Acknowledgement and Waiver
By utilizing our services, you consent that you have read our policies page in its entirety, agree and understand all of its contents completely, and acknowledge that Paula’s Loving Leash Pet Care Services has limited liability regarding certain occurrences and incidents that may occur regarding your pet.
Emergency Care
In the event that something should happen to your pet that requires medical attention, we will do everything possible to obtain the right treatment for your pet in a timely manner. In the event that we are unable to reach you or your emergency contact in a timely manner for whatever reason, we reserve the right to make medical decisions on your behalf for the care of your pet. You will be responsible for any veterinarian bills that result from getting your pet the medical attention that he or she needs.
It is required that you have a credit card on file with your veterinarian.
Holidays
A $10.00 per visit charge will be added on the following days: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Easter Weekend, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Father’s Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. If the holiday precedes or follows a Saturday or Sunday, then the holiday fee per visit will be charged for the entire weekend. (F-S-S-M)
For our daily clients, we realize that some of the listed holidays may not be holidays at your workplace or that you may have to work on one of these holidays. In that case, there will not be an additional charge for those visits.
Inclement Weather/Natural Disaster
Paula’s Loving Leash will make all reasonable attempts to drive safely to your home and care for your pets as soon as possible in inclement weather. However, we strongly recommend that you give a house key to a trustworthy neighbor in case roads are closed, dangerous, or impassable due to ice, snow, floods, etc. Paula’s Loving Leash reserves the right to cancel visits if walkers are unable to safely reach your home. The service schedule may be changed, interrupted, altered or cancelled due to circumstances.
In severe weather conditions, for the safety of your pet, we will probably cut back the time for their walk during periods of blizzards, extreme cold, or heat waves. We will spend the rest of the time visiting/playing with your pet instead.
Snow
It is the client’s responsibility to set up services to ensure that snow is removed from sidewalks, entrances, and driveways so that Paula’s Loving Leash Pet Care Services can access your property to care for your pets. In the event that this is not done, a snow removal service will be called and the client will be responsible for all costs incurred. During heavy snows, it may be hours before a snow removal service is available.
Keys
Paula’s Loving Leash Pet Care Services requires TWO sets of keys 24 hours prior to service beginning. You may choose to have us return the keys at the end of the booking, or we can keep them on file. There is a $15 charge for each occurrence a key is to be picked up or dropped off by Paula’s Loving Leash Pet Care Services. Clients are not charged if keys are provided during their consultation visit (meet and greet). Keys are handled with great care and are never labeled with client addresses or last names. Please remember, if we retain your keys, Paula’s Loving Leash may be able to accommodate you if an emergency were to occur.
Payment
Our preferred method of payment is PayPal. There is no cost to you to use the service. You will receive your invoice from PayPal via email. There will be an option on the email to pay the invoice. If you pay through PayPal, you will be provided a receipt from them. If you prefer not to pay through PayPal, you may leave a check or cash. We will then email you a receipt.
Pet Sitting and vacation visits: 50% payment is due before the first day of service. The balance is due 2 days after visits are finished. You will receive the invoices (before and after) through PayPal as stated above.
Daily Dog Walking and Pet Visits: Payments are due within 2 business days of receiving the invoice. If you are not using PayPal and there are no walks scheduled for that week, then the payment is to be mailed and should be received by that Friday.
Pet Behavior & Well-Being
All pets under our care must be up to date on their vaccinations.
Paula’s Loving Leash cannot care for aggressive dogs or dogs with a history of biting. We reserve the right to refuse or terminate services for a pet that we deem as being a danger to our walkers. We will contact you immediately if this decision is made.
Animal behavior can be unpredictable. Paula’s Loving Leash Pet Care Services does not accept responsibility or liability for animal behavior, normal or otherwise, which results in injury to the client’s animals, other animals, or to the public. Further, if a Paula’s Loving Leash Pet Care Services provider is harmed or injured by the client’s animals, the client/owner accepts full responsibility for the cost of any necessary medical attention required by either the Paula’s Loving Leash Pet Care Services provider or by the animals.
We do not care for pets that are kept outside or in areas lacking environmental controls. (Heat and air conditioning) All doggie doors must be closed and locked before services begin.
Scheduling Services
For our “daily” clients, (those who average 3 visits per week during the preceding month) the schedule for the following week must be received no later than the preceding Friday at 5:00 PM.
“Tentative” visits are not considered scheduled until we get positive confirmation from you.
There will a fee of 50% charged for services not cancelled within 48 hours of the scheduled service.
For vacation visits, there will be a 50% charge for services not cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled start. At our discretion, this fee may be waived or lowered due to extraordinary circumstances.
Cameras
Security cameras/nanny cams cannot be used in bathrooms or locations where a pet sitter will be sleeping for an overnight stay. Footage from these cameras is for your security purposes only and cannot be published or made public in any way.
Emergencies & Visitors
Our insurance policy does not allow job sharing. We must be the sole caregiver for your pet(s).
If anyone else has access to your home while we are pet sitting, we need to be aware of it. All other individuals that visit the home MUST leave a log of their visit, which will include their reason for being in the home, their name, a contact number, and time of their arrival and departure. An optional form will be provided upon request. Paula’s Loving Leash Pet Care Services asks that the Client schedule all other services, such as housekeeping, pool cleaning and yard work, for dates/times when Paula’s Loving Leash Pet Care Services will not be providing service. Paula’s Loving Leash Pet Care Services cannot be held liable for the deeds or misdeeds of other individuals. It is the Client’s responsibility to ensure that Paula’s Loving Leash Pet Care Services is provided with information regarding any friends, relatives, neighbors, or others whom the client has given access to the home in their absence. We will not enter the home if someone we don’t know is on the premises and if we see someone in or around your home that we do not know, we will immediately notify the authorities.
It is suggested that arrangements be made with someone to evacuate your pets in case of a disaster or weather-related event or crisis. Paula’s Loving Leash Pet Care Services will definitely try to see to your pet’s safety/care should such events occur but cannot guarantee it.
