By incorporating your insurance with your membership we are able to eliminate the minimum premium per member; this is what usually makes insurance unaffordable for individuals. This policy provides $1,000,000 liability coverage per occurrence with an annual aggregate of $2,000,000. These limits apply separately to each member. Policy terms and conditions are discussed later in the Q & A. The company underwriting this program is a national company doing business in all states and rated by A.M. Best Company as A (excellent).
   As a member of Pet Sitters Associates, LLC, your membership includes coverage through a master policy. You will receive a certificate of membership issued for a one year period from the date of issuance. You will also receive a complete copy of the policy.

   General Liability Insurance will protect you from lawsuits arising out of the operation of your business. Losses such as:
     » You're walking a client's dog and the dog gets loose and bites someone.
     » A client is visiting your office and slips or falls and is injured.
     » General Liability policies usually exclude personal property, including pets, in your care, custody or control. Our policy includes
        coverage for pets in your care, custody or control. Please read about the features of this program further on in this page.
     » Accidental breakage of personal property is excluded. If you are concerned about this, you should read "What does the special
        care, custody and control endorsement for $95 include?"

   They are a national broker-agent that manages this program for the insurance company and the covered pet sitters. Insurance facilities is a national insurance broker specializing in association and group insurance. They have been operating on a local or national basis since 1932.

   You as an individual member of the association. Your minor children that work in your business. Your spouse, employees, independent contractors can be added for $80 each, per year. If your business is a partnership, your partner or partners can be added for $80 each. Injury to yourself, your children, spouse, employee or independent contractors is not covered under this policy.

   Additional Insured's are usually building owners, such as apartment complexes you work at. They can also be city or county parks that you use for your business. They will require that they be added to your insurance policy. They are not employees or independent contractors. The cost of an Additional Insured is $15 each.

If you need to add an employee or IC during the year we pro rate the premium from the time you add the employee or IC until the end of your membership. At renewal time you will need to include the employee or IC on your renewal application and pay the full cost for the upcoming term. The charge for adding them midterm is:

First 3 months of membership: $80.00 each
After 3 months but less than 6 months: $63.00 each
After 6 months but less than 9 months: $44.00 each
After 9 months, until end of membership: $25.00 each

How to add?
To add an employee or independent contractor to your policy please send a note with your name and ID number to PSA with the name of the individual to be added and the appropriate premium charge.

   Coverage is provided for "Bodily Injury" or "Property Damage," plus "Personal and Advertising Injury Liability" for covered perils as defined in the policy. The policy is written on a standardized insurance form provided by the Insurance Services Office, form CG 0001(12 04). Certain policy terms, conditions and exclusions apply. We will explain some of these further on in the Q&A.

   The policy states: "We will pay for those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of "Bodily Injury" or "Property Damage" to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend the insured against any "suit" seeking those damages."

   The policy defines Bodily Injury as: "bodily injury, sickness or disease sustained by a person, including death resulting form any of these at any time."
   Bodily injury liability is designed to pay for injury you cause to someone else. Example, if you were walking someone's dog and that dog bit someone we would be for any liability you would be legally liable to pay. The Bodily Injury limit is : $1,000,000 per occurrence with a $2,000,000 aggregate.

   The policy defines Property Damage as:
     a. Physical Injury to tangible property, including all resulting loss of use of that property. All such loss of use shall be deemed to
         occur at the time of the physical injury that caused it; or
     b. Loss of use of tangible property that is not physically injured. All such loss of use shall be deemed to occur at the time of the
         "occurrence" that caused it.
   Property damage liability is designed to pay for damage to property of others. This coverage contains a special exclusion for property in your care, custody and control. This is why we have designed the special coverage parts for pets and the option to purchase personal property of others coverage.

An occurrence is a single claim or loss. The limit we provide is the most we will pay for a single loss. Liability is at $1,000,000 for "Bodily Injury" or "Property Damage". Loss to pets is $10,000. Loss to personal property other than pets is $10,000 (if purchased)

   An aggregate is the most we will pay for all losses that occur during the policy period. The policy period is one year from the date the pet sitter joins the association. Liability is at $2,000,000 for "Bodily Injury" or "Property Damage" . Loss to pets is $25,000. Loss to personal property other than pets is $25,000 (if purchased)

   The policy states: "Includes "Bodily Injury" or "Property Damage" occurring away from premises you own or rent and arising out of "your product" or "your work." There are many items not covered under this, you should review pages 12 & 13 of form CG 0001 Section 16 paragraph's "a" and "b".
   This is coverage for anything that you sell or give to your clients.

   This covers liability for damage to a premises that the pet sitter leases or rents. This does not provide any coverage for property you own. Example, if you rented an office from someone and there was a fire that you caused we would pay for the damage to that part of the building you rented. If the damage spread beyond your area, the liability policy would pay that under property damage liability.

  • $10,000 per occurrence / $25,000 annual aggregate for loss to pets in your care, custody and control. This coverage is very important and protects you should a pet you are responsible for be lost, stolen or accidentally injured or killed. This also covers the pet while being transported.
  • $2,000 Lost Key Coverage. This would pay for the cost of having new keys and locks installed in a customer's home should you lose their keys. This does not cover the cost of having a locksmith open a door or damage caused to open a door by force.
  • $1,000 per occurrence / $5000 annual aggregate for Veterinarian Expense for animals accidentally injured while in your care when there is not negligence on your part.
  • You may also purchase our Special Personal Property of Others endorsement. This provides you with protection for customer's property in your care, custody or control. Coverage is for $10,000 per occurrence and $25,000 annual aggregate. Cost is a flat $95. This also protects you from negligent acts of your employees that result in loss or damage to property of your customers. This is broader than most bonds as bonds cover only dishonest acts.

   There is a special application for pet day care. We can include your day care if:
     » All pets are checked to be certain that they are current on all vaccinations.
     » All pets must have their own Kennel at the Daycare.
     » All pets must be checked for individual temperament to confirm the are socially acceptable.
     » No more than 10 pets may be allowed.
     » No more than five pets may stay overnight.
     » The application for Pet Day Care is available on this website.
     » There is an additional charge of $155.

   Yes, this is an annual policy covering you year round for your pet sitting activities.

   As stated above, certain standard exclusions apply to all commercial liability policies. These include items such as; expected or intended injury, certain types of contractual liabilities, liquor liability, worker's compensation, employer's liability, pollution, aircraft, auto and owned watercraft, mobile equipment, damage to property you own or lease, war, sexual abuse and molestation.

   There is $500.00 per occurrence deductible for any claim arising out of the voluntary releasing of a pet in your care, custody or control from it's leash, other than in the confined premises of the pet's owner's or pet sitter's residence. There is no deductible if the dog slips the leash or the leash breaks accidentally.

   Bonds usually require that the person be convicted of the crime before the bonding company would make a payment. The bond further requires that the individual make full restitution to the bond company for the payment. Our special personal property endorsement provides broader coverage and includes losses such as breakage, destruction, mysterious disappearance and loss caused by an employee theft from your customer's premises.

   The earliest your membership and insurance will take effect is the date of postmark on your envelope. If you would like your membership to start later than the date of postmark please indicate the date you would like on your membership application.

   If you use independent contractors we consider them the same as employees unless they carry their own insurance. If they do not carry insurance, they each need to be included at the $80 charge.vv

   The special property coverage provides $10,000 per occurrence or $25,000 of coverage annually for the loss of the personal property of the pet owner while in your care. This does not include the loss of the pet itself as that is covered elsewhere in the policy. Coverage is included for theft, breakage and mysterious disappearance of the personal property of the pet owner. Please note that if you do not purchase this optional coverage, there is no coverage under the policy for loss or damage to the owner's personal property.

   The program territory is the United States of America and Canada, which means that PSA members can work in either of these locations. However, the member's main location and mailing address must be within the United States. Therefore if we have a member that lives in the US and works in Canada, that is fine, but we cannot write someone that lives in Canada and works in the US. Please note that there is no coverage for anyone living in or working in Mexico.

   Yes, coverage is provided for transportation of pets in an automobile. However, the $500 off-leash deductible will apply if the animal is not confined in some fashion (either in a kennel/crate or on a leash). Please note that there is no coverage for any damage that the animal may cause to the vehicle.

   This coverage pays for the cost of installing new locks at a customers premises because you lost their key. The lost key coverage does not cover a locksmith getting you into the house or any damage done to the house in an attempt to get inside.

