Free Pet Sitting Contract Template

Creating a pet sitting contract may seem unnecessary, but it’s important. A contract defines your services and helps determine liability, responsibilities, and compensation. You should create and enact a contract when you plan to provide pet care services for another party. Use a pet sitting contract for the following purposes:

• Protecting against disputes: Your contract includes legally binding terms to protect you against claims. Pet owners are bound to the agreement’s terms and conditions when signing this contract.
• Defining responsibilities: The contract determines who pays for medical bills, pet food, and equipment. It also lists activities, duties, and liabilities for the pet sitter to provide.
• Communicating with clients: A written contractor agreement documents your communications with the client. Both communicate specific instructions, costs, conditions, and processes.
• Keeping records for taxes & income: Pet sitters often work as independent contractors, sole proprietors, or LLCs. Regardless of the type, the compensation information in a contract clarifies your role as a contractor and helps you track your taxable income and expenses.

Pet sitting requires a clear understanding of each party’s role. You can improve your services by creating a thorough contract for every possibility. Write an effective pet sitting contract with the following steps:

1. List the owner and sitter: Provide the names and contact information for the pet owner and pet sitter. Note whether the sitter is an individual or a registered business.
2. Note the pets being watched: Record any necessary information about each pet in your care. Include the type of animal and its breed, age, size, and medical needs.
3. Determine the location: Provide information about the location of your services. Outline whether you intend to care for the pets at the owner’s or sitter’s home, or in a place of business such as a kennel.
4. Outline the services: List the specific pet care services. Include the frequency of walking, feeding, and grooming pets. Also, outline your plan for communicating with the owner and following particular requests.
5. Establish responsibilities: Determine who will provide the pet’s food, medications, and equipment. You can set terms for the owner to provide these items ahead of time or for reimbursement afterward. Also, provide information about your liability insurance coverage, if applicable.
6. Agree on payment: The pet sitter should communicate their rates and total costs. They should also decide on any terms for payment plans, methods, fees, and due dates.
7. Define the timeframe: Describe the start and end dates for the pet sitting services. Include the number of days or hours for a more transparent record of responsibilities and rates. If there is no specific end date, include a minimum notice clause for cancellation or termination of the agreement.
8. Note methods of recourse: Communicate what legal recourse each party can take if the other does not uphold the agreement. For example, note whether the pet sitter can sue or fine the client for failure to make payments.
9. Select the governing jurisdiction: Note which state will handle contract disputes. The state where the pet sitter lives and works will typically govern their contract.
10. Finalize and sign: Once all parties have reviewed the contract and settled any negotiations, the pet sitter and owner should sign it. This makes it a valid and binding form and proves that both parties acknowledge the terms.

View our free pet sitting contract to learn the proper terms and format. Our sample form is also available as a downloadable PDF or Word document.