Terms and Conditions
By booking a dog walk or pet care service with Nicola's Dog Walking & Pet Care,
you deem acceptance of the following terms and conditions.
you deem acceptance of the following terms and conditions.
General
1) It is not a legal requirement to vaccinate your pet; however, we do strongly advise you do to protect them from potentially life-threatening illnesses. If you chose not to vaccinate your pet, our insurance company has the right to refuse any claims for un-vaccinated pets.
2) It is your responsibility to ensure your pet is up to date with its Flea/Tick/Worming vaccinations.
3) In the unlikely event that something should happen to your pet whilst in our care, we will try and contact the owner or the designated person in case of emergencies. If we are unable to contact you, we will make every effort to take your pet to your preferred vet; however, we will act in the best interest of the pet which may mean visiting a different vet.
4) Whilst we do have insurance, any vet bills your pet may incur whilst in our care will primarily need to be paid by the owner so we strongly advise you have insurance for your pet. Should your pet need to use our insurance services, or should anyone make a third party claim against your pet, you will be expected to pay the excess premium (£100 per claim) which forms part of the policy. If your pet is injured in our care, any vet fees under £100 will need to be paid by the owner. We reserve the right to refuse to walk your dog or care for your pet if he/she is not insured.
5) If we are required to enter your property, we will require a set of keys, or for a set to be left in a safe place set by the owner. In the unlikely event that your keys are misplaced by one of our pet carers, our insurance policy covers the replacement of locks & keys (no excess payable by the owner).
6) Should your pet need any medication whilst in our care, we will need to be advised of this during their assessment and all medication must be provided by the owner. Please also remember to advise us if your pet begins a new medication or if dosage requirements change. We will follow instructions to administer medication as advised to your pet however we cannot be held responsible for any complications that arise as a result.
7) Payments for dog walking are required by 6pm on the Sunday for the week. We will leave your invoice on the last day of walking your dog. Payment can be made via cash or bank transfer. If payment is not made within the time scale, we reserve the right to refuse to walk your dog the following week. Dog boarding, cat visits, small animal care and farm animal care will require a 50% non-refundable deposit which is due at the time of booking. The remaining 50% is due within 7 calendar days of your return.
8) If we attend your property and we cannot gain access, or if there is no one available to let us in to collect your dog, or care for your pets, you are liable for the full cost of the walk/service.
9) We will take photos of your pets which may be used on our website and social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. If you do not want photos of your pet used, please let us know.
10) We aim to arrange our holidays by the end of every February and we will provide a written document of when our holiday weeks will be. Should you take up our services mid year, we will provide you with our holiday dates for the remaining period of the year. Unfortunately, we do not arrange cover walkers for holidays but we can provide you with a list of other local dog walkers.
11) Should we need to permanently discontinue your dog’s walks or pet care for any reason, we will give you 2 week’s notice to find alternative pet care. (Aggressive dogs are exempt from this notice period and walks can and will be discontinued immediately if the walker has concerns for their own safety, the safety of another person or another dog’s safety)
12) In the event that additional items need to be purchased in the absence of the client, i.e, pet food, litter or other necessary items that contribute to the health and well being of your pet, the pet carer will purchase these items, retain a receipt and the pet owner is responsible for reimbursement of these items within 48 hours of their return.
13) It is your responsibility to keep us updated with any changes to your own or emergency contact details and your pet care needs.
14) We fully dispose of your pets waste in an ethical manner. We do require for all home based animals that the appropriate waste items are provided. I.e, litter trays, scoopers and waste bags and you will need to let us know where you would like the waste disposed of.
15) We will clean up after your pets within your home to the best of our ability. Please advise us of the designated area in which your cleaning supplies are kept.
16) We will not accept any responsibility or liability for any animals that escape or become lost or injured, fatal or otherwise when instructed to leave the clients animals in a fenced area.
17) We aim to walk your dog/care for your pets in the agreed timescales however sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances, we may need to change these timings at short notice but we will keep you informed via text message.
1) It is not a legal requirement to vaccinate your pet; however, we do strongly advise you do to protect them from potentially life-threatening illnesses. If you chose not to vaccinate your pet, our insurance company has the right to refuse any claims for un-vaccinated pets.
2) It is your responsibility to ensure your pet is up to date with its Flea/Tick/Worming vaccinations.
3) In the unlikely event that something should happen to your pet whilst in our care, we will try and contact the owner or the designated person in case of emergencies. If we are unable to contact you, we will make every effort to take your pet to your preferred vet; however, we will act in the best interest of the pet which may mean visiting a different vet.
4) Whilst we do have insurance, any vet bills your pet may incur whilst in our care will primarily need to be paid by the owner so we strongly advise you have insurance for your pet. Should your pet need to use our insurance services, or should anyone make a third party claim against your pet, you will be expected to pay the excess premium (£100 per claim) which forms part of the policy. If your pet is injured in our care, any vet fees under £100 will need to be paid by the owner. We reserve the right to refuse to walk your dog or care for your pet if he/she is not insured.
5) If we are required to enter your property, we will require a set of keys, or for a set to be left in a safe place set by the owner. In the unlikely event that your keys are misplaced by one of our pet carers, our insurance policy covers the replacement of locks & keys (no excess payable by the owner).
6) Should your pet need any medication whilst in our care, we will need to be advised of this during their assessment and all medication must be provided by the owner. Please also remember to advise us if your pet begins a new medication or if dosage requirements change. We will follow instructions to administer medication as advised to your pet however we cannot be held responsible for any complications that arise as a result.
7) Payments for dog walking are required by 6pm on the Sunday for the week. We will leave your invoice on the last day of walking your dog. Payment can be made via cash or bank transfer. If payment is not made within the time scale, we reserve the right to refuse to walk your dog the following week. Dog boarding, cat visits, small animal care and farm animal care will require a 50% non-refundable deposit which is due at the time of booking. The remaining 50% is due within 7 calendar days of your return.
8) If we attend your property and we cannot gain access, or if there is no one available to let us in to collect your dog, or care for your pets, you are liable for the full cost of the walk/service.
9) We will take photos of your pets which may be used on our website and social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. If you do not want photos of your pet used, please let us know.
10) We aim to arrange our holidays by the end of every February and we will provide a written document of when our holiday weeks will be. Should you take up our services mid year, we will provide you with our holiday dates for the remaining period of the year. Unfortunately, we do not arrange cover walkers for holidays but we can provide you with a list of other local dog walkers.
11) Should we need to permanently discontinue your dog’s walks or pet care for any reason, we will give you 2 week’s notice to find alternative pet care. (Aggressive dogs are exempt from this notice period and walks can and will be discontinued immediately if the walker has concerns for their own safety, the safety of another person or another dog’s safety)
12) In the event that additional items need to be purchased in the absence of the client, i.e, pet food, litter or other necessary items that contribute to the health and well being of your pet, the pet carer will purchase these items, retain a receipt and the pet owner is responsible for reimbursement of these items within 48 hours of their return.
13) It is your responsibility to keep us updated with any changes to your own or emergency contact details and your pet care needs.
14) We fully dispose of your pets waste in an ethical manner. We do require for all home based animals that the appropriate waste items are provided. I.e, litter trays, scoopers and waste bags and you will need to let us know where you would like the waste disposed of.
15) We will clean up after your pets within your home to the best of our ability. Please advise us of the designated area in which your cleaning supplies are kept.
16) We will not accept any responsibility or liability for any animals that escape or become lost or injured, fatal or otherwise when instructed to leave the clients animals in a fenced area.
17) We aim to walk your dog/care for your pets in the agreed timescales however sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances, we may need to change these timings at short notice but we will keep you informed via text message.
Dog Walking
1) All dogs must wear a collar or harness and Identification tag during their walk. An I.D tag is now a legal requirement. The law now states all dogs must be micro chipped so we strongly advise you to check with the micro-chipping database to ensure they hold the correct contact details for your dog.
2) We are not able to walk any female dog whilst they are in season or for 4 weeks after the first signs of the season. If your dog has had puppies, we are not able to walk for a minimum of 6 weeks post delivery. We do request your dog to be bathed after their season and before returning to walks.
