Unleashing the risks: pet business insurance coverages and safety tips
Businesses such as dog walkers, pet groomers, pet trainers, mobile pet care, pet sitting, pet daycare, and pet boarding all face unique risks. Protect your pet care business, employees, and customers with proper safety practices and the best pet business insurance coverages available.
Prevent dog bites
To avoid dog bites, get to know each of your customers and their dogs. Learn about any triggers the dogs may have, and document it on their customer file for future visits.
Dogs biting employees
Even good dogs can bite under certain circumstances. Decrease the chance of injury by properly educating employees on safety and prevention. Approach animals calmly, use gentle handling techniques, and be mindful of their body language to detect any signs of discomfort, stress, or triggers.
Dogs biting customers
Dogs may feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed with strangers or a new environment. Implement a strategic pick-up and drop-off procedure to separate dogs from people. Keep dogs in a secured location after drop-off to limit the customer-dog interactions and reduce the chance of biting.
Dogs biting other dogs
All dogs should be secured at all times and kept in separate areas to prevent interactions and possible aggressive behavior between the dogs.
Added protection: general liability insurance
Pets can be unpredictable, so having the proper insurance coverages can help with unforeseen accidents at your pet care business. General liability insurance helps protect from costs associated with bodily injury and property damage from pets in your care.
Avoid slips and falls in your pet care business
Animal hair, waste, cleaning products, and wet surfaces can contribute to slips and falls in the workplace. Remember these safety guidelines to avoid slips and falls.
Employee slips and falls
Regularly monitor and promptly clean any pet accidents, spills, or wet areas. Require employees to wear slip-resistant footwear to help prevent slips, falls, and injuries.
Customer slips and falls
Keeping customers safe is essential when running a business. Use caution signs near wet areas, place nonslip mats by the entrance, and reduce uneven surfaces with ramps or signs to help protect your customers from injury.
Pet slips and falls
If pets are placed on a table or another elevated surface during their appointment, properly secure them to prevent them from falling. Anchor the equipment to help prevent it from moving or tipping over while in use.
Pets on the loose
Losing a pet under your care can be a distressing situation for both the business and the pet owner. To mitigate the risks associated with losing a pet, it is important to take the following preventive measures.
Pets escaping
Properly secure enclosures, maintain regular supervision, and train employees on proper handling procedures for securing and transporting all pets. Ensure pets are secured with leashes, kennels, or closed areas at all times to reduce the risk of escape.
Heat exhaustion
Pet care businesses like dog daycares and kennels are the most susceptible to heat exhaustion, as many have large outdoor areas. Heat exhaustion can occur rapidly, but it can also be prevented with proactive measures. Limit the amount of time spent outside during warmer weather to prevent heat exhaustion for both employees and dogs.
Employee heat exhaustion
OSHA recommends water, rest, and shade as prevention, as well as treatment, for heat-related illness. Implement scheduled rotations, shaded areas for breaks, and lightweight protective gear to promote a safe, comfortable working environment.
Pet heat exhaustion
Pets need access to fresh water 24/7. Only allow them to be in hot conditions for short periods of time, and offer shaded areas and a cool alternative environment at all times.
Watch for pets who may have symptoms such as excessive panting, weakness, lethargy, rapid breathing, drooling, and vomiting as they are at risk of heat exhaustion. If a dog is experiencing these symptoms, they may be suffering from heat stroke. Move the dog into a shaded or air conditioned area, use ice packs or cold towels to help cool them down, and seek advice from a veterinarian. Learn more about keeping pets safe in the heat from the Humane Society of the United States.
Added protection: animal bailee insurance coverage
SECURA’s Animal Bailee coverage is specifically designed to cover the loss, injury, or death of animals that are in the care, custody, and control of the business. This includes dog bites, animal slips and falls, heat exhaustion, and other pet injuries. Implement safety measures and find the right pet business insurance coverages.
Accidents
Property damage due to animal behavior can happen quickly, but many incidents can be prevented. Accident prevention and effective risk management can minimize disruptions and financial losses.
Employee accidents
Properly train your staff to keep your business consistent and cohesive. Train your employees on proper usage and maintenance procedures. Encourage responsible equipment handling to minimize the risk of accidents and subsequent damage.
Pet accidents and chewing
Pets may scratch, chew, or pull on equipment like cages, toys, grooming tools, and furniture. Durable, pet-friendly equipment can lessen this risk, and provide a longer life for the equipment. Reduce the risk even more with proper pet supervision to prevent them or stop them from damaging equipment.
Transportation damage
It is common for mobile pet care businesses, such as trainers or groomers, to transport equipment from location to location. Using appropriate procedures and transportation vehicles are important steps to preventing damage or loss. Check out our driving safety tips to ensure your employees are trained well on driving safety.
Added protection: Inland marine insurance coverage
Inland marine coverage is designed to protect your supplies and equipment that is transported from one location to another. This coverage protects loss and damage of mobile veterinary units, grooming clippers, pet carriers and crates, specialty training equipment, and other moveable pet care items.
Property damage
Whether damage to your property is caused by an accident or weather, protecting your business property ensures the preservation of your financial assets and the long-term stability of your business. Both preventative safety measures and the right insurance coverages are important to include in your business plans.
Property fire
Install smoke detectors and fire alarms throughout your pet care facility. Remember to check these systems regularly to ensure they are functioning properly.
Choosing a building that has sprinkler coverage or adding a sprinkler system to your building is the best way to protect your business from a fire loss. Fire extinguishers should be located throughout your facility and serviced on an annual basis by a qualified contractor. Small fires can be extinguished quickly with the right equipment and trained personnel.
Storm damage
Protect your pet care business from weather damage to help ensure the safety of the animals, employees, and the property itself. This is best done by conducting regular maintenance and inspections of your building and its surroundings. Using a building maintenance checklist to note the condition of the building and areas that need repair can assist in tracking and deciding what is a priority.
Pet business insurance coverages for added protection
The risks involved in your pet care business can be minimized with the above safety tips and guidelines. For added protection, we offer a range of pet business insurance coverages that can help cover costs associated with incidents, injuries, damages, and lawsuits.
- General Liability
- Pet Professional Liability
- Animal Bailee for dogs and other domesticated animals in your care, custody, and control
- Business Personal Property
- Inland Marine for your equipment
- Auto, including trailers used for transportation
- Employment Practices Liability (EPLI)
- Commercial Umbrella
Having a comprehensive insurance policy helps protect your clients, employees, and the pets under your care. Find an agent to learn more and get a quote for the best pet business insurance for your specific needs.