Use our pet sitting contract to specify the care a sitter should provide to a pet.
Updated September 24, 2023
Written by Sara Hostelley | Reviewed by Brooke Davis
A pet sitting contract documents pet-sitting services that a pet sitter will provide to the pet owner. When you need someone to take care of your pet, you can use this agreement to communicate your pet’s usual routines and expectations for the pet sitter.
A pet sitting contract outlines a relationship between a pet sitter and a pet owner. It states that a pet sitter will provide specific services and act in a certain manner while they’re caring for the pet owner’s animal. If your pet is older or has unique needs, this form can help pet sitters provide the proper medication or special care.
The form should answer these basic questions:
You need this document whenever you ask someone to care for your pet. Even if your pet doesn’t have any medical conditions or special concerns, it can help the pet sitter provide adequate care and handle emergencies properly.
Some pets may require special care and handling. A pet care agreement allows you to share ample details so your pet receives the best care possible while you’re away. For example, you can specify if your pet gets along with other animals or if your senior pet needs extra attention.
Pet owners and pet sitters use an agreement whenever a pet is taken care of as part of a paid service. Here are some situations where this agreement can be helpful:
| Pet | Pet Owner | Pet Sitter |
|---|---|---|
| elderly dog or cat | on vacation | running a business |
| medical condition | family emergency | part-time job |
| history of biting | in the hospital | making extra money |
| food allergies | out of town for work | trusted family, friend, or neighbor |
Disagreements could arise if the pet sitter or owner only uses informal or verbal promises and something unexpected happens to the pet.
A pet sitting contract can resolve the following situations for a pet owner:
If the pet accidentally gets sick or bites someone when the pet sitter hasn’t been negligent or reckless, the pet owner is usually responsible. A pet-sitting contract can answer difficult questions about who is legally accountable if something unexpected happens to the pet.
For example, what happens if the pet accidentally passes away, gets sick, becomes injured, or is lost while the pet sitter is on duty? An indemnification clause can spell out these complex details ahead of time.
A pet sitting contract protects the pet sitter if any of these unexpected situations arise:
Follow these steps to writing a pet sitting contract:
The pet owner creates the document so another person can care for their pet. The pet sitter is hired to take care of a person’s pet(s). You should include the full names of the pet owner and sitter.
You should also have their details if there’s more than one pet owner or pet sitter.
Include as much relevant information about your pet as possible. This information may consist of your pet’s name, age, breed/species, health history, medication, and any notable behaviors the pet sitter should know about.
If you would like the pet sitter to take care of multiple pets, you should add each pet’s information in the contract.
In this section, you should fill in the services of the pet sitter and the related details:
In an emergency, the pet sitter will make all reasonable efforts to contact the pet owner first. If the pet sitter can’t get in touch with the owner, they should contact the emergency contact person and veterinarian provided in the agreement.
Include the vet’s full name and address as part of the emergency contact information. You can also specify whether the pet sitter has the authorization to seek medical treatment for your pet.
If something goes awry, it’s important to have already listed the desired state’s governing laws in the pet sitting contract so you can handle any legal disputes associated with a pet’s emergency appropriately.
Finally, add the date of the agreement and have both the pet owner and pet sitter sign the document.
Review our pet sitting contract template below. Download it as a PDF or Word file to write your own:
