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Maintaining necessary insurance coverages is one of the hallmarks of operating a professional pet-sitting business. As a professional pet sitter, it’s important you have the various types of coverage you need—and at the adequate coverage levels—to protect your clients, yourself, your staff sitters and your business. 

During the PSI's August 2016 free member webinar, What Professional Pet Sitters Must Know about Insurance Coverage, David Pearsall of Business Insurers of the Carolinas explained the various types of coverage pet sitters need to protect their clients, themselves, their staff sitters and their businesses.

He also shared 10 steps pet sitters can take (and share with staff) to prevent insurance claims:

1. Utilize a tracking system (calendar or pet-sitter software) and verify jobs have been completed by your team within 24 hours.
2. Never get between two dogs that are fighting.
3. Keep other dog owners from getting between two dogs that are fighting, if possible.
4. It is your responsibility to keep the client’s dog(s) away from others (especially children) who wish to pet or play with the dog(s) in your care. 
5. Be alert when at parks or other public places and avoid  playing or walking without a leash in highly populated areas.
6.  Avoid using toilets that appear to be broken, never put anything other than toilet paper or pet/human waste in a toilet; and always check behind you to make sure water is not running in toilets or sinks before you leave a client's home.
7.  Always be sure to use proper cleaning solutions (approved by the client) when cleaning up after pets!
8. Check pets' paws before entering home if returning from hike/walks. (Muddy paws can result in carpet stains and big insurance claims!)
9. When administering medications, be certain to give to the correct pet, at the prescribed dosage. 
10. Always make sure all pets are accounted for (not locked in rooms, closets, etc.) and secured (in crates, in rooms, etc.) as directed by the client before leaving the home. 

Are there any additional tips you'd recommend to help avoid insurance claims? Share below in the comments.

Pet sitters in the United States can also contact Business Insurers of the Carolinas at 1-800-962-4611 to learn more about policies available or to request a review of their current policies.