Firstly, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to spoil and pamper your precious furbaby! Secondly, these pawlicies have been put in place to run the salon like a well-oiled machine for the physical and mental safety of your pup, you and the staff of Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming. With out them, there would be chaos and we don’t like chaos. Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming will do their best to make the appointment as joyful and as stress free as possible, not just for your dog but also for you!
Please read the following carefully to avoid any unexpected fees at pick up!
You will receive a reminder text prior to your appointment. You MUST confirm to that TEXT. Not confirming may result in your appointment being cancelled and replaced with another client on our waiting list.
LEASHES
Please have a SOLID leash (NOT A FLEXLEAD) and properly fitted harness or collar on your pup BEFORE entering the salon. Please leave the collar/harness and leash on your pup. We ask that you have a SOLID leash and collar/harness on your pup for safety as we are located on a busy street (8th Street). Pups can get easily distracted, as well if there is an emergency (ie fire) and we need to evacuate the building your dog will be evacuated with us. If no leash is provided then your dog will be left for the fire department to rescue when they get here.
DROPPING OFF
Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming expects you to arrive on time for your pups appointment. If you arrive early for your appointment please take your pup for a walk to potty them. Please arrive no more than 5 minutes early to your appointment. Arriving up to 10 minutes late will result in a late fee of $20. Arriving 10 minutes late or more will result in a cancelled appointment and a No-Show fee. Give us a text if you are running behind. Communication is KEY.
WHILE YOUR PUP IS IN OUR CARE
Keep your phones on you and loud enough for you to hear! Please be ready to answer your phone while your furbaby is here! Your groomer may have questions for you and need your immediate attention. We will also need to get a hold of you for pick up.
PICKING-UP
Please DO NOT come in before you receive a text as your pup will be excited to see you. Arriving before pick up time will result in the groom being stopped immediately and full service cost will be charged. You will be given an approximate time for pick up at drop off with a text message sent 30 minutes before pick up. Please be prompt with pick up. We work by appointment only and do not have the staff or facilities for your pet to stay after the groom has been completed. To enforce this policy, a $20 kennel fee will be added to your invoice per 30 minutes past pick up time. Should your pup soil their kennel and need to be bathed and dried again, you will be charged for that bath.
CANCELLATIONS AND NO SHOWS
As a small business, each appointment is financially accounted for advance of my small business’ growth. Your grooming appointment is a reservation for services and for the individualized attention we provide each pet. We can only take a limited number of appointments each day. A missed appointment is a loss of income to a small business. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment please notify us no less than 48 Hours (2 days) prior to your scheduled appointment or there will be a cancellation fee of 50% of your scheduled appointment cost. Last minute cancellations (less than 24 hours) and no shows will be charged a cancellation fee of 100% of your scheduled appointment cost. An invoice will be sent and needs to be paid within 24 hours to avoid late fees. While reminders are sent, it is your responsibility to make note on your calendar of the appointment date and to proactively reach out before the reminder is sent if it is necessary to reschedule.
AGGRESSIVE, DANGEROUS OR DRUGGED PUPS
Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming DOES NOT groom pups that require vet prescribed sedatives to be groomed. We only groom willingly compliant pups only. CBD treats are OK. We groom with love and kisses not drugs.
Should your pup display aggressive/challenging behaviour during the grooming service, a behavioural fee will be added to accommodate the incremental resources and time required to groom them. The safety of your pup and our staff are our top priority. Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming reserves the right to refuse or stop services for such pups at any time before or during the grooming process. Full service cost and behavioural fee will be charged if the groom is not completed due to behavioural problems
MAT REMOVAL
Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming is a Humanity over Vanity salon. Pups that are not groomed every 4 to 6 weeks may become matted (also known as “pelted”). Pups with matted coats need extra attention during their grooming session to make the grooming experience as comfortable and as pain free as possible. Matting or pelting occurs from lack of grooming, coat overgrowth, not routinely being brushed and/or a coat not being combed through prior to getting wet, or the coat not properly dried, combed and brushed after bathing or getting wet from the elements. Mats left in a pup’s coat only grow tighter, and will pull the pup’s skin or even tear the skin open in extreme cases of neglect. Matting is extremely painful for pups. Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming does not wish to cause serious or undue stress to your pup and will not de-mat, as in brushing out your pup for you. Mats that are tight to the skin can be very difficult to remove and will require the pet to be shaved close to the skin to get under the matting. When necessary, removing a matted coat includes the risk of nicks, cuts, or abrasions due to warts, moles or skin trapped in mats. Matting will trap moisture, urine and faeces on the pup’s skin causing mold, fungus, and/or bacteria to grow, which can cause skin irritations that existed prior to the grooming process. After effects of mat removal procedures can include itchiness, skin redness, self-inflicted irritations or abrasions and failure of the hair to regrow. Shaved pups are also prone to sunburn and should be kept out of the sun until the hair grows sufficiently to protect the skin. In some cases, pups may also exhibit brief behavioural changes. In rare cases where the matting is not severe and only covers a small area, we may be able to remove them by splitting, thinning and then brushing them out. De-matting a pup adds significant time to the grooming process, thus additional fees apply for de-matting and are billed in non-negotiable increments of 15 minutes at $20 each. Matted coats are hard on our equipment and in most cases require two haircuts, the first to remove the matted coat prior to bathing and a second to even up the coat after bathing. In either case, a de-matting surcharge will apply billable in increments of 15 minutes.
