Operating a kennel and dog boarding facility, just like operating a cattery, is a satisfying income-generating venture. You get to enjoy spending time with your furry guests and caring for them like your own babies.Â
Nonetheless, accommodating pets for a night or an extended period has risks. A dog can fall sick under your care or escape its kennel and bite one of your staff members. In another situation, a pet owner may suffer an injury while at your property. It’s even possible for a dog groomer you hired to injure or steal one of the pets. All these incidents can lead to costly lawsuits.
Therefore, it would be best to have proper insurance coverage to protect yourself and your business. Dog boarding and kennel insurance can offer you peace of mind. Should the unexpected occur, you can rest assured that you have the right industry-specific insurance coverage to fix the situation and ensure your business continues to grow in the long term.Â
Who Needs Dog Boarding Insurance and Why?
Any individual or entity operating a dog boarding business-whether a small home-based operation or a large commercial boarding facility-needs insurance to protect their businesses, employees, assets, and long-term viability.Â
In fact, local authorities require kennel owners to have dog boarding insurance before being licensed. Obtaining dog boarding business insurance has several benefits. With this policy you can protect dog boarding businesses against various risks, including:
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Liability claims
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Property damage
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Employee injuries
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Compliance with laws and regulations
Liability Insurance for Dog Boarding & Kennels
Any business requires a form of insurance coverage before it can be allowed to provide its services. Liability insurance is the basic coverage a service provider can have. Kennel and dog boarding liability insurance protects your business from financial losses due to lawsuits that third parties file.Â
Liability insurance for dog boarding & kennels can be classified as a general liability policy, professional liability policy, and public liability policy. Let’s take a look at the functions of each.Â
General Liability Insurance for Dog Boarding Facilities and Kennels
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | Pet Care | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $500,000/$1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $100,000 | $100,000 | $5,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Included | Can be included | No |
| Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? | Yes | No | Excluded | Can be included | No |
| Equipment breakdown floater included? | No | Yes | Yes | Can be included | Yes |
| Can you get a certificate of insurance online? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
This insurance for dog boarding business and kennels protects you if your clients suffer injuries from accidents while at your facility. It may be a slip, trip, fall, or dog bite. In such a case, your general liability insurance will cover the medical costs, legal fees, and any compensation awarded to the claimant by the court.Â
Your pet boarding facility may also sell products, such as dog food treats, toys, and other items; if any of these products harm a pet, their owner can hold you liable. With general liability insurance, you can access the funds you need to defend yourself against the resulting lawsuit.Â
General liability insurance, which is also included in pet sitting insurance programs, doesn’t only cover your liability for bodily injuries, property damage, or harmful products. This type of kennel and dog daycare insurance comes with add-ons that cover other risks:
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Advertising injury coverage-Takes care of claims for slander, libel, invasion of privacy, and copyright infringement
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Rented premises liability coverage-Covers the claim filed by the landlord or property custodian of the building you’re leasing or renting
Professional Liability Insurance for Kennels and Dog Boarding Facilities
| CoverWallet | NEXT | Thimble (Best) | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| License defense coverage included? | No | No | No | No |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $500 | $500 |
Owners expect you to employ a high level of care while attending to their pets. They also trust that you pay full attention in ensuring that pets are secure and safe.Â
Your negligence and failure to perform the duties that any other experienced kennel and dog boarding facility will do is a ground for a lawsuit. Â
Professional liability insurance, which you can also find in pet boarding insurance programs, takes care of this exposure. You can use this insurance when a client files a claim because:
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You failed to take a client’s dog to the vet when it suddenly got sick
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Your employee lost a client’s dog during a walk
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A dog escaped from your kennel or dog boarding facilityÂ
This dog daycare business insurance doesn’t grant coverage against medical treatments or property damage. Instead, what it covers are the legal expenses and the amount you must pay to reimburse the client’s losses due to your negligence or failure to perform.Â
Does My Kennel and Dog Boarding Facility’s Professional Liability Insurance Cover Vet Malpractice?Â
Most likely not. Veterinary care activities aren’t typically included in the professional liability policy of your kennel and dog boarding facility, even if an in-house veterinarian is employed. You’ll need to invest in veterinary insurance to cover the veterinarian working for you.Â
Public Liability Insurance for Dog Home Boarding
Public liability insurance for dog boarding is a type of insurance coverage that protects your business from any claims filed by members of the public. This dog kennel insurance policy covers the expenses of legal defense and any damages awarded if they suffer an injury or their property gets damaged during their visit to your facility.Â
Some circumstances in which public liability insurance for dog home boarding comes in handy include when:
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A customer gets bitten by a dog in your kennel
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A customer slips and falls in your facility
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A dog under your watch damages a property owned by a third party
So how much coverage can you receive from public liability insurance? This type of dog home boarding insurance has a $1 million-$2 million per occurrence and aggregate limit. Limits can be customized so that you can enjoy lower or higher amounts of coverage.Â
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Commercial Property Insurance for Kennels and Dog Boarding Facilities
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $25,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $25,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $25,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $15,000 |
| Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Included |
| Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | $5,000/$10,000 | Included |
| Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | $1,000 | Included |
| Lock and keys | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Included |
| Business interruption floater | Excluded | Included | Included | Included |
| Equipment breakdown floater | Excluded | Included | Excluded | Included |
| Inland marine insurance floater | Excluded | Excluded | $10,000 | Excluded |
| Employee dishonesty floater | Excluded | $5,000 | $2,500 | Excluded |
You can’t run a kennel and dog boarding facility without owning, leasing, or renting a building. The thing is, the building you’re using can get damaged or destroyed. And so, it’s important to include a commercial property policy in your dog boarding kennel insurance package.