   The grooming coverage provides basic liability for individuals who perform grooming while pet sitting. If you are only bathing and brushing the animal, there is no need for you to purchase this additional coverage. If you are actually cutting or trimming hair and/or nails, you need to purchase the grooming coverage for an additional $100. Please note that this coverage is not intended for someone whose main operation is grooming and this policy does not provide any professional liability coverage.

   If the pet training is directly related to a pet sitting job and you are only providing basic behavioral training (such as sit, stay, come, etc.), then you would be covered by this policy. However, if you are involved in any aggressive training (such as guard, police or drug dog training) or you do any training outside of pet sitting, then you should contact an independent insurance agent (found in your yellow pages) to get coverage as a pet trainer.

   No, there is no coverage for the pet sitters or their property. PSA does not cover injuries to the pet sitters, or their employees and/or independent contractors, as this is something that would be covered by workers compensation insurance not general liability insurance. Please note that there is NO coverage under this policy for injuries to the family members or pets of the pet sitters. PSA does not cover property damage to the pet sitter's property as general liability policies do not include this coverage. The bodily injury and property damage portions of this policy are for third party injuries and damages only.

   PSA does not offer kennel coverage. We do offer coverage for dog/pet day cares and within that coverage we allow 25% of the income to come from overnight stays. If more than that amount of income comes from overnight stays, the business is considered a kennel in insurance terms and we are unable to offer coverage. Most independent insurance agents (found in your yellow pages) would be able to provide a policy for the kennel.

   PSA memberships are fully earned, which means that there is no refund should the membership be cancelled mid-term. However, PSA does make exceptions within the first 30 days of membership.

   PSA sends out renewal letters to all members about 35 to 45 days prior to the expiration of their memberships. However, we do suggest that you mark your calendar to remind yourself of your renewal date in case the renewal letter gets lost in the mail. If you do not receive your renewal letter, you can simply fill out the new membership application, found on this site, and indicate at the top that you are a renewal member and advise what the renewal date should be. Membership is effective the postmark date or any future date listed on the application so as long as you get your renewal application in the mail by your expiration date, you will not have a lapse in membership.

   Medical payments is third party coverage. Our policy includes $5000 coverage. This does not apply to you or your employees. An example of how this coverage works is; if you were walking someone's dog and the dog bit a passerby, we would pay for that person's medical bills. This could be done without the other party starting a lawsuit.

   In some cases we do not charge for incidental helpers. We understand that every pet sitter needs an occasional helper. Coverage is included automatically should you need to hire someone on a temporary basis in the event of an emergency, illness or to help during the holiday season. As this may vary, we suggest you discuss your specific situation with a pet sitter representative at Insurance Facilities.

   You should send your application along with a check or money order for the correct amount due to Pet Sitters Associates, LLC. Your membership and insurance may be effective on the date of postmark on your envelope or any date after the postmark. We are sorry, but we do not currently accept credit cards because of our concern over Internet security issues.

   From the insurance company's standpoint, the coverage is exactly the same for an employee and an independent contractor and it doesn't matter how they are listed on the certificate of membership. The differences between an employee and an independent contractor are mostly tax driven. An employee will have his or her taxes withheld by the employer and receive a W2 at tax time while an independent contractor will not have his or her taxes withheld and will receive a 1099 at tax time. Also, the employer and employee each pays half of FICA (Social Security) and an independent contractor would pay 100% of FICA.

   PSA covers pet sitters, dog walkers, pooper scoopers and dog/pet day cares. If you're business does not exactly fit into one of these categories, please feel free to contact PSA to see if your business might qualify for our membership.

   Petsitfinder.com is a web site that you as a member of Pet Sitters Associates, LLC can be listed on for $10 a year. (Non-members can be listed for $20.) The listing is for Pet Sitters, Pet Walkers, and Pooper Scoopers. Any person visiting the site may put in his or her zip code, city, or state. The search will bring up all the pet sitters, pet walkers, or pooper scoopers in that search area. The site also has a free discussion board.

   To file a claim call the insurance company directly at 1-800-273-2002 Ext. 265 with your name, member id number, and your claim information.

For additional questions about the insurance, please email Colleen Giles-Harris at cgiles@mgarws.com.
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 to 4:30 Central Time.