Pet Store Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a pet store business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for pet supply stores and stores selling live animals. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against the animals sold and services offered.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial General Liability (incl. Products) | Covers customer bites and injuries, illness from animals, and products sold such as food and treats. | Core | |
| Commercial Property & Business Income | Covers inventory, aquarium systems, and fixtures, plus lost income after a covered loss. | Core | |
| Animal Mortality / Stock Coverage | Covers live animals held for sale — standard property often excludes animals. | Situational | |
| Equipment Breakdown / Spoilage | Covers heating, filtration, and life-support failures for animals and aquariums. | Prevalent | |
| Vendor's Endorsement from Suppliers | Adds the store as an insured on pet food and supply makers' product liability. | Prevalent | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required in most states; employees handle animals and heavy bags. | Core | |
| Animal Bailee | Needed if the store grooms, boards, or bathes customers' pets. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed exposure for this class is disease from live animals. CDC has traced Campylobacter outbreaks to pet-store puppies, including an antibiotic-resistant strain, with store employees among the sick; reptiles and poultry spread Salmonella. Stores selling dogs and cats also face state lemon-law claims for sick animals and a growing number of state and local bans on retail sales. Confirm the policy covers illness claims, that live animals are covered as stock, and that life-support equipment is protected against breakdown.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your pet store coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Pet Store Insurance · Pet Store Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a pet store business need?
The core coverages for a pet store business are Commercial General Liability (incl. Products), Commercial Property & Business Income, Workers' Compensation. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my pet store coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.