Pet sitting
Encyclopedia
A pet sitter is a contracted service provider who takes care of a pet
or other animal
at its own home.
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. Pet sitters usually have training, such as pet first aid
certification, animal husbandry
classes, or pet sitting accreditation. A number of professional organizations exist to help pet sitters improve their services.
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.
sitter visits a client's home several times, as required. The exact length of visit is determined by both pet owners and pet sitters, averaging from fifteen to forty-five minutes. Most pet sitters bill clients on a per-visit or per-day basis, including additional charges for multiple pets, travel expenses, and special tasks. Less commonly, pet sitters offer live-in care. Pet sitters also provide house sitting
in conjunction with vacation pet care.
services. Disabled clients and the elderly often hire pet sitters to exercise and care for their pets if they are unable to do so.
Pet sitters may also offer other more aggressive methods of exercise for dogs during dog walking appointments. These may include jogging
, running
, inline skating
, bicycling, or dog scootering
with client dogs.
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 coverages 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.
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.
The curriculum of pet sitting programs may include pet care, health and first aid
, nutrition and behavior, and/or business development and management.
Certification that is credentials based may require the pet sitter to provide a criminal background check, proof of insurance, proof of bonding
, certificate of completion of a pet first aid program, documentation of business methods and policies, or other evidence to support their professionalism and adherence to minimum pet sitting industry standards.
It is more common for pet sitters to obtain separate certification specifically in pet first aid. Hands-on pet first aid and CPR
training classes are offered through such well known organizations as the Red Cross, Petco, and PetTech. Virtual classes are also available for pet sitters who do not have hands-on classes available in their area.
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
or other animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
at its own home.
Professional 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 vaccinationVaccinationVaccination is the administration of antigenic material to stimulate the immune system of an individual to develop adaptive immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by many pathogens...
s are often less restrictive than those necessary at a kennelKennelA kennel is the name given to any structure or shelter for dogs. A kennel is a doghouse, run, or other small structure in which a dog is kept... - 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. Pet sitters usually have training, such as pet first aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
certification, animal husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
classes, or pet sitting accreditation. A number of professional organizations exist to help pet sitters improve their services.
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.
Vacation care
During vacation pet sitting, a petPet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
sitter visits a client's home several times, as required. The exact length of visit is determined by both pet owners and pet sitters, averaging from fifteen to forty-five minutes. Most pet sitters bill clients on a per-visit or per-day basis, including additional charges for multiple pets, travel expenses, and special tasks. Less commonly, pet sitters offer live-in care. Pet sitters also provide house sitting
House sitting
House sitting is the practice whereby a landlord , leaving their house for a period of time, entrusts it to one or more "house sitters", who by a mutual agreement are entitled to live there rent-free in exchange for assuming responsibilities such as taking care of the homeowner's pets, performing...
in conjunction with vacation pet care.
Dog walking
Pet sitters also provide dog walkingDog walking
Dog walking is both a pastime and a profession involving the act of a person walking with a dog, typically from the dog's residence and then returning. This constitutes part of the daily exercise regime needed to keep a dog healthy...
services. Disabled clients and the elderly often hire pet sitters to exercise and care for their pets if they are unable to do so.
Pet sitters may also offer other more aggressive methods of exercise for dogs during dog walking appointments. These may include jogging
Jogging
Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running.-Definition:...
, running
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
, inline skating
Inline skating
Inline skating is a recreational sport practiced widely internationally. Inline skates typically have 2 to 5 polyurethane wheels, arranged in a single line. The in-line design allows for greater speed than roller skates and better maneuverability...
, bicycling, or dog scootering
Dog scootering
Dog scootering is a sport where one or more dogs pull a human riding an unmotorized kick scooter. It is similar to mushing, which is done in the winter, but generally with fewer dogs and with a scooter instead of a dogsled. The dogs wear the same harnesses that sled dogs wear, and are hooked to...
with client dogs.
Insurance
Most professional pet sitters are insuredInsurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
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 coverages 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 fidelity bondFidelity bond
A fidelity bond is a form of insurance protection that covers policyholders for losses that they incur as a result of fraudulent acts by specified individuals. It usually insures a business for losses caused by the dishonest acts of its employees....
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
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
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.Certification and accreditation
A variety of pet sitting organizations offer optional training, testing, or review of credentials for pet sitters in the form of certification or accreditation.The curriculum of pet sitting programs may include pet care, health and first aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
, nutrition and behavior, and/or business development and management.
Certification that is credentials based may require the pet sitter to provide a criminal background check, proof of insurance, proof of bonding
Surety bond
A surety bond is a promise to pay one party a certain amount if a second party fails to meet some obligation, such as fulfilling the terms of a contract...
, certificate of completion of a pet first aid program, documentation of business methods and policies, or other evidence to support their professionalism and adherence to minimum pet sitting industry standards.
It is more common for pet sitters to obtain separate certification specifically in pet first aid. Hands-on pet first aid and CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure which is performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person in cardiac arrest. It is indicated in those who are unresponsive...
training classes are offered through such well known organizations as the Red Cross, Petco, and PetTech. Virtual classes are also available for pet sitters who do not have hands-on classes available in their area.