Does the 3rd party liability apply only for sitters and not owners? Our sitters were supposed to keep our dog at home or on leash at all times. They were instructed to keep him away from small animals and dogs. They took him to a park and the dog was off leash and attacked a small 14 year old dog…

I can’t give any advice as this is Legal/Insurance territory so THS Support needs to be your main port of call. I’m assuming you’ve opened a Member Dispute officially? THS will then investigate. It’s worth doing. I’m so sorry this occurred, how awful for everyone concerned plus the animals of cours…

Hi @ajshepar Just confirming that speaking directly to Membership Services is your best option for this situation. Thanks @BonnyinBrighton for popping on to confirm! I’ll pop you a DM very soon with regards to this. Jenny

I am sorry for your experience. I would consult an attorney, or in the US many courts have legal aides to assist with filing a small claims case. Dog walkers usually carry some liability for animals in their care (which is why professional pet sitters have insurance), you can probably recover vet …

Please be sure to save any documentation, welcome guide, text message, chat, etc, you may have instructing the sitter to keep the dog on leash.

And sadly, not only do you have to deal with this, but you will likely be removed from the THS platform: “5.2.4. ensure that no pets to be left under the care of a Sitter have ever caused a person or animal any physical harm (no matter how minor the injury);” “5.2.11. not have any inherently dange…

@ajshepar , we have never heard of such an occurrence so can only but guess situation is rare. That an off-leash dog, even if without permission, caused another pet to have surgery seems situation with multiple factors and perhaps two sides. Not excusing any actions as facts may be incomplete. Hope t…

Also, the sitters were cited for having a pet off leash. I think that alone establishes that the sitters are the responsible party and not the dog owner.

If the dog was off leash in an area not allowed (and presumably so if they were cited) then that does increase their liability towards the victim dog’s vet bills. If it were me I would file through my insurance and let them collect from / sue the sitters. Assuming they are all in the same country.…

@ajshepar the sitter should have followed the instructions. However, I don’t feel this is 100% on the sitter. You as the pet owner don’t seem surprised or concerned that your dog injured another animal. Sitters can only assume that hosts are following the terms and conditions and are completely hone…

3rd party liability

Host Questions, Advice & Chat

Cat-ophile 21 August 2026 18:58 7

Given what happened, I don’t think they’d trust other THS sitters anyways.

If instructions were clear and written down, I imagine the sitters will be held responsible. Very irresponsible of them.

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3rd party liability

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