Commercial property insurance will reimburse losses if your kennel and dog boarding facility is damaged by fire, theft, vandalism, lightning, civil commotion, volcanic action, and other covered perils. Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best commercial property insurance for kennels and dog boarding facilities.
Does Commercial Property Insurance Cover the Valuables Inside My Kennel and Dog Boarding Facility?
Yes. Provided that they got damaged or destroyed because of a covered peril while on the premises of your business. Commercial property insurance can reimburse the estimated value of crates, toys, supplies, furniture, computers, and other valuables.
Some Clients Leave Their Crates in My Custody. Are These Covered Too?
No. The dog crates of clients that are left in your custody aren’t covered. This is because commercial property insurance has a care, custody, and control exclusion. But note that this coverage gap can be solved through an endorsement that your insurance company may provide.
Animal Bailee Insurance for Kennels and Dog Boarding Facilities
This might not have dawned on you but if something happens to your kennel and dog boarding facility then it’s likely for the dogs inside to get hurt.
Animal bailee insurance is a coverage that’s exclusive to businesses and professionals in the pet care industry. This covers vet expenses or reimburses the value of a pet that died or got hurt while in your custody.
The usual amount of coverage you can get from animal bailee insurance is between $10,000-$150,000, subject to which insurance company you decide to work with.
Business Owner’s Policy for Kennels and Dog Boarding Facilities
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | Thimble | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General liability aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $500,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| Commercial property coverage limit | $50,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000/$500,000 |
| Optional policies can be added? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds for free? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BOP discount? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Running a kennel and dog boarding facility can be very pricey, and the last thing you want is to spend more than you should on dog grooming and boarding insurance. Purchasing a business owner’s policy (BOP) offers significant money-saving opportunities.
A BOP combines general liability and commercial property insurance into one policy. It provides comprehensive coverage to small and mid-sized pet boarding facilities at a lower cost than buying each policy separately.
The policy covers customer and pet injuries and property damage, as well as structural damage to your dog care property. That said, this acts as a casualty and property insurance at the same time.
Tools and Equipment Insurance for Kennels and Dog Boarding Facilities
| NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Pet Care | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate limit | $3,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | $50,000 | $15,000/$25,000 |
| Covers hired and borrowed equipment? | $3,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | $50,000 | No |
| Miscellaneous equipment also covered? | $5,000/$10,000 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Offered as an endorsement to general liability insurance? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $0 | $0 |
Tools and equipment insurance will cover the repair or replacement of toys, crates, cages, computers, and other equipment that’s essential for the smooth operations of your kennel and dog boarding facility.
Coverage applies when damage or loss is caused by theft, vandalism, fire, electrical surge, electrical shorts, and mechanical breakdown. Natural wear and tear as well as animal damage are excluded.
You avail tools and equipment insurance as an endorsement to commercial property, general liability, or public liability insurance for dog boarding. Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best tools and equipment insurance for kennels and dog boarding facilities.
Workers Compensation Insurance for Kennels and Dog Boarding Facilities
Bite wounds are common when dealing with dogs. A study shows that one of the most common scenarios where this happens is during veterinary and kennel work. And so, it’s important to safeguard your kennel and dog boarding facility against the costs if an employee gets bitten.