3) Should your dog have any behavioural (territorial, dominance etc) problems, we need to be made aware of this during your home visit and prior to your dogs first walk. If your dog requires a muzzle for their own safety, other dog’s safety, or their walker’s safety, this must be provided by the owner.
4) We walk dogs of all ages including puppies; as long as they have been given the correct vaccinations and this has been certified by your vet.
5) We will walk your dog on a trial period to begin with. If your dog shows any signs of aggression towards people or other dogs, we reserve the right to terminate the walk early and to refuse any further walks.
6) We will walk your dog on lead during his/her first few walks to make sure they are well socialised and bond with the walker. Should your dog be allowed off lead, we will require a signed disclaimer. We do carry dog treats whilst walking your dog, however if you would prefer they don’t have any treats, please make us aware of this. If your dog is rewarded with particular treats on his/her recall, these will need to be provided by the owner.
7) We aim to walk your dog in any weather but the walker will apply personal judgement and cut a walk short if necessary because of extreme weather conditions (extreme heat/thunderstorms etc) for the safety of the dogs and the walker.
8) Walking dogs can sometimes mean wet and dirty dogs. Our van is fully stocked to clean and dry your dog(s) to the best of our availability, however sometimes they may require a full bath which is the owner’s responsibility. We do use sensitive dog shampoo if dogs get very muddy so please do make us aware if your dog has any skin conditions that may be affected by washing products.
9) All dogs are transported in secure crates within our van and your dog will never share a crate with another dog; except those from the same household.
10) If you need to cancel your dogs walk, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible. If less than 24 hours notice is given, we reserve the right to charge for your dogs walk even if they are not able to go on their walk.
11) We will NOT walk any dog that falls under the UK Banned Breed list (XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino & Fila Brasileiro). If we suspect your dog to be one of the UK banned breeds we reserve the right to either refuse their walks or to request a full DNA profiling which is payable by the owner.
1) All dogs must wear a collar or harness and Identification tag during their walk. An I.D tag is now a legal requirement. The law now states all dogs must be micro chipped so we strongly advise you to check with the micro-chipping database to ensure they hold the correct contact details for your dog.
2) We are not able to walk any female dog whilst they are in season or for 4 weeks after the first signs of the season. If your dog has had puppies, we are not able to walk for a minimum of 6 weeks post delivery. We do request your dog to be bathed after their season and before returning to walks.
3) Should your dog have any behavioural (territorial, dominance etc) problems, we need to be made aware of this during your home visit and prior to your dogs first walk. If your dog requires a muzzle for their own safety, other dog’s safety, or their walker’s safety, this must be provided by the owner.
4) We walk dogs of all ages including puppies; as long as they have been given the correct vaccinations and this has been certified by your vet.
5) We will walk your dog on a trial period to begin with. If your dog shows any signs of aggression towards people or other dogs, we reserve the right to terminate the walk early and to refuse any further walks.
6) We will walk your dog on lead during his/her first few walks to make sure they are well socialised and bond with the walker. Should your dog be allowed off lead, we will require a signed disclaimer. We do carry dog treats whilst walking your dog, however if you would prefer they don’t have any treats, please make us aware of this. If your dog is rewarded with particular treats on his/her recall, these will need to be provided by the owner.
7) We aim to walk your dog in any weather but the walker will apply personal judgement and cut a walk short if necessary because of extreme weather conditions (extreme heat/thunderstorms etc) for the safety of the dogs and the walker.
8) Walking dogs can sometimes mean wet and dirty dogs. Our van is fully stocked to clean and dry your dog(s) to the best of our availability, however sometimes they may require a full bath which is the owner’s responsibility. We do use sensitive dog shampoo if dogs get very muddy so please do make us aware if your dog has any skin conditions that may be affected by washing products.
9) All dogs are transported in secure crates within our van and your dog will never share a crate with another dog; except those from the same household.
10) If you need to cancel your dogs walk, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible. If less than 24 hours notice is given, we reserve the right to charge for your dogs walk even if they are not able to go on their walk.
