Pet Boarding & Dog Day Care Insurance — Minnesota

Your clients leave their pets in your care.
Standard GL doesn’t cover that.

Pet boarding and dog day care businesses in Minnesota take responsibility for animals that owners treat as family members. One escape, one injury, one animal that doesn’t make it through a stay — the emotional and financial stakes are high. Standard general liability explicitly excludes animals in your care, custody, and control. That gap needs its own policy.

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The Reality of the Risk

Real claims that hit pet care businesses every year

Scenario 01

A boarded dog escapes the kennel overnight and is struck by a car. The owner sues for the dog’s value, vet costs, and emotional distress. Standard GL excludes animals in your care. No coverage.

Scenario 02

Two dogs get into a fight during supervised day care. One requires $4,200 in emergency surgery. The owner expects your facility to pay. No CCC coverage means it comes out of pocket.

Scenario 03

A kennel technician is bitten during intake. The injury requires stitches and two weeks off work. Workers comp pays — but only if the policy exists.

Scenario 04

A cat in boarding develops a serious respiratory illness. The owner claims your facility’s hygiene caused it and demands $3,800 in vet reimbursement.

What You Actually Need

Coverage built for Minnesota pet boarding and day care businesses

A complete pet care insurance program layers several coverages that work together. Standard business policies miss the most important one.

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Care, Custody & Control (CCC)

The most critical coverage for any pet boarding or day care operation. Standard GL explicitly excludes damage to property in your care — which includes every animal in your facility. CCC covers injury, illness, escape, or death of animals while in your custody.

Animal Injury or DeathEscape ClaimsIllness During BoardingGrooming Complications
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Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Your general liability and commercial property foundation. Covers third-party injuries on your premises, accidental property damage, your facility and equipment, and business income if a covered loss forces closure. Verify your BOP doesn’t contain language that limits animal-related claims.

General LiabilityCommercial PropertyEquipment BreakdownBusiness Income
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Workers’ Compensation

Required in Minnesota from your first employee. Animal care workers face real injury risk — bites, scratches, kicks, and lifting injuries are consistent in this industry. Workers comp covers medical costs and lost wages for injured staff.

Animal Bite InjuriesLifting InjuriesMedical ExpensesLost Wages
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Commercial Umbrella

Excess liability above your BOP and CCC limits. Pet care claims involving beloved animals can be emotionally charged and generate judgments beyond standard limits. A $1M umbrella is standard for most boarding and day care operations.

Excess LiabilityDefense CostsLayers Over All Policies
Common Mistakes

Coverage gaps we see most often in pet care businesses

1

No care, custody, and control coverage

This is the defining gap for pet boarding businesses. Standard GL explicitly excludes the animals in your care. Every pet facility needs CCC coverage before opening day — and most operators discover they don’t have it after the first significant claim.

✓ Fix: CCC endorsement on your BOP or standalone animal bailee policy — required for any operation that accepts animals
2

Grooming operations not listed as a covered activity

If you offer grooming alongside boarding, verify it’s specifically listed as a covered activity. Grooming injuries — nicks, cuts, adverse reactions — may be excluded if the policy was written without noting that service.

✓ Fix: Review covered operations with your agent any time you add a new service
3

Vaccination requirements not documented

Many CCC policies require that you enforce vaccination requirements for animals in your care. Failing to document these can result in claim denials if an unvaccinated animal transmits illness to others in the facility.

✓ Fix: Written vaccination policies, signed intake forms, and documentation of all animal intake records
4

Transportation coverage missing

Pet transport — pickup and drop-off services — is a separate liability exposure. Standard commercial auto and CCC policies may not automatically cover animals transported in your vehicle.

✓ Fix: Confirm transportation coverage is endorsed onto your CCC and commercial auto policies if you offer transport
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Property limits that don’t reflect facility value

Kennel equipment, grooming tools, HVAC systems, and facility improvements add up quickly. Standard BOP property limits often don’t reflect the actual replacement cost of a well-equipped boarding facility.

✓ Fix: Review property limits annually and update to reflect actual equipment and improvement values
Quick Cost Estimate

What does pet boarding and day care insurance cost in Minnesota?

Premiums vary by revenue, employees, and services. Use this tool for a realistic range — then we’ll get you exact quotes.

Estimated Annual Premium Range
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Includes BOP with CCC and workers comp where applicable. Actual premium depends on facility size, animal capacity, claims history, and carrier underwriting.
Frequently Asked Questions

What pet boarding and day care owners ask us most

CCC coverage protects your business when an animal in your care is injured, becomes ill, escapes, or dies while at your facility. Standard general liability explicitly excludes damage to property in your care and custody — which includes every animal you board. Without CCC, any claim involving a pet in your facility has no GL coverage. It is the single most important coverage for any pet boarding or day care operation.
No. Standard homeowners policies exclude business activity on the premises, which includes home-based pet boarding. A home-based pet business needs a commercial policy with CCC coverage, business liability, and any applicable workers comp — even if it operates out of a residential address.
A signed intake form that includes proof of current vaccinations, acknowledgment of your facility’s health and behavior policies, emergency contact and veterinary information, and your liability limitations. Many CCC policies require documented vaccination requirements as a condition of coverage — failing to enforce them can affect claim outcomes.
Yes, through workers compensation. Workers comp is required in Minnesota from your first employee and covers medical costs and lost wages for work-related injuries — including animal bites and scratches. The animal care industry has above-average worker injury rates. Operating without workers comp puts your employees and your business at significant risk.
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Let’s build the right program for your pet care business.

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Your Local Agent

You’re talking to a real person in Minnesota.

Carolyn Todd — Options Insurance

Carolyn Todd

Commercial Lines Agent — Options Insurance

With 15 years of insurance experience, I know the specific coverage needs of pet care businesses — the CCC gap, the grooming liability question, the intake documentation that protects your policy. Pet boarding and day care has a very specific set of requirements that most standard business policies miss entirely. As part of an independent agency with 50+ carriers, I find the right fit for your operation. When something changes or you need a certificate, you reach me directly.

(952) 392-9508 carolyn@options-insurance.com options-insurance.com