Workers’ compensation insurance allows you to provide the benefits an employee needs after sustaining a work-related injury or disease. This acts as a backup to health insurance and will also cover the cost of medical treatment, hospitalization, medication, and rehabilitation.
What makes workers’ compensation insurance important is that it covers lost wages, which is never typically covered by your kennel and pet boarding facility’s health insurance for workers.
Other Insurance Policies to Consider Getting
Insurance companies might offer these additional policies depending on the activities and characteristics unique to your kennel and dog boarding business.
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Commercial auto insurance-You need commercial auto insurance if your kennel and dog boarding facility uses a commercial vehicle in its daily operations. If an accident occurs, this will cover the medical treatment of injured third parties. You can also use commercial property insurance to cover the repair of the vehicle and attached trailers
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Cyber liability insurance-Cyber liability insurance is useful if data breach occurs and leaks the sensitive information of customers stored in your business’s computer. With this insurance, you can cover the cost of data breach containment, customer notification, credit and fraud monitoring, and legal defense
Help others make better decisions
Dog Kennel Insurance Cost
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability insurance | $33 | $396 | $0-$500 |
| Professional liability insurance | $40 | $480 | $500-$1,000 |
| Commercial property insurance | $38 | $456 | $1,000-$2,000 |
| Business owner’s policy | $60 | $720 | $1,500 |
| Animal bailee insurance | $90 | $1,080 | $500 |
| Commercial auto insurance | $50 | $600 | $500-$1,000 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $70 | $840 | $2,500 |
| Cyber liability insurance | $42 | $504 | $1,000 |
The average dog kennel insurance cost is $33 per month or $396 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance. The price dog kennels pay for their business insurance varies, depending on several factors. Some factors that impact your dog kennel insurance cost include:
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The type of pet care services you offer (dog walking, pet grooming, pet sitting, etc.)
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Facility location
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Number of employees
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Business property and equipmentÂ
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Annual business income
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Deductible levels
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Types of insurance required
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Policy limits
For further information, you might want to look at this table showing the $1 million general liability insurance of the best dog kennel insurance companies:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEXT | $25 | $300 | Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for kennels and dog boarding facilities |
| Pet Care | $26 | $312 | Insurance package that’s exclusive for pet businesses and professionals |
| CoverWallet | $27 | $324 | Comparing kennel and dog boarding insurance quotes online |
| Tivly | $28 | $336 | Comparing dog boarding and kennel insurance quotes over the phone |
| Hiscox | $30 | $360 | Dog boarding and kennel insurance with automatic policy renewal |
| Thimble | $34 | $408 | Dog boarding and kennel insurance with numerous endorsements |
| Kennel Pro | $40 | $480 | Dog kennel and boarding operators who rent or lease their business property |
| Kennel Pak | $45 | $540 | Hassle-free payments |
| American Kennel Club | AKC doesn’t insure dog boarding facilities and kennels. Instead, it’s a good option for clients looking for pet insurance | AKC doesn’t insure dog boarding facilities and kennels. Instead, it’s a good option for clients looking for pet insurance | Pet insurance for the client’s of dog boarding businesses |
Dog Boarding Insurance Cost
The average dog boarding insurance cost is $37 per month or $468 per year for a $1 million general liability policy. Just like the premiums for dog kennels, factors that affect the premiums for dog boarding insurance are location, policy limits, deductibles, location, number of employees, etc.
Dog Daycare Insurance Cost
Dog care or dog daycare facilities offer pet owners a place where they can leave their pets during those long days at work or when running errands. They bring them to daycare in the morning and pick them up later in the day. These establishments feature outdoor fences and indoor play areas with obstacle courses and play toys and equipment, allowing your doggie to play and run all day. Pet daycare centers may also offer dog grooming, dog walking, and dog sitting services. The average dog daycare insurance cost is $45 per month or $540 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance.