We will make every effort to not shave Double Coat Breeds such as Huskies, German Shepherds.. etc As it can damage a dogs coat in the long run and possibly put the dog at risk for additional health concerns. We are not responsible for health conditions that may be revealed by removing a matted coat such as sores, “hot spots”, etc. Prevention is the best defence against matting by maintaining a regular grooming schedule as advised by your groomer.
PARASITES
If you suspect your pup has fleas, ticks or lice, prompt and thorough action on YOUR part will be needed. Flea infestations can lead to tapeworm and other health problems in your pup. If fleas, ticks or lice are found during the grooming process, your pup will receive a flea/parasite bath to kill the parasites. An extra charge will be applied to cover the cost of the extra products used for the bath and to deep the salon to prevent the spread to other pups. If ticks are found, we strongly suggest you have your pup tested for Lyme Disease or other tick borne illnesses. Please note that parasites are a health hazard to your pup as well as to humans. Please consult a veterinarian for the proper medications to treat the parasite infestation.
ACCIDENTS
There is always the possibility an accident could occur. Grooming equipment is sharp, even though we use extreme caution and care in all situations, possible problems could occur including cuts, nicks, scratches, quicking of nails, etc. In most cases this can happen when a pup is wiggling or moves abruptly. Your pup’s safety and comfort is our number one priority. In the event an accident does occur, you will be notified of the accident. If Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming feels it is serious, Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming will seek immediate veterinary care for your pet with the closest vet clinic. As the pups owner, you agree to pay all cost for the medical treatments needed. Such risks inevitably include, but are not limited to cutting the quick when trimming nails, allergic reactions, stress and stress related medical conditions, as well as clipper burn, hematomas, and/or skin irritations.
HEALTH, MEDICAL PROBLEMS AND SENIOR PETS
Grooming procedures can sometimes be stressful, especially for a senior or ill/injured pups and can expose hidden medical problems or aggravate a current one during or after the groom. Because these pups have a greater chance of injury, these pups will be groomed for cleanliness and comfort not beauty.
IMAGES / VIDEOS
Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming will take and share photos and/or videos of your pups grooming session. Be sure to follow us on Facebook @PawsNTailsDogGrooming, Instagram @pawsntailsdog and TikTok @pawsntails2017
GROOMING RATES
Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming rates are based on breed, size, temperament, and the condition of the coat, as well as the style, the duration of the groom and skill level needed. Nail trimming and ear cleaning are part of a grooming service. We do NOT offer internal or external anal gland expression, as this should be performed by a licensed veterinarian.
PAYMENTS
Payment is due at the time of pick up, no exceptions. Acceptable forms of payment are cash or debit card. Please no credit cards as the fees are extremely high for a small business. For safety reasons, Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming does not carry cash change. Any amount over the service total will be kept as a tip.
ACCIDENTS?
Please potty your pup before their appointment. Please arrive early enough to allow enough time to potty your pup. There is grass across the road by the Kia dealership and there is also grass behind the building. If your pup poops please be kind and scoop! Any accident during their visit will involve a clean up fee for cleaning up the accident plus any re-baths your pup may need.
HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT
By signing this contract you also understand that you are liable for any and all medical care expenses and damages to equipment, property or injuries caused by your pup. You also expressly waives and relinquishes any and all claims against Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming, its employees, contractors and representatives for grooming accidents/injuries or skin irritations while under the care of Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming. If any medical problems develop while my pet is in the care of Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming, I authorize Paws-N-Tails Dog Grooming to do whatever is necessary for the safety, health and well being of my pet. Further I assume full financial responsibility for any and all expenses incurred to my pup.