Not legal advice. These are general templates; laws and enforceability vary by state. Consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Pet sitting waiver template for sitters and dog walkers
A pet sitting waiver is a short signed document in which the pet owner acknowledges the risks of animal care, authorizes emergency vet care and agrees to release you from ordinary-negligence claims. This page builds one for your business: pick your risks, add your details and read the finished document before you pay for anything.
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Why pet sitters and dog walkers use a waiver
Animals are unpredictable even when they are well loved. A dog that has never bitten may snap at another dog on a walk, a cat may slip out an open door, and an older pet can become ill while its owner is away. A written, signed document shows that the owner was told about those risks before the first visit and agreed to the rules of the service.
It also sets expectations about things owners rarely think about: who pays if the pet needs emergency veterinary care when the owner cannot be reached, what the sitter will do if a pet escapes, and the fact that the owner has shared everything they know about the pet's health and behavior.
Risks this template names
The pet sitting version of the template starts from the risks most sitters actually run into. You can add or remove any of them in step 2 of the generator.
What the template covers
The finished document includes an acknowledgment of risks, voluntary assumption of risk, a health and behavior statement from the owner, a release and waiver of claims to the fullest extent permitted by law, a covenant not to sue, indemnification, an emergency veterinary authorization, severability, an entire-agreement clause, a governing-law clause with your state, and signature and date lines. An optional photo consent line lets you ask permission to post pet photos.
The release does not try to cover gross negligence or intentional or reckless misconduct. Those are not released, and the document says so.
Tips before you hand it to a client
Ask for the signed waiver before the first visit, not at the door. Keep a copy with the pet's care notes and your vet details. If you take care of pets in your own home, say so in the activity description. If you carry business insurance, talk to your insurer or agent about how it fits with a waiver, and consider asking a licensed attorney in your state to review the finished document.
Build it in four steps
- Choose pet sitting. Step 1 is preselected on this page.
- Check the risks. Keep the animal, allergen and property risks that apply to you.
- Add your state and details. Business name, activity and whether children may be present.
- Read the preview. Every clause is visible and editable.
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Questions and answers
Liability waiver template for pet sitting business: what should it include?
A pet sitting waiver should name the risks of animal care, include the owner's statement about the pet's health and behavior, authorize emergency veterinary care at the owner's cost, release you from ordinary-negligence claims to the extent the law allows, and carry signature and date lines. This template includes all of those and lets you edit any clause.
Does a waiver protect me if a dog bites someone?
It may help with claims by the signing owner, but it generally does not bind other people, such as a neighbor or another dog walker who was not a party to it. How courts treat a waiver depends on the state and the facts, so ask a licensed attorney in your state.
Should clients sign before every visit?
Most businesses have a client sign once, before services start, and the document says it applies to every visit. You can change that wording in the editor.
Can I use this for boarding or daycare in my home?
You can describe that activity in step 5. Boarding and daycare involve more risk than drop-in visits, so consider choosing a higher risk level and have the result reviewed by an attorney.