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Best Dog Boarding Insurance Companies
Your pet care and boarding business operates in a distinct industry. Considering the high number of companies offering business insurance, it’s crucial to do your homework and find a carrier that provides insurance policies that meet your unique business needs. After reviewing various pet insurance plans, we’ve identified the following providers as the best dog boarding insurance companies. Read to know their pros, cons, and cost of a $1 million general liability insurance.Â
NEXT Dog Boarding Insurance
Pros
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Best overall
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Issues an online proof of insurance instantly
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Fastest general liability insurance for dog boarding facilities and kennels
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Great customer service and reputation
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Excellent rates
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Outstanding value for money
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Get a 10% discount if you buy two or more policiesÂ
Cons
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Couldn’t find any
NEXT covers kennels and dog boarding facilities through its pet boarding insurance program. You can purchase your insurance package online without the help of an agent. Policies you can avail are general liability, commercial property, workers compensation, and more.Â
Upon getting insured, NEXT creates an online account that you can access through its app or website. This online account allows you to name additional insureds, pay for premiums, and get a certificate of insurance anytime.Â
Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for kennels and dog boarding facilities
Average cost: $25 per month
Our rating: 10/10
CoverWallet Dog Boarding Insurance
Pros
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Compare quotes online
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Cancel your coverage anytime
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Terrorism endorsement can be added to general liability or commercial property insurance
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Waiver of subrogation may be automatically added to liability policies
Cons
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Not an insurance company but an insurance brokerÂ
CoverWallet insures dog boarding facilities and kennels through its pet care services insurance program.Â
Similar to NEXT, this company allows you to purchase your coverage online without talking to an agent. But note that you might need to call to avail insurance options not available online.Â
Your online insurance quote will offer a $1 million general liability insurance, $1 million professional liability insurance, $50,000 commercial property insurance, business owner’s policy, and workers compensation insurance.Â
Best for: Comparing kennel and dog boarding insurance quotes online
Average cost: $27 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Tivly Dog Boarding Insurance
Pros
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Compare quotes over the phone
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A partner of many reputable insurance companies
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Rarely leaves its customers uninsured
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Responsive customer service
Cons
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You need to call to get a quoteÂ
Tivly can hook you up with its partners that grant comprehensive coverage to kennels and dog boarding facilities. To get covered, you need to call a Tivly representative who will find the best coverage options and allow you to compare quotes over the phone.Â
Best for: Comparing dog boarding and kennel insurance quotes over the phoneÂ
Average cost: $28 per monthÂ
Our rating: 10/10
Thimble Dog Boarding and Kennel Insurance
Pros
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Offers numerous endorsements
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Quickly issues an estimate of your rates
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Easy to get an online quote
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On demand coverage
Cons
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You can’t reach customer service by callingÂ
Thimble covers kennels and dog boarding facilities through its pet services insurance package. Policies you can get are general liability, business owner’s policy, and workers compensation insurance. Though you can avail only three policies, comprehensive coverage is still ensured because Thimble offers numerous endorsements. And what makes things great is that endorsements aren’t very pricey.Â
Best for: Dog boarding and kennel insurance with numerous endorsements
Average cost: $34 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Hiscox Dog Boarding Insurance
Pros
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Automatic policy renewal
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Worldwide coverage
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Customizable limits
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Quick to process claimsÂ
Cons
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You might need to talk with an agent to avail more types of insurance
Hiscox covers kennels and dog boarding businesses through its dog daycare, motel, and hotel insurance program. What you can avail from this are business owner’s policies and cyber liability policies. You can talk with a Hiscox agent to get other insurance products. Remember that your coverage from Hiscox renews automatically.
Best for: Dog boarding and kennel insurance with automatic policy renewalÂ
Average cost: $30 per monthÂ
Our rating: 9/10
Pet Care Dog Boarding Insurance
Pros
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Specializes in covering pet businesses
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Online quotes available
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You can access a live chat system when buying insurance onlineÂ
Cons
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Doesn’t cover kennels and dog boarding facilities that house more than 5 pets overnightÂ
Pet Care grants coverage for dog boarding facilities and kennels. Policies you can get are general liability, animal bailee, tools and equipment, etc. If you service more than 6 dogs, Pet Care will refer you to CNA for a quote.Â
Best for: Insurance package that’s exclusive for pet businesses and professionals
Average cost: $26 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Kennel Pro Insurance
Pros
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A wide range of insurance policies
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Insurance offered by top carriers
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Available in all 50 states
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Provides multiple insurance packages
Cons
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No option to purchase coverage directly from the carrier
Kennel Pro is a dog day care insurance broker operating under Mourer-Foster, Inc. – a full-service specialty insurance carrier established in 1933.Â
Unlike other pet insurance brokers (that work with just one provider), the insurer provides its KennelPro insurance policies through top-rated insurance companies. Therefore, customers can purchase a wide range of insurance policies, including:
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Pet sitter insurance
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Kennel insurance
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Animal Rescue
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Dog breeders insurance
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Dog trainer insurance
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Professional handlers insurance
Kennel Pro dog insurance through Mourer-Foster, Inc. is available in three comprehensive policy plans:Â
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Silver Package-Designed for dog trainers, pet sitters, dog groomers, and dog kennels that are looking for insurance coverage, but don’t own a commercial property.
