I am researching a pet sitter who will be entering my house to care
for my animals.  The individual says he is "bonded and insured".  How
do you verify the "bonded" part? (I live in Michigan)

Hi purplecg!

Thanks for accepting my research as your official answer, I appreciate
it very much. Here it is in the answer box:

Ask for a "certificate of insurance" and bond number and agent. Call
and verify both are in force.

They should provide you with information similar to this:

Pet walker's insurance info:
http://www.dannysdogwalkers.com/insurance_information.html

Pet walker's bond info:
http://www.dannysdogwalkers.com/bonded_information.html

The certificate looks like these:
http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=%22certificate+of+insurance%22+&btnG=Search

Also, to check if the person is licensed as a business:
http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcs_corp/sr_corp.asp


Glad this helps!


~~Cynthia


Search strategy:
I went to google images to find an image of an actual certificate of
insurance, and stumbled on a site having to do with dog walking.

The person should be able to provide documentation, and then you can
check with the insurer and the bonding agent.

Ask for the bond number and then call the Better Business Bureau to
see if there have been any complaints on them. Good luck.

Ask for a "certificate of insurance" and bond number and agent. Call
and verify both are in force.

They should provide you with information similar to this:

Pet walker's insurance info:
http://www.dannysdogwalkers.com/insurance_information.html

Pet walker's bond info:
http://www.dannysdogwalkers.com/bonded_information.html

The certificate looks like these:
http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=%22certificate+of+insurance%22+&btnG=Search

Also, to check if the person is licensed as a business:
http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcs_corp/sr_corp.asp

Also, to check if the person is licensed as a business:
http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcs_corp/sr_corp.asp

Do I see an echo? Either that or someone copy and pasted my post and
tried to make it their own.

Cynthia -- Thank you so much!  This is extremely helpful.  If you will
post it as the answer, I will pay up! :-)

Thanks again, 
purplecg