Pet Sitting Contract Template

Pet Sitting Contract

1. 1. 1. Parties

   This Pet Sitting Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into on [EFFECTIVE DATE] between [SITTER OR COMPANY NAME], located at [SITTER ADDRESS] (the "Sitter"), and [OWNER NAME], residing at [OWNER ADDRESS] (the "Owner"). Services will be provided at [SERVICE ADDRESS]. The Owner will be reachable during the booking at [OWNER MOBILE] and [OWNER EMAIL], and while traveling at [TRAVEL CONTACT AND TIME ZONE]. The local emergency contact who can act for the Owner and access the home is [LOCAL CONTACT NAME, RELATIONSHIP, PHONE]. Each Party confirms that the person signing below is authorized to do so and that the information provided in this Agreement is accurate and complete.

2. 2. 2. Pets Covered

   The Sitter will care for the following animals (the "Pets"): [PET ONE NAME, SPECIES, BREED, AGE, WEIGHT, COLOR AND MARKINGS, SPAYED OR NEUTERED, MICROCHIP NUMBER, TEMPERAMENT]; [PET TWO NAME, SPECIES, BREED, AGE, WEIGHT, SPAYED OR NEUTERED, MICROCHIP NUMBER, TEMPERAMENT]; [PET THREE — SAME DETAILS]. The Owner will disclose for each Pet any medical condition, allergy, dietary restriction, mobility limitation, anxiety trigger, escape habit, or resource guarding behavior here: [PET HEALTH AND BEHAVIOR NOTES]. The Sitter will care only for the Pets named above. If an additional animal is in the home at the time of service, including a foster or a pet belonging to a houseguest, the Sitter may decline to provide service or may charge the additional pet rate in Section 12.

3. 3. 3. Services, Visit Length, and Dates of Service

   The Owner books the following service: [SERVICE TYPE — DROP-IN VISITS / OVERNIGHT STAYS / IN-HOME BOARDING AT THE HOME OF THE SITTER]. Drop-in visits will be [VISITS PER DAY] per day of [VISIT LENGTH, e.g., 30 minutes] each, at approximately [VISIT TIMES], with a window of [ARRIVAL WINDOW, e.g., one hour] either side to allow for traffic and other bookings. Overnight service runs from [OVERNIGHT ARRIVAL TIME] to [OVERNIGHT DEPARTURE TIME] and includes [HOURS AWAY ALLOWANCE, e.g., up to four midday hours away from the home]. Service begins on [START DATE] at [START TIME] and ends on [END DATE] at [END TIME]. The Owner will confirm the actual return date and time by [CONFIRMATION DEADLINE] so that the final visit is not missed or duplicated.

4. 4. 4. Feeding, Water, and Medication

   Each Pet will be fed [FOOD BRAND AND TYPE], [PORTION SIZE], at [FEEDING TIMES], with food stored at [FOOD LOCATION]. Treats permitted are [APPROVED TREATS], and foods that must never be given are [PROHIBITED FOODS]. Fresh water will be provided at every visit. The Owner will leave enough food for the full booking plus [FOOD BUFFER, e.g., three extra days]; if the Sitter must purchase food, the cost plus a [SHOPPING FEE] service charge is added to the invoice. Medication to be administered is: [PET NAME — MEDICATION — DOSAGE — ROUTE — TIME — WITH OR WITHOUT FOOD]. The Owner confirms each Pet accepts medication without aggression, or notes otherwise here: [MEDICATION HANDLING NOTES]. The Sitter will make reasonable efforts to administer medication and will notify the Owner promptly if a dose is refused or missed.

5. 5. 5. Exercise, Litter, and Waste

   Dogs will be exercised as follows: [WALK OR YARD ROUTINE, e.g., a 20-minute leashed walk at each morning and evening visit, plus supervised yard time]. Dogs will remain leashed outside a securely fenced area at all times unless the Owner has given separate written off-leash consent. Litter boxes will be scooped at every visit, and litter will be fully changed [LITTER CHANGE FREQUENCY]. Waste will be bagged and placed in [WASTE DISPOSAL LOCATION], and outdoor waste will be picked up and disposed of on every walk. Cages, tanks, coops, and enclosures will be spot cleaned as described here: [ENCLOSURE CARE INSTRUCTIONS]. The Sitter will report any change in appetite, energy, stool, urination, or behavior to the Owner on the same day it is observed.