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Gold Package-This package is geared towards specialty dog trainers, animal rescue centers, and service dogs. It’s also designed for customers who don’t own business property.Â
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Platinum Package-The Platinum package is tailored and structured to address the buyer’s unique business and coverage needs. It includes the same insurance policies included in the Gold package but adds commercial property coverage.Â
While customers can purchase the Silver and Gold packages online, they can’t apply for the Platinum plan over the internet because of the required underwriter review. Therefore, they must speak to a KennelPro insurance agent to buy the Platinum Package. Â
Kennel Pro’s insurance program is available in all 50 states. The only disadvantage is that dog daycare and boarding businesses can’t purchase insurance policies directly from the insurance carrier.Â
Best for: Dog kennel and boarding operators who rent or lease their business property
Average cost: $40 per monthÂ
Our rating: 8/10
Kennel Pak Insurance
Pros
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Online quotes available
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Local claims service
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Hassle-free payment plan
Cons
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Website lacks in-depth insights into the company’s coverage options
Kennel Pak insurance provides an insurance program designed to protect commercial dog kennels, pet groomers, animal shelters, and vets from the exorbitant costs of public and professional liability insurance. The insurer’s special all-risk insurance gives customers the best overall coverage at highly competitive rates.Â
With Kennel Pak’s kennel insurance program, you can purchase a range of policies including general liability and professional liability (for you and your staff) each with up to $1 million in coverage. Other policies include:Â
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Animal care, custody, and control insurance
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Crime coverage (theft, burglary, employee dishonesty, depositor forgery, etc.)
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Lost income for up to 12 months (due to business interruptions caused by fire, windstorm, etc.)
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All-risk commercial property coverage
As a technology-first dog boarding insurance provider, Kennel Pak provides online insurance application forms for both for-profit and non-profit kennel facilities and animal shelters. Additionally, you will also enjoy the convenience of requesting insurance certificates online, which saves time and money.
Best for: Hassle-free payments
Average cost: $45
Our rating: 8/10
AKC Pet Insurance Review
Pros
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Provides an unlimited annual coverage optionÂ
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Offers a discount for insuring multiple pets
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Available in all 50 states
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Covers pre-existing conditions following a 12-month waiting period
Cons
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Doesn’t cover most dental procedures
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Insurance may require extra coverage for hereditary and congenital conditions
The American Kennel Club (AKC) was established in 1884 and has since been the go-to insurance provider for dog owners. Its insurance products cover dogs (both purebred and mixed breed) and cats. AKC provides pet owners with insurance plans with unlimited annual coverage options at various reimbursement rates, and customers with membership can test AKC’s Kennel Club insurance for a month for free.Â
AKC provides an insurance plan called CompanionCare, the primary accident and illness policy for dogs and cats. The plan offers a range of medical benefits, including:
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Treatments, surgery, and medications
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Prescription drugs
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Hospitalization
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Lab tests
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X-rays, MRI scans, and other diagnostic procedures
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Emergency treatment
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Coverage for pre-existing conditions after a 12-month waiting period
CompanionCare also includes reimbursements. The insurance provider will reimburse you a certain percentage (usually 70%, 80%, or 90%) of your vet costs, minus your chosen deductible.Â
Under CompanionCare, customers can choose to include either a Defender or DefenderPlus plan. These wellness packages provide several benefits, from vaccinations and deworming to microchipping, heartworm and flea prevention, and wellness exam costs. The annual coverage limit ranges from $2,500-$20,000, although you can also choose an unlimited coverage option.Â
AKC insurance is available in all 50 states, including Washington, D.C., and customers receive a 5% discount for insuring multiple pets. The only drawback is that AKC’s insurance plans don’t cover dental procedures and customers may require add-on policies for hereditary and congenital conditions.Â
Best for: Pet insurance for the client’s of dog boarding businessesÂ
Average cost: AKC doesn’t insure dog boarding facilities and kennels. Instead, it’s a good option for clients looking for pet insurance
Our rating: 8/10
