Pet Sitting Contract — Contrat (Quebec)

A Pet Sitting Contract (Quebec) in Quebec a Quebec pet sitting and pet care contract (contrat de garde d'animaux) is a legally binding written agreement between a pet sitter or caregiver (gardien) and a pet owner (proprietaire) for the temporary care and custody of a domestic animal — whether a dog, cat, rabbit, bird, or other pet — during a defined period when the owner is away or otherwise unable to provide direct care. The contract is governed by the Code civil du Quebec (CCQ), drawing primarily from the provisions on the contract of enterprise or for services (arts. 2098-2129), the provisions on deposit (arts. 2280-2292) which govern the temporary entrustment of property (including animals), and the general civil liability provisions (arts. 1457 and 1466) which govern fault-based liability and the owner's non-fault liability for animal-caused damage.

Under CCQ art. 898.1, animals are recognized as sentient beings under Quebec law (and since 2015 under the Animal Welfare and Safety Act, RLRQ c. B-3.1) and are not mere property, though they remain subject to property law in the context of contracts. The pet sitter, as a service provider under art. 2098, provides specialized care services independently, without being in a subordinate relationship with the pet owner, in exchange for an agreed daily rate or flat fee. Article 2100 imposes on the pet sitter a duty to act in the client's best interests with prudence and diligence in accordance with the standard practices of the pet care industry.

A thorough pet care contract begins with the detailed identification of the animal: species, breed, age, weight, and crucially, the microchip or tattoo identification number. In Quebec, under the Animal Welfare and Safety Act (Loi sur le bien-etre et la securite de l'animal, RLRQ c. B-3.1), animals must be treated humanely and their basic needs met (food, water, shelter, veterinary care, and social interaction appropriate to the species). The microchip number is critical for locating a lost animal and for proving ownership in disputes.

The care period must be specified with precision: start date and time, end date and time, and the location of care (at the pet sitter's home, at the owner's home, or at a professional boarding facility). The care location has significant practical implications: care at the sitter's home exposes the animal to the sitter's environment, other animals, and the sitter's supervision schedule; care at the owner's home keeps the animal in its familiar environment; professional boarding facilities provide structured supervision but may cause stress from the kennel environment.

Daily care instructions are the operational core of the pet care contract. These instructions must be specific and complete: exact food type, brand, quantity, and feeding schedule; water provision; exercise requirements and restrictions (such as leash requirements or off-leash area limitations); grooming routine; permitted treats and items to avoid; indoor/outdoor access rules; and any behavioral quirks or triggers the sitter should know about. Vague care instructions lead to disputes about whether the care provided met the contractual standard.

Medication management is a critical provision when the animal requires ongoing pharmaceutical treatment. The contract should specify each medication by name, dose, and administration instructions, and confirm that the owner will supply an adequate quantity for the entire care period. The pet sitter is not a veterinary professional and cannot be expected to diagnose or prescribe, but they can administer prescribed medications as instructed. The owner must provide clear written instructions from the veterinarian for any medications requiring specific administration technique.

Emergency veterinary authorization is essential in a pet care contract. The contract should name the animal's regular veterinarian and authorize the pet sitter to seek emergency care when the animal's life or health is at immediate risk and the owner cannot be reached promptly. A spending cap (plafond) specifies the maximum amount the sitter can commit without additional authorization. Above this cap, the sitter should make every reasonable effort to reach the owner before incurring further expenses. The owner is responsible for reimbursing all emergency care costs upon return.

Liability allocation is among the most legally significant provisions. Under CCQ art. 1466, the owner of an animal is liable for damage caused by that animal to a third party, regardless of who was caring for it. This means if the animal bites a visitor at the pet sitter's home, the owner bears primary liability. The pet sitter may be contributorily liable if their negligence created the conditions for the injury (e.g., failing to secure the animal). The contract should establish clear liability rules for the main risk scenarios: escape, injury to third parties, injury to the sitter, injury or death of the animal, and damage to the sitter's property.

The cancellation policy protects the pet sitter's business against last-minute cancellations that leave reserved time slots unfilled. Under CCQ art. 2125, the owner may terminate the contract at any time but must compensate the sitter for lost profit and expenses incurred.

When a pet owner in Quebec is leaving their home for a vacation, business trip, or extended absence and hiring a professional pet sitter or pet care service to look after their animal, and needs a written contract that defines the care instructions, fees, emergency procedures, and liability allocation.

When a professional pet sitter, dog walker, or pet boarding facility operator in Quebec needs a standard contract template that protects their business interests, limits their liability for pre-existing conditions and owner-caused risks, documents the agreed care instructions, and provides a cancellation policy that compensates them for last-minute cancellations.

When leaving a pet with a family member, neighbour, or friend for a longer period and wanting to formalize the arrangement to prevent misunderstandings about feeding schedules, emergency contacts, and who bears costs for unexpected veterinary care.

When a pet boarding facility (pension pour animaux) or doggy day care in Quebec needs a standard intake and services contract that covers animal health disclosures, vaccination requirements, care instructions, emergency care authorization, liability disclaimers, and payment terms.