11) We will NOT walk any dog that falls under the UK Banned Breed list (XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino & Fila Brasileiro). If we suspect your dog to be one of the UK banned breeds we reserve the right to either refuse their walks or to request a full DNA profiling which is payable by the owner.
Dog Boarding
1) All dogs must wear a collar during their stay with us and this will need to have their own I.D tag attached to it. Your dog will also wear one of our personalised I.D tags during their stay with us. The law now states all dogs must be micro chipped so we strongly advise you to check with the micro-chipping database to ensure they hold the correct contact details for you.
2) It is a legal requirement to annually vaccinate your dog and we do require a copy of your dog(s) vaccination card which has certified by your vet. The Kennel Cough vaccine is a live vaccine and we cannot board any dogs who have been vaccinated for this in the 14 days prior to their stay.
3) It is your responsibility to ensure your dog is up to date with its Flea/Tick/Worming vaccinations.
4) To minimise the risk of any scent marking, I do not board any male dogs that have not been castrated. I do board female dogs that have not been spayed; however, if your dog is in season, or close to approaching a season I am unable to board them. I do require that if your dog has been in season prior to their stay, they are bathed before their stay with me.
5) Due to other resident dogs, we are unable to board dogs who are aggressive, or have ever shown aggression. If your dog displays aggressive behaviour (towards either another dog or person), we will immediately terminate your dog’s stay, and you or your emergency contact will need to pick your dog up immediately. We reserve the right to crate and/or muzzle your dog if they are aggressive until they are collected.
6) In the unlikely event that something should happen to your dog whilst in our care, we will try and contact the owner or the designated person in case of emergencies so please ensure your emergency contact can make decisions on your behalf. If we are unable to make contact, we will make every effort to take your dog to your preferred vet; however, we will act in the best interest of the dog which may mean visiting a different vet. We advise you to let your vet know that your dog will be boarding with us and that you allow them to share your dogs’ medical records with us in the event of an emergency.
7) Whilst we do have insurance, any veterinary bills your dog may incur whilst in our care will need to be paid by the owner so we strongly advise you have insurance for your dog. Should your dog need to use our insurance services, or should anyone make a third-party claim against your dog, you will be expected to pay the excess premium (£100 per claim) which forms part of the policy. If your dog is injured in our care, any vet fees under £100 will need to be paid by the owner. We reserve the right to refuse to board your dog if they are not insured. If your dog requires any veterinary treatment whilst in our care, we will pay the vet direct and obtain receipts; you will be required to reimburse any veterinary expenses direct to us within 48 hours of your return.
8) Should your dog need any medication whilst in our care, we will need to be advised of this and all medication must be provided by the owner. We require all medications to be labelled with your dog’s name. We will need to know how much medication your dog requires, at what times and any special storage instructions (i.e stored in fridge etc). We will follow instructions to administer medication as advised by you however we cannot be held responsible for any complications that may arise as a result.
9) You must provide enough food for the duration of your dogs stay with us. If you fail to provide enough food, we will try our best to obtain the same food; however, this may not always be possible and your dogs’ food may have to be substituted with an alternative. If we are required to purchase additional food for your dog, we will obtain a receipt and this must be re-imbursed to us within 48 hours of your return. If your dog is fed on raw food, we have a dedicated “dog food only freezer” and food will be weighed out as per your requirements. Please ensure all food is clearly labelled with your dog’s name. We do have a selection of dog food bowls & plates but if you feel your dog will be more comfortable with their own feeding bowls/plates, please do provide these. China and metal water bowls are provided; however, if your dog prefers a different type of water bowl, the owner must provide this. Due to other resident dogs, water bowls will be shared and we do not allow “grazing” of food throughout the day. Your dog will be fed separately to other resident dogs or boarders. If you allow your dog to have treats, please ensure you provide enough for the duration of your dog’s stay. Any dry food your dog may have will need to be provided in air tight plastic containers with your dog’s name clearly labelled. To minimise the risk of any resource guarding, we unfortunately do not allow long lasting chews or bones.
10) We do expect all of our boarders to be fully toilet trained and they have full access to a garden; if your dog toilets inside the house, there will be a cleaning fee of £20.