6. 6. 6. Keys, Access Codes, and Security

   The Owner will provide access by [ACCESS METHOD — KEY / LOCKBOX CODE / GARAGE CODE / SMART LOCK CODE / DOORMAN], and will supply working credentials at least [ACCESS TEST WINDOW, e.g., 48 hours] before the first visit so the Sitter can test them. Keys held by the Sitter will be stored in a locked location, will never be labeled with the service address or the name of the Owner, and will be tagged only with a coded identifier. At the end of the booking the Sitter will [RETURN THE KEY / RETAIN THE KEY ON FILE FOR FUTURE BOOKINGS], as selected here: [KEY RETENTION CHOICE]. If a key is returned by courier or mail at the request of the Owner, the cost and the risk of transit are borne by the Owner. If the Sitter cannot gain access, a lockout fee of [LOCKOUT FEE] applies and the Sitter will contact the Owner and the local contact immediately.

7. 7. 7. Home Care Extras

   At no additional charge, the Sitter will perform the following light home care during scheduled visits: [HOME CARE TASKS, e.g., bringing in mail and packages, watering indoor plants, rotating lights and blinds, taking trash and recycling to the curb on collection day, adjusting the thermostat]. The Sitter is not responsible for the security of the home beyond locking the doors that were locked on arrival and setting the alarm as instructed. The Sitter will not admit any third party to the home, including cleaners, contractors, or friends of the Owner, unless the Owner names them here in advance: [AUTHORIZED THIRD PARTIES]. The Owner will disclose any appliance, plumbing, or system issue that may fail during the booking here: [KNOWN HOME ISSUES], along with the location of the water shutoff and the breaker panel.

8. 8. 8. Veterinary Authorization and Emergency Care Cost Cap

   The Owner authorizes the Sitter to seek veterinary care for any Pet that appears ill, injured, or in distress, including transporting the Pet to [PRIMARY VETERINARIAN NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE] or, if that clinic is closed or unable to treat, to [EMERGENCY CLINIC NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE] or the nearest available emergency animal hospital. The Owner authorizes the treating veterinarian to provide examination, diagnostics, stabilization, and treatment on the instruction of the Sitter. For treatment estimated to cost up to [EMERGENCY CARE CAP, e.g., $500], the Sitter may authorize care immediately and notify the Owner as soon as practical. Above that cap, the Sitter will make reasonable efforts to reach the Owner and then the local contact before authorizing further treatment, but may authorize whatever is necessary to relieve suffering or preserve life if neither can be reached.

9. 9. 9. Owner Responsibility for Costs and Payment on File

   The Owner is solely responsible for all veterinary examination, treatment, medication, boarding, and transport costs incurred under Section 8, whether authorized by the Owner or by the Sitter, and will reimburse the Sitter within [REIMBURSEMENT PERIOD, e.g., seven days] for any amount the Sitter advances, plus a transport charge of [TRANSPORT CHARGE] per trip. The Owner will keep a valid credit card on file with the Sitter and authorizes the Sitter to charge it for veterinary costs, purchased supplies, additional visits, and unpaid fees. Alternatively the Owner may leave a refundable emergency deposit of [EMERGENCY DEPOSIT] before the booking begins. The Owner will also leave written authorization with the named veterinary clinic confirming that the Sitter may present the Pets for treatment during the dates of service.

10. 10. 10. Pet Behavior Disclosure, Vaccinations, and Indemnification

    The Owner represents that each Pet is current on all vaccinations required by state and local law, including rabies, and on the core vaccinations recommended by the veterinarian of the Owner, and will provide records on request. The Owner further represents that no Pet has bitten a person or another animal, shown aggression, or been declared dangerous, except as fully disclosed here: [BITE, AGGRESSION, OR DANGEROUS DOG HISTORY]. The Sitter may refuse or discontinue service at any time if a Pet behaves aggressively or if undisclosed history comes to light, and unused fees are refunded less any completed visits. The Owner will indemnify, defend, and hold the Sitter harmless from all claims, injuries, medical costs, and property damage caused by any Pet during the term of this Agreement, except to the extent caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Sitter.

