Contractor vs. Employee: What Pet Owners Should Know When Choosing Pet Care

I’ve learned a lot in the early years of my business—as most entrepreneurs do—juggling every role and learning along the way. I have found one thing that separates sustainable businesses from the rest is the ability to recognize what needs improvement and enacting change swiftly.

From the beginning, I was committed to building a company that’s professional, ethical, and reliable—one that consistently delivers exceptional pet care. After my first season of hiring, I quickly realized that building a strong team of employees—not independent contractors—was the only way to truly uphold my vision.

Having employees allows me to provide consistent availability, standardized training, and ongoing education in accordance with the company’s values. I knew the value I brought to my clients, and I wanted to ensure that every member of my team delivered that same level of care in an alike fashion.

I also realized how many businesses (especially in pet care) cut corners when it comes to staffing. I reflected on my own 1099 jobs of years past and realized I had been misclassified for the benefit of the business—that didn’t sit right with me!

You might be thinking, “I don’t run a business—why does this matter to me?” Because it directly affects the reliability, consistency, and safety of the care your pet (and home) receives. The type of team behind a pet care company makes all the difference.

When you’re choosing someone to care for your pet—your four-legged family member—you’re doing more than hiring a dog walker or pet sitter. You’re handing over trust, responsibility, and often a house key. So here’s a crucial question many pet parents overlook:

Is the person caring for your pet an employee of a company, or an independent contractor?

Let’s break it down.

What’s the Difference?

• Employees work for a business. They’re part of a team, are trained, managed, and insured through the company, and follow specific policies and procedures.

• Independent Contractors are self-employed. They operate under their own business structure, set their own standards, and are not legally allowed to be trained or managed by the company that hires them.

Why This Matters for Pet Owners

1. Training & Quality Control

• Employees: The company can provide training, supervision, and ongoing education. The team is all on the same page, and your pets get the same high-quality care, every time.

• Contractors: A business legally cannot train or manage a contractor—and if they do, they’re violating labor laws. That means pet care companies using contractors can’t enforce consistency, quality standards, or protocols. And if they do, it’s not only illegal but unethical. Can you think of a time when you worked a 1099 job and were told when to show up and underwent training? Me too, and that’s the problem.

2. Reliability & Oversight

• Employees: If someone’s sick or can’t make a visit, the company has backup. Managers oversee schedules, customer service, performance, and safety.

• Contractors: Operate independently, with no required oversight or support. If something goes wrong, there may be no fallback plan.

3. Liability & Insurance

• Employees: Covered by the company’s liability and bonding insurance. You’re protected if there’s property damage, a lost pet, an accident, or an emergency.

• Contractors: Expected to carry their own insurance or bonding, but there’s no guarantee they do—and some companies don’t even require it. For example, Rover and Wag! do not provide insurance or bonding for the providers on their platform. Bonding ensures agreed upon duties are fulfilled and your home is protected in cases of theft or property damage caused by a care provider.

4. Communication & Consistency

• Employees: Use centralized systems for communication and care notes, so everyone on the team stays in the loop.

• Contractors: Communicate on their own terms, with no obligation to use company tools or report updates the same way.

The Ethical Issue: Misclassification

Here’s something most pet owners don’t realize: There are pet care companies that misclassify their staff as independent contractors—even though they train, manage, and supervise them like employees. This is illegal, and it’s unethical.

Why? Because:

• Contractors aren’t entitled to minimum wage requirements, overtime, and often get paid less per visit, with no recourse for unfair treatment.

• They’re expected to absorb business costs like gas, gear, and insurance.

• They don’t get benefits, job security, or tax protections.

In short: companies benefit financially, while workers lose out. And when the team isn’t treated fairly, that affects the care your pet receives.

The Trade-Off: Why Powder Paws Doesn’t Offer “Live-In” Care

Now, we’re all about transparency—so here’s one potential drawback of hiring a team made up of employees instead of contractors: we can’t legally offer “live-in” style overnight care.

Why? Because employees are protected by labor laws that set clear rules around:

• Working hours—even when they’re sleeping

• Overtime pay

• Breaks and sleep time

• Minimum wage compliance

Those cozy-sounding 24-hour stays that some companies offer? They often rely on contractors or misclassified workers, which often means they’re bypassing labor laws or cutting corners to make it work.

At Powder Paws, we’re committed to providing exceptional care—not just for pets, but for our team as well. That’s why we structure our overnight services in a way that complies with Colorado labor laws. While this means we’re unable to offer true 24-hour or live-in care, we believe in doing things the right way. We choose to operate ethically and responsibly, rather than promise services that aren’t legally or sustainably possible.

So, What’s Best for You (and Your Pet)?

If you’re hiring a neighbor or hobby sitter for the occasional drop-in, a contractor might be fine.

But if you want consistent, professional, and ethical care from a team that’s trained, insured, and accountable, go with a company that hires employees. You’ll know your pet is in good hands—and that the people behind the leash are treated with the same care and respect you expect for your dog.

The Bottom Line

When you choose professional pet care, you’re not just hiring a person—you’re choosing a system. Ask the company whether their staff are employees or contractors. If they’re contractors, how the company ensures consistency (spoiler: they legally can’t).

Because you and your pets deserve more than a gig worker. They deserve a team that’s trained, backed, and built to care—consistently, professionally, and ethically.