INSURANCE INSIGHTS
Care , Custody , and Control Coverage
Read for exclusions in your coverage to limit your exposures
By David Pearsall
What is Care , Custody , or Control Coverage ? Great question ! And one we often get asked by professional dog trainers when they take out coverage under the APDT liability policy for the first time . In addition , we have received numerous claims over the last few years that were not covered 100 percent , where it was evident APDT members did not realize what care , custody or control coverage was for , and wished they had asked the question beforehand . So for this briefing let ’ s focus on Care , Custody , or Control ( CCC ) and what it covers . Whether your business has been around for 20 years or is just starting out , it is very important to understand how your liability policy responds to different claims and why CCC is so important to anyone with client ’ s pets in their care or classes .
Most insurance companies offering coverage for dog trainers or other related pet services utilize the Commercial General Liability Coverage Form ( CG 00 01 ) or a similar form in their general liability policies . The form contains a very important exclusion titled “ Damage to Property .” It excludes property you own , rent or occupy as this would be covered under a property form if you lease or own a facility , or a homeowner ’ s form if you work out of your home . It also excludes property you sell , give away or abandon , as well as property loaned to you . And right in the middle is the infamous dog trainer / pet care exclusion , exclusion “ j .( 4 ) Personal property in the care , custody or control of the insured .” What this means is that your client ’ s dog ( s ) and the contents of client ’ s home ( if you do in home visits / training or pet sitting or dog walking ) are excluded without adding an additional coverage endorsement to pick up this exposure . This is because dogs and other domestic pets are considered personal property under the law .
Obviously , you wouldn ’ t want liability insurance if it did not cover the client ’ s dogs in your care / classes as this is one of the primary exposures of your business , and where approximately 80 percent of dog trainer claims are made . So in order to provide
26 Building Better Trainers Through Education Photo : Shutterstock