What the verified badge on a PawPals profile actually means
Plenty of sites say "verified" without saying what was checked. Here is our full list, what evidence we accept, and how often each item is re-checked. A sitter who has not cleared every relevant item cannot appear in search or accept a booking.
The five checks
Photo ID matched to a live selfie
Passport or Irish driving licence. The name must match the payout account, so a verified profile cannot be traded or shared.
Once at signup; re-run if the name or payout account changes.
Garda vetting disclosure
Obtained by the sitter through an authorised vetting body. We record the disclosure date, applicant name and roles covered.
Re-run every 24 months.
Public liability insurance evidence
A current policy schedule naming pet care as a covered activity. Insurer and policy expiry are recorded against the profile.
Checked at every policy renewal; listing pauses if it lapses.
Irish address and phone
Address evidence plus a verified mobile number, so there is always a real contact route during a booking.
Once at signup; re-verified on any address change.
Home and garden check (boarding only)
Video walkthrough of the sleeping area, garden boundary and fencing height, plus how the sitter's own pets are separated.
Before the first boarding booking, then every 24 months.
What we do not claim
Garda vetting is a point-in-time disclosure, not a guarantee of future behaviour. It tells you what was on record at the disclosure date and nothing more.
Insurance cover is held by the sitter, not by PawPals. The insurer and policy expiry are shown on the profile so you can see the cover you are relying on before you book.
We do not display star ratings until a sitter has a real completed booking with a review attached. An unrated new sitter is shown as new — never padded with an invented score.
Applying to walk dogs on PawPals?
Have your ID, vetting disclosure and insurance schedule ready and verification usually completes within three working days.