Buy Kennel Insurance – Compare Quotes & Costs [2022]

Kennel Insurance Policy Information

Kennel Insurance. Kennels provides temporary housing for dogs whose owners are away on business or vacation. Services generally include feeding, exercise runs, and grooming. Some offer breeding or training classes.

Others provide boarding facilities for cats or other domestic animals. There may be daytime open kenneling, with dogs interacting throughout the day and placed in separate kennels during the evening hours.

“Doggie day cares” allow owners to bring their dogs to the kennel during the day and pick them up after work.

By boarding their cat or dog at a quality kennel, pet owners can rest assured that their beloved companion animal is safe, and many kennels work hard to provide exercise, quality nutrition, and play time to the animals they board.

As it can be extremely hard for pet owners to find trusted temporary shelter for their cats and dogs among their relatives and friends, there is no question that kennels provide an invaluable service – and are, as such, in high demand.

This means that, if you own and run a kennel, you can maintain and build a business that will stand the test of time. Kennel owners also, on the other hand, face a number of threats in the form of unforeseen circumstances.

How can investing in a comprehensive kennel insurance plan protect your business, and what types of coverage might be required? Read on to discover more.

Below are some answers to commonly asked kennel insurance questions:

• How Much Does Kennel Insurance Cost?
• Why Do Kennels Need Insurance?
• What Type Of Insurance Do Kennels Need?

Kennel’s Risks & Exposures

Premises liability exposure can be high if customers have access to the kennels. The customer waiting area must be kept clean of animal waste and loose animals to prevent slips, trips, and falls. Leashes and carriers should be required to protect customers and other animals.

Veterinary records confirming appropriate vaccines should be required of any animal being boarded to prevent the spread of disease. Enclosures should be secured to prevent escape, with each animal boarded separately to prevent attacks by other animals.

Escaped animals could attack people or other animals or cause damage to neighboring properties. Daytime open kenneling can result in serious injuries.

Precautions such as temperament testing, adequate staff monitoring, requiring participating dogs to be spayed or neutered, and divided play areas by the size of dog are helpful.

Products liability exposure is moderate if the kennel sells animal food and supplies. The exposure increases to that of a manufacturer if the kennel modifies or sells a directly imported product.

Environmental impairment exposure is moderate due to the potential for air, surface or ground water, or soil contamination from the handling and disposal of biological waste material. The kennel must follow all federal and state procedures for disposal.

Workers compensation exposure is high due to the unpredictability of even the most domesticated animal. Workers may be injured by biting, scratching, kicking, or other attack. All employees must be trained in appropriate restraint techniques. Aggressive animals should be clearly identified so that proper precautions can be taken.

Other common injuries include lifting that results in hernias, back strains, or sprains, trips and falls, respiratory ailments from inhaling dander, and communicable diseases transmitted by animals. Special training in separating fighting dogs is required in facilities where daytime kenneling occurs.

Property exposure includes an office and animal boarding facilities. Ignition sources include electrical wiring, heating, and air conditioning. There may be laundry equipment used to clean bedding. All equipment should be well maintained to prevent overheating and meet current codes.

Food and bedding supplies are combustible and should be stored away from heat sources. Poor housekeeping is a serious fire hazard. Animals may be a target for theft or vandalism.

All enclosures must be properly secured. Controls should be in place to prevent access to the premises after hours. Alarms are recommended.

Inland marine exposure is from accounts receivable for credit customers, bailees customers for animals boarded at the kennel, and valuable papers and records for customers’ and suppliers’ information. Duplicates of all records should be made and kept off site. There may be computers used for recordkeeping.

Crime exposure is from employee dishonesty. Background checks should be conducted on all employees handling money. There should be separation of duties between persons handling deposits and disbursements and reconciling bank statements.

Business auto exposure is generally limited to hired and non-owned for employees running errands. If the kennel provides pickup or delivery services, all drivers must be licensed with acceptable MVRs. Any owned vehicles must be well maintained with documentation kept in a central location.

