Background checks for pet sitters
In-home pet visits, feeding, overnight care, and boarding mean the sitter has the house to themselves — sometimes for a week.
Short answer
How should an organization screen a pet sitter?
The requesting organization can select screening searches relevant to a pet sitter, obtain authorization, and receive the report for its decision. The searches below show the role-specific scope. If the organization asks the worker to pay, it should review that arrangement with qualified counsel first.
Why clients ask pet sitters for a background check
- The sitter holds keys or codes and is alone in the home, often overnight.
- Clients are away and cannot check in.
- Medication, valuables, and mail are all accessible during a stay.
- The animal's welfare depends entirely on the sitter showing up.
What the check should include
These searches may be relevant when an organization screens this role. The requesting organization should select a scope appropriate to the role and applicable requirements.
| Search | Why it matters here |
|---|---|
| SSN address trace | Identity confirmation and the county list. |
| National criminal database search | Broad multi-state first pass. |
| County criminal search | Court-verified theft, burglary, violence, and animal-cruelty charges where they exist. |
| Sex offender registry | Standard for unsupervised access to a private residence. |
Who pays for organization-requested screening?
The organization initiates screening for this role, selects the searches, and receives the report for its authorized decision. A worker-payment arrangement may be available for an organization, but payment does not replace its disclosure, authorization, or adverse action responsibilities. Consult qualified counsel before requiring workers to pay.
Costs depend on the searches selected and applicable court access fees. Organizations can estimate their scope in the pricing calculator and review our access fee lookup. Median report time is under four hours, and 89% of reports return the same business day.
Questions pet sitters ask
Should pet sitters be background checked?
Pet sitting involves unsupervised home access with keys. Platforms can screen sitters before assigning visits.
Does the check show animal cruelty charges?
Where such a charge exists in a searched jurisdiction's court records, it appears like any other criminal record. There is no nationwide animal-abuse registry equivalent to the sex offender registry.
How much does screening a pet sitter cost?
Pricing depends on the searches selected by the requesting organization and any applicable court access fees. Use the pricing calculator for a scoped estimate.
How often should a sitter refresh it?
Once a year, or whenever a new client asks for something current.
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Keep reading
- What shows up on a background checkEvery record type an employment screen can return, what it cannot return, and the lookback limits that apply.Read the guide
- Adverse action: meaning, notices, and timelineWhat adverse action means under the FCRA, the two required notices, and how long to wait between them.Read the guide
- How long does a background check take?Realistic turnaround by search type, the court and verification delays that drive it, and how to shorten it.Read the guide