Why Your Veterinary Clinic in Louisiana Needs Animal Bailee Coverage

What Is Animal Bailee Insurance?

Animal bailee coverage is a specific type of insurance that protects your veterinary practice when a client’s pet is injured, lost, or even dies while in your care, custody, or control.

In legal terms, your clinic becomes a “bailee” whenever you’re responsible for someone else’s animal—whether they’re staying overnight for observation, coming in for a dental cleaning, or just boarding for the weekend. If something happens, the financial responsibility could fall on you.

And in Louisiana, where vet clinics often serve rural and high-value pet clients alike, that risk can be expensive.

What Animal Bailee Coverage Typically Covers

Most standard commercial policies don’t cover this kind of loss—because the pet is technically “in your custody.” Animal bailee insurance can step in to help cover:

Injury to a Pet While in Your Care

Whether a tech accidentally trims a nail too short or a pet slips off a treatment table, these incidents happen—and animal bailee can cover the resulting vet costs or legal fees.

Illness or Death From Negligence

If a medication mistake, failure to monitor, or missed feeding causes harm, your practice could be held financially responsible.

Escape or Loss

Did a dog break free from the yard or slip out the back door? Animal bailee can cover losses when pets go missing under your care.

Emergency Transport

Some policies include emergency transport expenses if a client’s animal has to be transferred to a specialty clinic due to a mistake or injury while under your watch.

Why General Liability Won’t Cover It

Most veterinary clinic owners think general liability insurance will cover everything that happens on-site. But that’s not always true.

If a client slips and falls in your lobby—yes, that’s covered. But if their pet gets injured while staying at your clinic? That falls outside standard coverage. Pets are considered “property” in most states, and once they’re under your care, you’re legally responsible for them like a car mechanic is responsible for a car in the shop.

And that’s why animal bailee exists—to fill this very specific gap.

Do You Really Need This in Louisiana?

If you:

• Offer boarding or overnight stays

• Perform grooming or bathing services

• Keep pets in crates or treatment rooms without their owner present

• Administer medications or anesthesia

• Handle animals prone to aggression, illness, or escape

Then yes—animal bailee insurance is a smart addition. In areas like Baton Rouge, Youngsville, Lafayette, and Alexandria, where vet clinics juggle high-volume caseloads and wide service areas, even a small incident can lead to a big bill or legal dispute.

Protect the Animals—and Your Practice

You’re in the business of helping pets heal, not paying out-of-pocket for unexpected injuries or losses. With animal bailee insurance, your Louisiana veterinary clinic can stay protected while continuing to offer excellent care.

At Kastner Insurance, we help vet clinics across Louisiana find the right commercial policies—from general liability and property coverage to professional liability and specialty endorsements like animal bailee.

Reach out to Kastner Insurance today to review your current policy and see if this critical coverage is missing. It only takes one accident to find out the hard way.

About Kastner Insurance Group