Pet sitter insurance

You have selected the perfect pet sitter and are ready to hit the road but there’s one thing left to answer: who will cover the veterinarian cost if my pet gets sick while under the care of the pet sitter? What if my pet breaks somethingy? Find out why it’s always a good idea to have pet sitter insurance cover in case of accidents.

What does a pet sitter do?

Before we dive into pet sitting insurances, let's first briefly discuss how pet sitting works. It couldn't be simpler. The sitter comes to your home to take care of it, or your pet goes to the pet sitter's home. This can take as little as one day or as long as several weeks. Pet sitting services range from a simple walk to extended pet sitting at your home or at the home of the host family. Becoming a pet sitter is easy, just follow our guide.

There are two ways to find a pet sitter. The first is to simply ask someone close. Asking a friend or family member for help can help you avoid letting a stranger into your home, which can be difficult for some people. Another advantage, this time for your pet, is that it will not have to get used to being with a stranger. This is especially beneficial for shy pets or pets that are suspicious of strangers.

Who should be covered?

Accidents happen. It is, therefore, recommended that the pet owner, as well as the pet sitter, have liability insurance in case of damages caused by either the pet or the pet sitter during the assignment.

The pet owner

Pet owners should make sure that their personal liability insurance covers pets and, if that’s not the case, should look into pet insurance before leaving their pet in the care of someone else. No matter if it’s cat scratches on the couch or a dog’s teeth marks on a pair of shoes, damages happen quickly and can turn the initially economic alternative of using a pet sitter into a costly affair

The pet sitter

Pet sitters provide care to your pet during your absence. Their services can range from dog walking to cat sitting in your home for a few days or weeks at a time. Some pet sitters also offer to board your pet at their place. Beyond carrying out these services, they’re also in charge of your pet’s safety and well-being during the whole time they spend with it. Possible damages to your home or your pet should be covered by them. If you decide to leave your pet in the care of a cattery or a dog daycare make sure that they have valid third-party liability insurance.

Pet sitter insurance cost

If you’re thinking about getting pet insurance, always make sure to read the small print. On average, pet insurances cost around 10$-20$ a month but the costs can vary. Make sure you really get what you need and that your pet is covered in every scenario. Some insurances exclude certain animals, others require extra liability insurance for bigger pets like dogs.

Holidog’s injury coverage

Dedicated pet sitter services like Holidog can offer insurances upon booking a pet sitter. It is, however, always a good idea to look into insurance coverage before finalising the contract. Make sure that your own insurance covers pets or consider looking into pet insurances. At the same time, make sure that the pet sitter is covered by third-party liability insurance.

There are insurances available to cover your pet’s veterinarian costs in the case of an accident or unforeseen injuries. Holidog offers Holivet that covers all veterinary fees that can be booked separately with each assignment. The price will vary according to the number of pets.

Holivet covers everything from surgical interventions, prescriptions, diagnoses and even pet ambulance costs up to 1000$ during the period of the contract. Please note that accidents caused by previous illnesses, reckless behaviour such as walking a pet without a leash in dangerous areas and purposeful injuries are not included.