We often get this question when pet sitters and dog walkers contact our agency looking to purchase or renew their insurance and/or bonding. Since this affects all PSI members and prospective members, I would like to share with you why and how our pet sitter liability insurance program was born so that everyone has a better understanding of our policy and why active association membership is mandated to receive the most affordable rates we can offer. The model we were built on back in the early 90's has allowed us to greatly enhance our product offerings over the years and is fundamental to the continuity of all our agency association programs.
Most long time PSI/NAPPS members are aware that prior to the mid 90's there were very few (if any) options to properly cover a professional pet sitter at an affordable rate. That is until Patti Moran approached Village Insurance Agency, Inc (now dba Business Insurers of the Carolinas (BIC)) in June of 1992, and inquired about insurance coverage for members of the National Association of Pet Sitters (NAPS). Initially professional pet sitters and BIC struggled to find any insurance company willing to offer any type of policy for individual members at any price. However, by presenting our case to various underwriters that the professional association group we represented was not a fly by night operation, and that its members were professional business owners with an advanced knowledge in the field of pet sitting and dog walking, we were finally able to convince an insurer to take a chance and offer the proper coverage to pet sitters.
However, to do this at an affordable rate, (that would not break the average pet sitter's bank), we had to be creative in our approach. We presented insurers with the idea of one policy that would cover all its members, and offered to handle all the applications and processing within the agency, as opposed to having the insurance company process. The particular insurer at the time had some experience with other programs done this way, and hence the first master policy in the name of a pet sitter association was born! By providing a policy in the name of the association, all active members were now able to purchase/secure coverage for their individual business under the plan.
Unfortunately, throughout the 90's and into the early 2000's, we had a number of problems with a variety of program insurers. Some of which felt the pet sitter premiums were just too small for the exposure, while others went out of business as they took on too many risky new programs with non-professional groups or associations. BIC was continually forced to seek out new insurers for the pet sitting program. And we were continually able to find solid financial companies in which to do so.
What set our pet sitting program apart was the fact that we worked with professional members of professional associations, (by this time coverage was being offered through both Pet Sitters International and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters), that were willing to pay to be apart of a professional organization dedicated to education, and demonstrating to their pet owning clientele they were not a fly by night operation. The pool of insurers we approached all agreed that the members of the associations we worked with are true professionals that care about their industry enough to join their leading trade associations. They view PSI and NAPPS members much the same way as members of other successful associations such as National Home Builders, who brought professional members together to educate and improve for the betterment of their profession. This validated to insurers that members were serious about their profession (as well as their individual businesses), and did not take coverage for granted.
Furthermore, insurers were impressed with the fact that our association partners were continuously working to further educate their members in the pet sitting industry, especially on the types of claims members were having, and seeking out better ways to reduce losses in their individual businesses. This fact still continues to be valued today by our current A-rated insurance company, Century Surety Company.
Even though we incurred many claims (from dog bites, to water damage and even parties at client's homes), in the first few years, we were always able to find another insurer willing to offer coverage via our master policy plan. And although the product plans we offer today are much improved over our first offering, back in 1992, our underwriters continue to value our approach of working with active professional members of professonal associations such as PSI. This approach allows us the flexibility to continually improve and enhance the broadest insurance products available to professional pet sitters. Today there are many insurance options available for pet sitters and dog walkers, but when you compare the PSI coverage forms to those of other providers, you will find that there is no comparison to the amount of coverage provided for pets and client's property in your care, custody or control.
Today, with the rising popularity of pet sitting and dog walking as a way to make a few extra bucks, promoted by technology companies such as Rover and Wag, it is even more important that professional sitters take advantage of the educational opportunities afforded by PSI and other associations, to separate themselves (true professionals) from the hobbyist sitters. As with more hobbyists, come more insurance claims, more negative publicity to the profession, and higher insurance rates for the industry. Therefore I urge you all to eductate yourselves and your teams, and take advantage of the intellectual capital offered by your association.
In addition, take the time to read the insurance claims in each issue of World and share with your team what can and will go wrong if you're not diligent in your approach. A large number of claims we see today are due to lack of education/training of team members. And many claims can be avoided by simply by implementing and following a few professional guidelines in your business, such as not allowing others to pet the dogs you are walking (no matter how sweet they may seem to be); or making sure you know where the cat in your care is when you leave a client's home, and that he or she has access to the litter box; or taking time to comprehend how to properly administer medication to a client's pet, and knowing which pet is to receive the medication. Over my career, I have attended hundreds of professional conferences and educational seminars for many associations, and often I see many of the same faces each year looking to learn and gain more knowledge in their industry. Many of these are some of the most successful professionals in the industry. I don't believe their success is by accident.