Animals are truly special creatures. Not only can they provide a type of care that most people can’t get anywhere else, but there are practical situations where they can serve viable purposes in society. From bomb-sniffing dogs to public servants, animals of all kinds can serve all kinds of unique positions. That being said, most people in Canada are avid animal lovers. In fact, it has been reported that fifty-seven percent of Canadian households own pets. This is literally over half the people in the country. And, given the size of the country, this is pretty impressive.
That aside, there are times where owners just can’t be there for their pets. Whether it is long business or unexpected illnesses in the family, there are times when life throws you a curve ball. What to do with your pets during these times? Pet care, of course. Pet care is a booming field in Canada, but if you are going to get into the industry, you’re going to need the proper business insurance coverage. What coverage do you need and why?
Types of Pet Care Insurance We Provide:
If your business is not mentioned below, have no worries. Our insurance markets can provide liability coverage for the majority of pet care industries.
- Pet Boarding Insurance
- Pet Grooming Insurance
- Pet Hospital & Vet Insurance
- Pet Sitters Insurance
- Pet Trainers & Walkers Insurance
An Exploration Of Pet Care Insurance Policies
Starting a pet sitting business might seem like an easy venture. And, it is in terms of legality. There aren’t many licenses that you need. It doesn’t take a degree or really any previous experience to become a pet sitter. Unfortunately, this is not the case for groomers. Although pet grooming does require experience and a degree, there are lots of people still getting into the venture. Whatever route you choose to go down, there is no denying that you can turn your venture into a successful one. Especially in Canada, given that there are so many pet owners.
The only problem is that it only takes one little mistake to make it all go away. One small lawsuit or incident might be enough to force you to close your doors. Whether you’re just a pet sitting in your home or own a grooming shop off-site, you’re completely responsible for these animals when they are in your care. And, people take the care of their animals extremely seriously these days. This is why you need to protect your business with one of the 500 policies available. Which are the most important policies?
General Liability Insurance
As great as cats and dogs can be, they can be like children. Turn your back and they’ll be into things or get gone before you know what’s going on. It doesn’t matter how attentive or vigilant you are, you just can’t be there all the time. And, it is those times when you aren’t there that make the biggest differences. This is exactly where general liability insurance comes in handy. This type of policy will cover common pet care risks, such as dogs or cats being injured while they are in your care. Whether it is a fractured leg, a messed up toenail, a nick during a grooming job, or a fall, this type of policy will cover you, your business, and your employees.
It’ll also cover you from your customers. It is entirely possible that your customer could get injured on-site when dropping off their pets. With all the winter-like weather in the area, it is not unfathomable to imagine a slip and fall outside your shop. This insurance will cover you in those events. It’ll pay for any medical-related expenses as well as court costs in the event that the customer wants to take the incident further. General liability insurance also protects you against damage from customer’s property. If their vehicle is damaged while on your property, general liability insurance will pay for the repairs.
Worker Compensation Insurance Policies
It is entirely possible that you can run a pet care business all by yourself. However, if you want to maximize your potential while making the most money possible, you’ll need employees. Employees not only allow you to take on more work, but they also reduce your risks and exposures. It’ll be like having an extra set of eyes around to watch. Of course, this doesn’t mean that employees pose you no risks. This isn’t the case at all, as there is always the chance that they could get injured on-site as well.
When situations like this happen, they’ll turn to you for compensation. This is where workers’ compensation policies help. These policies will cover your employee’s medical expenses as well as their lost wages from time off it. It’ll even help with their rehab and recovery expenses. Heck, some versions of this policy will even cover you in the event that you get sued over the incident. This is without a doubt a policy that you’ll want in place at all times.
Errors And Omissions Insurance Policies
As a Canadian, you likely know that it is entirely impossible to please everyone. It just doesn’t matter what you do or how good you do it, you’ll never please everyone. Not only this, but there are times when you or your employees might make mistakes. A bad day, too many hours in the office, or family problems. Whatever the situation is, there are times when life just gets in the way and can lead to mistakes in the office. This is where errors and omissions insurance also known as professional liability insurance will provide the protection you need to keep both you and your employees safe. This coverage offers you the same protection that it offers your employees.
This insurance will cover you in the event that the customer claims you did not deliver on the services promised. You’d be surprised at just how much this happens. Whether you are to blame or not, the incident can lead to a lawsuit. Even the slightest of lawsuits can get tied up in the court systems for years at a time. The longer it stays in the courts, the more it’ll end up costing you. Do you have the money stored aside to spend thousands every time you speak to your lawyer on the phone? What about when he deposes clients and appears in court for you?
These events will likely cost you thousands more. What if you lose the lawsuit and get fined millions? You can see where this is going, and this is where E&O or professional liability insurance offers its protection. It’ll not only pay to make the incident right, but it’ll pay any court-related costs in the event that the customer wants to take the case to the courts. And, they often do, especially when it comes to their pets.
Business Owner’s Policy
So far, you heard all about customers, clients, and employees getting injured or being wronged, but what about you? Isn’t it entirely possible that your equipment could get destroyed as well? Sure it is, and this is where the business owner’s policy helps out. Couple this insurance with general liability insurance and you’ll have an insurance package that is so comprehensive it’ll protect you, your business, and your employees in just about any situation that you could run into. These two policies coupled together could oftentimes be the difference between you closing your doors and continuing operations normally.
This policy also extends the protection that general liability insurance offers when it comes to pet injuries and customer injuries. It’ll protect you when customers and pets are on your property. Given that you’re a pet sitter with pets constantly on your property, this is a policy that you do not want to skip over. It’ll prove more than useful in a variety of situations.
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