Does pet business insurance cover injuries to the animals in my care?

Yes, provided your policy includes 'Care, Custody or Control' cover which is a specific extension for pet professionals. Standard public liability insurance usually excludes damage to property (including animals) in your physical possession, so this extension is vital to cover vet bills or replacement costs if a pet is injured, lost or dies while you are looking after it.

Is insurance mandatory for pet sitters using platforms like Mad Paws or Pawshake?

No, it is not a legal requirement in Australia, but most pet-sitting platforms highly recommend or provide limited insurance cover as a condition of use. Having your own independent public liability policy ensures you are protected for incidents that may fall outside the platform's specific policy limits or exclusions.

Does public liability cover me for walking dogs in off-leash areas?

Yes, most Australian pet business policies cover off-leash walking as long as you are complying with local council regulations and bylaws. You must ensure the dog is under effective control and that you are not walking more than the maximum number of dogs permitted by your insurer or the local authority.

Are my employees and sub-contractors covered under one policy?

It depends on the policy structure, as standard business insurance covers employees but often excludes independent sub-contractors with their own ABN. If you hire sub-contractors to help with dog walking or grooming, you should check if they have their own cover or if your policy can be extended to include 'vicarious liability' for their actions.

Does pet business insurance cover the loss of a client's house keys?

Yes, many specialised pet-sitting policies include 'Loss of Keys' cover as an optional extra or standard inclusion. This pays for the cost of replacing locks and keys if you lose a client's house keys while providing mobile pet care or dog walking services.

Will my home insurance cover my pet grooming equipment if I work from home?

No, standard home and contents insurance policies typically exclude equipment used for business purposes. You will need a specific business insurance policy or a 'home-based business' endorsement to protect your professional grooming tools, hydrobaths and tables against theft, fire or damage.

Pet business insurance for pet service professionals

Get Quotes Online Speak to a broker

'Care, Custody or Control' cover is essential for pet professionals because standard public liability excludes injury to animals in your possession.
Pet-sitting platforms like Mad Paws or Pawshake aren't a substitute for your own policy, as their cover often has gaps and exclusions.
Off-leash dog walking is generally covered as long as you follow council rules and stay within your insurer's permitted dog limit.
Home and contents insurance won't protect grooming equipment used for business, so home-based pet pros need a dedicated policy or endorsement.

What can pet business insurance cover?

The unique nature of animal occupations means that finding the right policy may involve tailoring one to suit your needs. For example, a pet store owner may want to find a policy that covers medical treatments for animals under their care, instead of one that simply covers the cost of lost stock.

Professional pet insurance typically includes standard business cover as well as more specialised protection. With animal business insurance you can find a policy that suits your situation and may want to look for benefits such as:

Injury cover for animals in your care
Liability cover for damage resulting from third party pets in your care
Recognition of valuable bloodlines and individual animals
Expanded professional indemnity cover to meet the unique challenges of your occupation

Finder survey: Where would Australians from different states get the money to start a small business?

Response	WA	VIC	SA	QLD	NSW
A business loan	49.57%	44.21%	40.51%	39.91%	47.3%
I have savings	35.9%	38.95%	34.18%	42.6%	35.73%
Government grants	6.84%	4.91%	12.66%	5.38%	5.14%
Friends/family	3.42%	7.37%	5.06%	4.48%	6.94%
Other	3.42%	4.56%	7.59%	6.28%	3.86%
Crowdfunding	0.85%			1.35%	1.03%

Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1145 Australians, December 2023
Data for ACT, NT, TAS not shown due to insufficient sample size. Some other states may also be excluded for this reason.

Who can get business pet insurance?

Almost anyone who works with animals or is in the pet industry can access professional pet cover.

Online and bricks-and-mortar pet shops
Veterinarians
Kennels and dog clubs
Catteries and cat clubs
Animal groomers

Dog walkers
Dog trainers
Farriers and jockeys
Pet-product retailers and manufacturers
Any other animal professionals

All of these occupations are able to get the benefits of business insurance as well as specialised benefits to suit the unique challenges of the job.

Who offers pet business insurance in Australia?

To find a cost-effective pet business insurance policy for your needs, get quotes from multiple insurers. The specialised nature of animal care industries means not all professional policies will suit your business' needs , so the ideal combination of cost and cover may be found either through a broker or by comparing policies in detail yourself.

Certain occupations with membership to appropriate industry groups may also access additional options and will often be able to find cover at a lower cost.

Veterinarians. Australian Veterinary Association members may access a pre-tailored policy offered by Guild Insurance and additional benefits including highly discounted professional indemnity insurance.
Dog breeders. Membership with the Australian Association of Pet Dog Breeders entitles you to exclusive insurance policies.
Pet Industry Association of Australia. PIAA members are entitled to a discount on pet business insurance policies from Premier Pet Insurance.
Pets Australia. Members are able to access insurance policies geared to their needs, and related services.

Between industry organisations, specialist Australian insurers, overseas providers and insurance brokers, animal professionals can find the cover needed.

Talk to a broker about pet business insurance

FAQs

Yes, provided your policy includes 'Care, Custody or Control' cover which is a specific extension for pet professionals. Standard public liability insurance usually excludes damage to property (including animals) in your physical possession, so this extension is vital to cover vet bills or replacement costs if a pet is injured, lost or dies while you are looking after it.
It depends on the policy structure, as standard business insurance covers employees but often excludes independent sub-contractors with their own ABN. If you hire sub-contractors to help with dog walking or grooming, you should check if they have their own cover or if your policy can be extended to include 'vicarious liability' for their actions.

Sources

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise

Gary Ross has written 570 Finder guides across topics including:

Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
Managing the cost of living

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