Bonded and Insured" by Pet Sitters Associates, LLC.

The Pet Sitting Industry:

The professional pet-sitting industry is growing rapidly because many pet owners feel that there are advantages to using pet sitters, rather than traditional pet care options.

Reasons people use pet sitters include:

*  Possible reduced stress on pets because pets are cared for in their own homes.
*  No "travel trauma" to pets because they do not need to be transported anywhere.
*  Exposure to illnesses and parasites of other animals is minimized.
*  Required vaccinations are often less restrictive than those necessary at a kennel.
*  Pets stay on their regular routines and do not need to adapt to a new environment.
*  Not having to deal with neighbors, friends or family members feeling that they are inconvenienced.

Professional pet sitters are often licensed, and insured for liability including care, custody, and control of the pets in their care. Many pet sitters are also bonded or insured for theft. 

In many areas, no special occupational license is required for pet sitters. The term "licensed" is often used by pet sitting professionals to refer to licenses to do business, kennel licenses, and/or animal transportation permits available within the coverage area of the business. These licenses may or may not be required, depending on the location. Licenses are not available in all areas.

Dog walking:

Pet sitters also provide dog walking services. Disabled clients and the elderly often hire pet sitters to exercise and care for their pets if they are unable to do so.

Insurance:

Most professional pet sitters are insured through nationwide Pet Sitter insurance providers.  As of 2010, the major American and Canadian pet sitting insurance providers include claim limits from 2 million to 4 million per claim for liability claims. They also include an uncommon endorsement that provides coverage for care, custody, and control of the client pets from $10,000 to $200,000 per occurrence. Coverage is included for fire damage, lost keys, and other negligence claims.

As of 2010, the major UK pet sitting insurance providers include similar claim coverage's as the USA providers. The limits for liability claims generally range from £2,000,000 to £5,000,000.

Most pet sitter insurance plans provide coverage for pet transport. The majority of pet sitting industry insurers also provide care, custody, and control liability coverage for all animals, excluding loss from income from an animal that may be used for other business ventures such as farming.

Some resources recommend that pet sitters be bonded. That recommendation has been dismissed by many professional organizations in recent years.

Bonding:

A dishonesty or  pet bond claim generally applies when a pet sitter is convicted in criminal court of theft from a client home. When the pet sitter is convicted, the bond will reimburse the client for the loss, and then seek reimbursement from the pet sitter. This process can take many years to complete, and usually relies on a criminal law court conviction.

Many pet sitters have decided to seek actual insurance coverage for theft instead of procuring a bond. Theft insurance coverage does not require convictions, and can include coverage for accidental breakage, mysterious disappearance, and accidental damage to items in a client home.

Other insurance Topics:

Pet sitters are generally not protected from injury to themselves by regular pet sitting liability coverage. Pet sitter liability insurance usually covers injury to other people and other pets.

Respectfully,

Nikki's Pet Services
954-916-7106
nkantis.blogspot.com