Commercial Insurance And Business Industry Classification

• SIC CODE: 0752 Animal Specialty Services, Except Veterinary
• NAICS CODE: 812910 Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
• Suggested ISO General Liability Code(s): 45450 Kennels – Breeding, Boarding or Sales
• Suggested Workers Compensation Code(s): 8831 Hospital – Veterinary & Drivers

0752: Animal Specialty Services, Except Veterinary

Division A: Agriculture, Forestry, And Fishing | Major Group 07: Agricultural Services | Industry Group 075: Animal Services, Except Veterinary

0752 Animal Specialty Services, Except Veterinary: Establishments primarily engaged in performing services, except veterinary, for pets, equines, and other animal specialties. Establishments primarily engaged in performing services other than veterinary for cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, and poultry are classified in Industry 0751. Establishments primarily engaged in training racehorses are classified in Services, Industry 7948.

• Animal shelters
• Artificial insemination services: animal specialties
• Boarding horses
• Boarding kennels
• Breeding of animals, other than cattle hogs, sheep, goats, and poultry
• Dog grooming
• Dog pounds
• Honey straining on the farm
• Pedigree record services for pets and other animal specialties
• Showing of pets and other animal specialties
• Training horses, except racing
• Training of pets and other animal specialties
• Vaccinating pets and other animal specialties, except by veterinarians

Kennel Insurance – The Bottom Line

To protect your cat and dog boarding business, employees, customers and the animals, having the right kennel insurance coverage is vital. To learn what types of policy options are available to you, how much coverage you should invest in and the premiums – speak to a reputable commercial insurance broker.

Types Of Small Business Insurance – Requirements & Regulations

Perhaps you have the next great idea for a product or service that you know will appeal to your local area. If you’ve got a business, you’ve got risks. Unexpected events and lawsuits can wipe out a business quickly, wasting all the time and money you’ve invested.

Operating a business is challenging enough without having to worry about suffering a significant financial loss due to unforeseen and unplanned circumstances. Small business insurance can protect your company from some of the more common losses experienced by business owners, such as property damage, business interruption, theft, liability, and employee injury.

Purchasing the appropriate commercial insurance coverage can make the difference between going out of business after a loss or recovering with minimal business interruption and financial impairment to your company’s operations.

Insurance is so important to proper business function that both federal governments and state governments require companies to carry certain types. Thus, being properly insured also helps you protect your company by protecting it from government fines and penalties.

Small Business Insurance Information

In the business world, there are many risks faced by company’s every day. The best way that business owners can protect themselves from these perils is by carrying the right insurance coverage.

The The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is the U.S. standard-setting and regulatory support organization. Through the NAIC, state insurance regulators establish standards and best practices, conduct peer review, and coordinate their regulatory oversight.

Commercial insurance is particularly important for small business owners, as they stand to lose a lot more. Should a situation arise – a lawsuit, property damage, theft, etc. – small business owners could end up facing serious financial turmoil.

According to the SBA, having the right insurance plan in place can help you avoid major pitfalls. Your business insurance should offer coverage for all of your assets. It should also include liability and casual coverage.

Types Of Small Business Insurance

Choosing the right type of coverage is absolutely vital. You’ve got plenty of options. Some you’ll need. Some you won’t. You should know what’s available. Once you look over your options you’ll need to conduct a thorough risk assessment. As you evaluate each type of insurance, ask yourself:

• What type of business am I running?
• What are common risks associated with this industry?
• Does this type of insurance cover a situation that could feasibly arise during the normal course of doing business?
• Does my state require me to carry this type of insurance?
• Does my lender or do any of my investors require me to carry this type of policy?

A licensed insurance agent or broker in your state can help you determine what kinds of coverages are prudent for your business types. If you find one licensed to sell multiple policies from multiple companies (independent agents) that person can often help you get the best insurance rates, too. Following is some information on some of the most common small business insurance policies:

Business Insurance Policy Type What Is Covered? General Liability InsuranceWhat is covered under commercial general liability insurance? It steps in to pay claims when you lose a lawsuit with an injured customer, employee, or vendor. The injury could be physical, or it could be a financial loss based on advertising practices. Workers Compensation InsuranceWhat is covered under workers compensation insurance? This type of insurance protects a business and its owner(s) from claims by employees who suffer a work-related injury, illness or disease. Workers comp typically provides the injured employee with benefits to cover medical expenses, a portion of his/her lost wages, rehabilitation costs if applicable, and permanent partial or permanent total disability. Product Liability InsuranceWhat is covered under product liability insurance? I pays an injured party’s settlement or lawsuit claim arising from a defective product. These are usually caused by design defects, manufacturing defects, or a failure to provide adequate warning or instructions as to how to safely use the product. Commercial Property InsuranceWhat is covered under business property insurance? General liability policies don’t cover damages to your business property. That’s what commercial property insurance is for. It protects all of the physical parts of your business: your building, your inventory, and your equipment, giving you the funds you need to replace them in the event of a disaster. If you work from home, you might consider a Home Based Business Insurance policy instead. Business Owners Policy (BOP)What is covered under a business owners policy (BOP)? This is a policy designed for small, low-risk businesses. It simplifies the basic insurance purchase process by combining general liability policies with business income and commercial property insurance. Commercial Auto InsuranceWhat is covered under business auto insurance? This type of insurance covers automobiles being used for business purposes. This could include a fleet of business-only vehicles or a single company car. In some cases it might cover your car or your employee’s car while they’re being used for business. These policies have much higher limits, ensuring you can cover your costs if one of these vehicles gets into an accident. Commercial Umbrella PoliciesWhat is covered under commercial umbrella insurance? This type of policy is a sort of “gap” insurance. It covers your liability in the event that a court verdict or settlement exceeds your general liability policy limits. Liquor Liability InsuranceWhat is covered under liquor liability insurance? It covers bodily injury or property damage caused by an intoxicated person who was served liquor by the policy holder. Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions)What is covered under professional liability insurance? This type of business insurance is also known as malpractice oe E&O. It covers the damages that can arise from major mistakes, especially in high-stakes professions where mistakes can be devastating. Surety BondWhat is covered under surety bonds? Bonding is a contract where one party, the SURETY (who assures the obligee that the principal can perform the task), guarantees the performance of certain obligations of a second party, the PRINCIPAL (the contractor or business who will perform the contractual obligation), to a third party, the OBLIGEE (the project owner who is the recipient of an obligation).

Who Needs General Liability Insurance? – Virtually every business. A single lawsuit or settlement could bankrupt your business five times over. You might also need this policy to win business. Many companies and government agencies won’t do business with your company until you can produce proof that you’ve obtained one of these policies.

Business Insurance Required by Law

If you have any employees most states will require you to carry worker’s compensation and unemployment insurance. Some states require you to insure yourself even if you are the only employee working in the business.

Your insurance agent can help you check applicable state laws so you can bring your business into compliance.

Other Types Of Small Business Insurance

There are dozens of other, more specialized forms of small business insurance capable of covering specific problems and risks. These forms of insurance include:

• Business Interruption Insurance
• Commercial Flood Insurance
• Contractor’s Insurance
• Cyber Liability
• Data Breach
• Directors and Officers
• Employment Practices Liability
• Environmental or Pollution Liability
• Management Liability
• Sexual Misconduct Liability

Whether you need any or all of these policies will depend on the results of your risk assessment. For example, you probably don’t need an environmental or pollution policy if you’re running an IT company out of a leased office, but you would need data breach and cyber liability policies to fully protect your business.

Also learn about small business insurance requirements for general liability, business property, commercial auto & workers compensation including small business commercial insurance costs. Call us (855) 767-7828.

Additional Resources For Additional Resources For Children & Pet / Dog Care Insurance

Discover what small business commercial insurance policies cover for children and pet related businesses.

• Day Care Insurance
• Dog Walking
• Kennels
• Pet Groomer
• Pet Insurance
• Pet Sitting
• Preschools

Whenever children are involved, an extra level of care needs to be taken when selecting an business insurance policy.

Younger children require more supervision than older children. Each state establishes minimum standards and ratios for children-to-adults based on the children’s ages.

Day care facilities must comply with these minimum standards and some exceed them by having additional staff to provide more personal attention and activities.

Pet related businesses have a large liability risk when working with multiple dogs. If one of the dogs bites someone, they can do a of of damage and claims are often in the thousands. Certain breeds of dogs can do major damage if they bite.

Another consideration in the pets themselves – what if they are injured while being groomed or walked? What if one dog attacks another while you are walking them?

If you do not have the right coverage you could have to pay a claim and expensive legal fees out-of-pocket.