11. 11. 11. Late Return by the Owner

    The Owner will notify the Sitter immediately of any change to the return date or time. If the Owner does not return as scheduled and does not contact the Sitter, the Sitter will continue care and will bill each additional visit or night at the standard rate plus a short-notice charge of [SHORT NOTICE CHARGE]. If the Sitter cannot reach the Owner or the local contact for more than [ABANDONMENT PERIOD, e.g., 48 hours] beyond the scheduled end of service, and the Sitter is unable to continue care, the Sitter is authorized to place the Pets in boarding at [BOARDING FACILITY OR THE NEAREST AVAILABLE FACILITY] at the expense of the Owner. Pets left more than [ABANDONMENT LIMIT, e.g., 10 days] past the end of service without contact may be treated as abandoned under applicable state law.

12. 12. 12. Fees, Cancellation, Holiday Deposit, and Updates

    Fees are [RATE PER DROP-IN VISIT] per visit, [RATE PER OVERNIGHT] per overnight, and [ADDITIONAL PET RATE] per additional pet per visit. A holiday surcharge of [HOLIDAY SURCHARGE] applies on [HOLIDAY LIST]. Bookings over holiday periods require a non-refundable deposit of [HOLIDAY DEPOSIT] at the time of booking. The balance is due [PAYMENT TIMING, e.g., before the first visit / within 7 days of the final visit] by [PAYMENT METHOD]. Cancellations made at least [CANCELLATION NOTICE, e.g., 7 days] before the start date are refunded in full less any deposit; later cancellations are charged [LATE CANCELLATION FEE, e.g., 50 percent of the booking]. The Sitter will send a written update after each visit through [UPDATE METHOD], including at least one photograph and a note on food, water, waste, medication, and behavior.

13. 13. 13. Severe Weather and Emergency Evacuation

    In severe weather, a natural disaster, a utility failure, or a civil emergency, the safety of the Pets and of the Sitter comes first. The Sitter will use reasonable efforts to maintain the visit schedule but may shorten, combine, or reschedule visits if travel is unsafe, and will notify the Owner of any change. If an evacuation order applies to the service address, the Owner authorizes the Sitter to remove the Pets from the home and to relocate them to [EVACUATION LOCATION, e.g., the home of the Sitter, the named boarding facility, or a designated pet-friendly shelter], at the expense of the Owner. The Owner will leave carriers, leashes, a three-day supply of food, medication, and copies of vaccination records in [EMERGENCY KIT LOCATION]. The Sitter is not liable for outcomes caused by conditions beyond reasonable control.

14. 14. 14. Termination, Governing Law, and General Provisions

    Either Party may terminate this Agreement by written notice, and the Sitter may terminate immediately if a Pet is aggressive, if the home is unsafe or unsanitary, if access fails repeatedly, or if the Owner has withheld material information. On termination the Owner is charged for all completed visits, and the Sitter will return keys and access devices and will hand the Pets to the Owner or to the local contact. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of [GOVERNING STATE], and any dispute will be brought in the courts located in [VENUE COUNTY AND STATE]. This is the entire agreement between the Parties and may be amended only in writing. If any provision is unenforceable, the remainder stays in effect.

15. 15. 15. Signatures

    By signing below, both Parties confirm they have read this Agreement, understand it, and agree to be bound by it, including the veterinary authorization in Section 8 and the indemnification in Section 10. OWNER: [OWNER NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Printed Name: [OWNER SIGNER NAME]. Date: [DATE]. SITTER: [SITTER OR COMPANY NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Printed Name: [SITTER SIGNER NAME]. Title: [TITLE]. Date: [DATE]. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, and electronic or scanned signatures have the same effect as originals. A copy of the veterinary authorization page may be provided to any treating clinic.

16. 16. Disclaimer

    This template is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Requirements for pet sitting businesses vary by state and city, including licensing, bonding, insurance, animal boarding rules, and the notice and waiting periods that apply before an animal may be treated as abandoned. Veterinary clinics may also require their own authorization form before treating an animal presented by someone other than the owner. Review and adapt this document for your own circumstances, and consult a licensed attorney or your insurer before relying on it. Use of this template does not create an attorney-client relationship with ScanContract.