When an animal requires ongoing medication or special care during the boarding period and the owner needs a written record that the care instructions were communicated to and accepted by the pet sitter, to protect the owner if the care instructions are not followed. An animal care and boarding contract is needed whenever a pet owner in Quebec leaves their animal in the care of another person for any period beyond a brief informal arrangement among family or friends. Overnight boarding services at a kennel, cattery, or pet boarding facility require a formal contract that documents the animal's health history, vaccination records, dietary requirements, behavioral characteristics, emergency veterinary contacts, and the facility's standard of care obligations. In-home pet sitting services, where a caregiver visits the pet owner's home one or more times daily to feed, walk, and attend to the animal's needs, require service contracts that address access to the property, key handling procedures, security obligations, liability for property damage caused by the animal, and emergency communication protocols. Dog walking services for working professionals who need daily midday walks require ongoing service contracts that define the schedule, route, duration, grouping of dogs with other clients' animals, the walker's qualifications, leash handling protocols, and the procedure for handling emergencies such as a dog injury or escape during a walk. Extended pet care services during longer owner absences such as travel abroad or hospitalization require more thorough contracts addressing veterinary authorization, care of medications, dietary management for animals with health conditions, grooming maintenance, and the protocol for handling a pet's death in the owner's absence. Animal rescue organizations that place foster animals with temporary caregivers benefit from foster care agreements defining the foster parent's obligations, the organization's support responsibilities including veterinary cost coverage, the return protocol when the animal is adopted, and the authority to make emergency medical decisions for the fostered animal. Farm animal care arrangements, including horse boarding and care contracts, require detailed agreements addressing feeding protocols, turnout schedules, veterinary care coordination, farrier services, and liability for injuries caused by the horse to third parties. Pet care contracts are essential for veterinary offices and animal hospitals that offer boarding services to pets recovering from procedures or requiring supervised care during an owner's absence, requiring detailed service agreements that document the medical protocols to be followed, medication schedules, wound care instructions, dietary restrictions, and the escalation procedures if the animal's condition deteriorates during the boarding period. Specialized care agreements are also needed for exotic pets such as reptiles, birds, fish aquariums, and small mammals that require species-specific husbandry expertise, specialized feeding protocols, temperature and humidity requirements, and handling procedures that differ significantly from standard dog and cat care arrangements.

Animal Identification -- Full description of the animal (name, species, breed, age, weight) and the microchip or tattoo number. Critical for identifying the animal if it escapes and for proving ownership under Quebec law.

Care Period and Location -- Exact start and end dates and times, and whether care is provided at the pet sitter's home, the owner's home, or a boarding facility. The location affects supervision standards and applicable risk allocation.

Daily Care Instructions -- Specific feeding instructions (food brand, quantity, frequency), exercise requirements and restrictions, permitted access areas, behavioral notes, and grooming routine. Vague instructions lead to disputes.

Medication Instructions -- For animals requiring pharmaceutical treatment: medication name, dose, administration method, and frequency. The owner must provide medications in sufficient quantity and written veterinary instructions.

Emergency Veterinary Authorization -- Name and contact of the regular veterinarian, explicit authorization for the pet sitter to seek emergency care when the owner cannot be reached, and a spending cap for emergency expenses without additional approval.

Owner Reimbursement of Emergency Costs -- The owner's obligation to reimburse all emergency veterinary costs incurred in good faith, upon presentation of receipts, within a specified deadline after return.

Liability Allocation -- Owner's primary liability under CCQ art. 1466 for animal-caused damage to third parties; pet sitter's fault-based liability for negligent care; exclusion for pre-existing conditions, escape resulting from animal behavior, and force majeure.

Cancellation Policy -- Notice period and fee structure for cancellations. Under CCQ art. 2125, the owner may cancel at any time but must compensate the pet sitter for losses incurred.

Good Faith (Bonne Foi) -- Article 1375 C.c.Q. requires both parties to act in good faith throughout the contract, from formation through performance to termination. A thorough Quebec pet care and boarding contract must include the following essential elements. Animal identification and health documentation must record the animal's name, species, breed, age, weight, microchip number, and current vaccination records, with the requirement that vaccines are up to date as a condition of boarding acceptance. The care scope must define the specific services to be provided including feeding frequency and portion sizes, water access, exercise or play time duration, grooming tasks included, medication administration if required, and the quality of accommodation provided such as individual kennels, group housing, or in-home care. Veterinary authorization is one of the most critical elements: the contract must grant the caregiver authority to seek emergency veterinary care if the animal's condition requires it, define the spending limit up to which the caregiver can authorize treatment without owner approval, and specify the veterinarian of preference if the owner has an established relationship with a specific clinic. Financial obligations including daily or weekly care fees, additional fees for medication administration, special dietary requirements, late pickup charges, and holiday surcharges must be clearly specified with the payment schedule and accepted payment methods. Liability allocation must address the caregiver's responsibility for injuries caused by the animal to third parties or other animals in their care, the owner's responsibility for disclosing known behavioral issues or health conditions that may create risk, and the limitation of the caregiver's liability for the animal's natural death or illness that was not caused by their negligence. Finally, the emergency contact chain must specify primary and secondary contacts for the owner and the protocol for contacting the owner during an animal emergency, including the maximum waiting period before the caregiver is authorized to make veterinary decisions independently if the owner is unreachable.