11) We do have a selection of dog beds and blankets but to help your dog feel at home, we strongly suggest providing them with their own bed/blanket. To minimise the risk of any accidents, we do request that dog toys are not provided during your dog’s stay with us; we provide toys that can be checked regularly for signs of wear and tear and cleaned appropriately.
12) A deposit of 50% is required at the time of booking; your booking will not be confirmed until your deposit has been paid. The remaining 50% is required within 48 hours of collecting your dog. If required, we will provide you with an invoice upon your return.
13) Payments are calculated for every day your dog spends with us. On your dog’s last day, depending on the time of collection, you may be charged the standard day care fee.
14) During your dog’s stay with us, we will exercise them as per your requirements. Walks will be conducted in a secure field to ensure the safety of your dogs. Along with their collar, please ensure you provide your dog with their harness if this is required during walks.
15) Your dog will be treated like one of the family during their stay with us; we are very relaxed and dogs are allowed on the sofas/beds. If you would prefer your dog not to be allowed on the furniture, please inform us of this. We will try our very best to ensure we follow your rules if these are implemented at home.
16) For any bookings over 3 nights, I do require a trial boarding night before your dog boards with us; this is to ensure your dog feels happy and comfortable in preparation of their stay. We try and arrange trial boarding nights as early as possible in advance of your trip so if it doesn’t go to plan, you have time to make other arrangements. Trial nights are charged at the usual price of boarding. If your dog’s trial night does not go to plan, and we are unable to board them, we will refund your 50% booking deposit.
17) We ask all owners to be honest with us; if your dog suffers from separation anxiety, excessive barking or any other form of behaviour that may cause a nuisance to our neighbours, or other dogs within our care, please do inform us of this on the booking form. We will do our best to accommodate all dogs as long as we are made aware of this prior to their stay. Should your dog damage anything in our property, you will be liable for the full cost to replace this.
18) We will take photos of your dogs which may be used on our website and social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. If you do not want photos of your dog used, please let us know.
19) We will NOT board any dog that falls under the UK Banned Breed list (XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino & Fila Brasileiro). If we suspect your dog to be one of the UK banned breeds, we reserve the right to either refuse to board your dog or to request a full DNA profiling which is payable by the owner.
1) All dogs must wear a collar during their stay with us and this will need to have their own I.D tag attached to it. Your dog will also wear one of our personalised I.D tags during their stay with us. The law now states all dogs must be micro chipped so we strongly advise you to check with the micro-chipping database to ensure they hold the correct contact details for you.
2) It is a legal requirement to annually vaccinate your dog and we do require a copy of your dog(s) vaccination card which has certified by your vet. The Kennel Cough vaccine is a live vaccine and we cannot board any dogs who have been vaccinated for this in the 14 days prior to their stay.
3) It is your responsibility to ensure your dog is up to date with its Flea/Tick/Worming vaccinations.
4) To minimise the risk of any scent marking, I do not board any male dogs that have not been castrated. I do board female dogs that have not been spayed; however, if your dog is in season, or close to approaching a season I am unable to board them. I do require that if your dog has been in season prior to their stay, they are bathed before their stay with me.
5) Due to other resident dogs, we are unable to board dogs who are aggressive, or have ever shown aggression. If your dog displays aggressive behaviour (towards either another dog or person), we will immediately terminate your dog’s stay, and you or your emergency contact will need to pick your dog up immediately. We reserve the right to crate and/or muzzle your dog if they are aggressive until they are collected.
6) In the unlikely event that something should happen to your dog whilst in our care, we will try and contact the owner or the designated person in case of emergencies so please ensure your emergency contact can make decisions on your behalf. If we are unable to make contact, we will make every effort to take your dog to your preferred vet; however, we will act in the best interest of the dog which may mean visiting a different vet. We advise you to let your vet know that your dog will be boarding with us and that you allow them to share your dogs’ medical records with us in the event of an emergency.
7) Whilst we do have insurance, any veterinary bills your dog may incur whilst in our care will need to be paid by the owner so we strongly advise you have insurance for your dog. Should your dog need to use our insurance services, or should anyone make a third-party claim against your dog, you will be expected to pay the excess premium (£100 per claim) which forms part of the policy. If your dog is injured in our care, any vet fees under £100 will need to be paid by the owner. We reserve the right to refuse to board your dog if they are not insured. If your dog requires any veterinary treatment whilst in our care, we will pay the vet direct and obtain receipts; you will be required to reimburse any veterinary expenses direct to us within 48 hours of your return.
