Their pets, your responsibility.
Care, custody and control coverage, general liability, bonding and pet taxi auto for pet sitters, dog walkers and in-home pet care businesses.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · How this page is researched
Leashes, keys and other people's homes
Pet sitters hold house keys and alarm codes, and dog walkers handle several dogs at once near traffic and other animals. A dog that slips its leash, bites a passerby or gets hurt on a group walk can turn into a claim against you.
Standard general liability often excludes animals in your care. I look for policies with care, custody and control coverage for the pets themselves, a bond for theft claims, and auto coverage if you drive pets around.
- Animal baileeInjury to pets in your care, often called care, custody and control.
- General liabilityBites, trips and damage in clients' homes.
- Business service bondTheft by an employee from a client's home.
- Workers' compWalkers you employ, including bites and falls.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- Services: sitting, walking, overnights, pet taxi.
- Dogs: most you walk at one time.
- Staff: employees or independent walkers.
- Keys: how you store client keys and codes.
- Vehicles: whose cars carry pets.
- Revenue and payroll: annual figures.
Pet sitter insurance, answered
Does general liability cover a dog I'm walking?
Often not. Animals in your care usually need care, custody and control coverage, added by endorsement or included in a pet-care policy.
Is a bite to a stranger covered?
General liability often responds to a bite by a dog in your care, subject to the policy terms and any breed or bite-history limits.
What does a bond do for a pet sitter?
A business service bond reimburses a client for theft by your employee. Clients ask about it because you have their keys.
Do I need workers' comp if other people walk for me?
If they're employees, yes in California. Calling them contractors doesn't settle it; California's legal test for employee status does.
Do you offer pet sitter and dog walker insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. Sam Alishahi is licensed in 48 states and Washington, DC and places policies there directly. In Florida and Washington, where Sam's licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime. The shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see insurance requirements by state.
Tell me how many dogs. I'll shop it.
Services, walkers and dogs per walk are enough to start.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.
Tell me how to reach you. I’ll take it from there.
Takes about 30 seconds. Your application link comes by email right away, and you get an update at every step until your quotes are ready.
(877) 711-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
Get a reminder before your renewal.
Tell me when your policy renews and I’ll email you about six weeks before, when it’s worth comparing. One email, no calls.