8) Should your dog need any medication whilst in our care, we will need to be advised of this and all medication must be provided by the owner. We require all medications to be labelled with your dog’s name. We will need to know how much medication your dog requires, at what times and any special storage instructions (i.e stored in fridge etc). We will follow instructions to administer medication as advised by you however we cannot be held responsible for any complications that may arise as a result.
9) You must provide enough food for the duration of your dogs stay with us. If you fail to provide enough food, we will try our best to obtain the same food; however, this may not always be possible and your dogs’ food may have to be substituted with an alternative. If we are required to purchase additional food for your dog, we will obtain a receipt and this must be re-imbursed to us within 48 hours of your return. If your dog is fed on raw food, we have a dedicated “dog food only freezer” and food will be weighed out as per your requirements. Please ensure all food is clearly labelled with your dog’s name. We do have a selection of dog food bowls & plates but if you feel your dog will be more comfortable with their own feeding bowls/plates, please do provide these. China and metal water bowls are provided; however, if your dog prefers a different type of water bowl, the owner must provide this. Due to other resident dogs, water bowls will be shared and we do not allow “grazing” of food throughout the day. Your dog will be fed separately to other resident dogs or boarders. If you allow your dog to have treats, please ensure you provide enough for the duration of your dog’s stay. Any dry food your dog may have will need to be provided in air tight plastic containers with your dog’s name clearly labelled. To minimise the risk of any resource guarding, we unfortunately do not allow long lasting chews or bones.
10) We do expect all of our boarders to be fully toilet trained and they have full access to a garden; if your dog toilets inside the house, there will be a cleaning fee of £20.
11) We do have a selection of dog beds and blankets but to help your dog feel at home, we strongly suggest providing them with their own bed/blanket. To minimise the risk of any accidents, we do request that dog toys are not provided during your dog’s stay with us; we provide toys that can be checked regularly for signs of wear and tear and cleaned appropriately.
12) A deposit of 50% is required at the time of booking; your booking will not be confirmed until your deposit has been paid. The remaining 50% is required within 48 hours of collecting your dog. If required, we will provide you with an invoice upon your return.
13) Payments are calculated for every day your dog spends with us. On your dog’s last day, depending on the time of collection, you may be charged the standard day care fee.
14) During your dog’s stay with us, we will exercise them as per your requirements. Walks will be conducted in a secure field to ensure the safety of your dogs. Along with their collar, please ensure you provide your dog with their harness if this is required during walks.
15) Your dog will be treated like one of the family during their stay with us; we are very relaxed and dogs are allowed on the sofas/beds. If you would prefer your dog not to be allowed on the furniture, please inform us of this. We will try our very best to ensure we follow your rules if these are implemented at home.
16) For any bookings over 3 nights, I do require a trial boarding night before your dog boards with us; this is to ensure your dog feels happy and comfortable in preparation of their stay. We try and arrange trial boarding nights as early as possible in advance of your trip so if it doesn’t go to plan, you have time to make other arrangements. Trial nights are charged at the usual price of boarding. If your dog’s trial night does not go to plan, and we are unable to board them, we will refund your 50% booking deposit.
17) We ask all owners to be honest with us; if your dog suffers from separation anxiety, excessive barking or any other form of behaviour that may cause a nuisance to our neighbours, or other dogs within our care, please do inform us of this on the booking form. We will do our best to accommodate all dogs as long as we are made aware of this prior to their stay. Should your dog damage anything in our property, you will be liable for the full cost to replace this.
18) We will take photos of your dogs which may be used on our website and social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. If you do not want photos of your dog used, please let us know.
19) We will NOT board any dog that falls under the UK Banned Breed list (XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino & Fila Brasileiro). If we suspect your dog to be one of the UK banned breeds, we reserve the right to either refuse to board your dog or to request a full DNA profiling which is payable by the owner.
